Boxer Dog Comments

We have decided to add comments and questions from our readers on the site to help benefit all boxer owners.

We have purchased a female black brindle boxer from a lady as she was being mistreated by her husband. She is full blooded and the lady said that she would send us papers. Well, we have yet to see the papers and the lady has moved. Been a year now. How can we go about registering her our own selves so that we may get papers? She is a beautiful female and would love to breed her. We have another female (this one is registered) but we have not yet bred her. I appreciate any info you can give me on this.

Thank

Jennifer

Jennifer,
Thank you for the e-mail and welcome to Boxer Dog Advisor!

I have not run into this situation before, so I did a little research and came up with the following infomation.

This is from the AKC website on obtaining a dog without papers:

Dogs Sold Without Papers

The buyer of an AKC-registrable dog should obtain the dog's AKC papers from the seller at the same time the dog is purchased. If a dog is delivered or sold with the understanding that AKC papers will not be furnished, the buyer should sign a statement agreeing to this condition. This agreement should be kept in the seller's records.

If a person acquires a dog without papers, with the explicit understanding that papers will be furnished for payment of an additional amount of money, the buyer has, in effect, forfeited any rights to the papers. If at some later date the buyer wants papers, the AKC can only advise going back to the seller to resolve the matter.

Looking through the akc site on missing or lost papers everthing indicates the previous owner must be the one to notify the AKC of changes. You can read the FAQ by going to http://www.akc.org/about/faq.cfm

Boxer Dog Advisor

I am looking for some help. We just adopted a 3 year old boxer from the local animal shelter and she appears to be starving. You can see her ribs and the lady that had been handling her at the shelter stated she wouldn't really eat the entire 7 days she was in there. I brought her home yesterday and she still won't eat. My daughter got her to eat a treat this morning and I got her to drink some water using a water bottle with a pop up cap dripping it into her mouth. My husband says to give her a few days since she was just spayed before we brought her home and she needs time to heal and get to know her surroundings. I am worried that she might not make it a few days. If you have any suggestions I would really appreciate them. I am going to take her to the vet tonight but seeing as most of them do not specialize in Boxers I don't have much faith that they will do anything other than look for worms and tell me to feed her.

Thank you for your time.

Melisa

Dear Melissa,

First of all, thank you for adopting a boxer in need. So many need
homes, and it is good to see them go to someone who cares and loves
them.

Boxers can have anxiety and may not eat when they are scared or have been traumatized. Is she using the bathroom, does she appear alert and oriented or is she lethargic? Has she been trying to vomit?

You might try to feed her some scrambled eggs with hamburger or
turkey to get her started. Both of those are easy on a nervous
stomach and she should like it.

We are really glad you are taking her to a vet, as we are not vets.
He should be able to diagnose and treat her and run any tests that
may be needed. They may also give her food IV if needed if her life
is in danger. She will dehydrate if she does not drink.

The vet should also look for any signs of infection, from the
spaying. It's rare, but happens. A dogs normal rectal temperature is
101. Anything above that is a fever.

For the first couple of weeks she is really going to need a lot of
attention and love, because it sounds like she has been abused in
the past. She must learn to trust you and the best way to do that is
to show her love and attention. Make her feel welcome and I hope you
are going to keep her in the house where she can feel secure.

Please let us know how she is doing.

Boxer Dog Advisor

Joe & Judy,

Thank you both so much! Your email helped calm me down a bit until I heard from the vet. The bloodwork has come back and all appears to be normal. He also gave me a few cans of Hill's a/d canned food just to get her started. FROG (blame my husband for her name)ate 1/2 a can right away no problem. The second 1/2 I tried to mix with some dry food and she just ate around the dry food. The little bit of kibble she got in her mouth she licked clean and then dropped next to her bowl. The vet also told me to go ahead and give her 1/4 cup of plain yogurt once a day. I did that this morning also mixing it with the dry food and she did the same thing as the night before. It was too funny.

FROG appears to be doing a lot better today. She was even a tad bit playful for awhile this afternoon. She was also feeling brave enough that she decided to jump up on the couch and stake her claim! I keep taking her off but as soon as I turn my back she is right back up there.

As for getting a lot of attention this will not be a problem! I fell in love with her before I even met her. I just knew I had to have her. She will be a spoiled little princess. My daughter has also been totally catering to her.

Thanks again for you response.

Melissa

PS Could you possibly reccommend a dry food? The vet told me that Hill's is a great line however, I have been reading a bunch of boxer websites and everyone on there seems to say that it is junk.

Melissa,

Great News!! We are glad because, we were concerned about Frog, as we love boxers too.

As far as dry food goes, the rescues are using Iams, but our dogs did not like it, kinda like Frog. The only dry foods ours would eat are, Kibbles and Bits and Moist and Meaty. The Kibbles and Bits was the expensive kind too! :) They were rotten. We would have to mix a can of Pedigree Choice Cuts canned with the dry food.

Best of luck and hug Frog for us.

Boxer Dog Advisor

I just took in a 2 year old male boxer who is underweight. The owners had him on cheap canned dog food. I would like to feed him raw and had found a recipe for it before he came to us but can't find it now. What do I need to have in a raw diet and how much should I feed him. I appreciate the help he is a great dog but needs some weight on him. Thank you

Sherri

Hello Sherri,

If you have just taken in the boxer, you should have your vet check him out for any diseases and parasites to make sure there is not any health reasons for his underweight condition. Your vet should also be able to recommend a diet that would be suitable for him.

I hope this helps, but without any history on the dog, that is our best recommendation.

Hope all goes well for your boxer.

Boxer Dog Advisor

Hello all you boxer lovers.

About two years ago I had the most caring boxer named Benny. It was November 2003. One day I went outside and my boxer was no where to be found. I called his name out while I was so scared and crying. That night I could not go to sleep wondering where my dog was at. The next day came and we reported him missing. I was so depressed.

Two months passed by and still no sign. I never lost any hope of finding him. My grandmother called me on February 13 2004 and said "That my little cousin had noticed a boxer behind her fence in the neighbor's backyard." I talked to my cousin and he said he called his Benny. The dog looked at him. I went over there to identify the dog through the fence. Sure enough it was my dog.We immediately called the police to get my dog back. I gave the police officer the photo and he told me go get your dog. This lady came out of the house and told us they found him wondering around. So they kept him.

I was so relieved I found him. But when we got him he was aggresive because he was never like that. I was like they did something to him.

Days passed and I took him to the vet for a checkup in April. We figured out he had heartworms. We did many treatments so he could be healthy and happy. Thankfully he was cured.

Three months passed and my dog was missing again. I was so sad because we already had went through a lot with him. Next day, I called the animal shelter I reported him again. They called within 15 minutes that he was found. I should of known he was found near where that had taken him from the first time he was missing. The dog catcher came I had his leash ready.The words he told me was "I'm sorry your dog isn't alive." I was so shocked and said "No it can't be." I started crying and I was shaking. I called my boyfriend and mom. All my relatives called me and some visited me to tell me they were sorry about my boxer. It was the saddest day of my life. But I know he is in a better place.I will love him forever. Rest In Peace Benny.

October 31,1998-July 22,2003

Love,

Elizabeth

P.S.I have another boxer today. He was born on my birthday that is so amazing. His name is Ginobili.

Hello,

My name is Conni and I have been addicted to boxers since I found my first boxer, Roxanne in a pet store. She was very sick and I knew it. I was 19 at the time and knew in my heart that beautiful baby would die if I didn't take her home..I did, and it was instant love for the breed.

I almost was evicted from my apartment because I chose to pay for her vet bills instead of paying my rent, but I made it and so did Roxanne. She was my heart and I am greatful that we had 5 great years together (she had a bad heart...medically...to me she had the best heart I had ever known )

I was hooked since Roxanne, since her I have had Bubba, a rescue. He had terrible arthritis, as a result 8" of his spine deteriorated and I had to put him down at 6yrs old.

Currently we have Ziek, Gypsy and Sampson. Ziek is brindle, Gypsy is fawn and Sampson is white. I had been calling breeders looking for a white pup ( if I could only save one, that would be one less some idiot wouldn't kill just because of monitary reasons) so I recieved a call back , 1 white male pup 350 miles away. As fast as I could hang up the phone I said to my husband lets go save this dog...off we were.

Today Sam is 3 and one of the best dogs I have ever had. He is smart, gentle to children , strangers, and other animals. He is always willing to play or just cuddle on the couch. Just because he is white doesn't make him any less of a boxer, just a little more special.

My brother has seen a boxer that has tiger markings, in Caterham Surrey. Could you let us know if this is a common breed.

Many Thanks

Ray

Ray,

This may have been a reverse brindle boxer, which is common. Without seeing a picture of the dog though, this is just a guess.

Take care
Boxer Dog Advisor

What a beautiful site! I have 2 boxers, both female from the same litter. One a flashy brindle and one white. These are my first boxers and I wouldn't have any other breed. I love them completely.

I'm trying to find clothing - light sweatshirt - for them but with their chests, it's impossible to get a good fit. Any suggestions or anyone who makes jackets and sweaters for boxers?

Thank you.

Kris

Kris,

Thank you for the compliments on our site. We think boxers are the greatest and have enjoyed many years with them.

Please go to our site and click on the stores page at the bottom of the Navigation bar. Both Petco and Petsmart sell sweaters for boxers.

Have a great Day.

Boxer Dog Advisor

Please help!

I live in Massachusetts and just got a boxer pup 3 weeks ago. He is a biter! He bites toys, people, furniture, etc. We brought him to the vet and he bit and growled at her. We are enrolling him in puppy classes ASAP (today), but I am wondering if you have ever seen a biting boxer. We love him so much, we would hate for him to be vicious. Please let me know if you think there is anything we may be doing wrong. He has toys, he is crate trained when we are at work, he is loved more than I can explain and we don't hit him. We tell him no, we have put him on his back and looked him in the eyes and told him no...nothing will calm him down! HELP!

Kim

Dear Kim,

I am assuming from your information he is biting in an agressive manner. If this is the case, how old is he and do you know his early background? I know with Arnold, he was a stray and is very posessive of his food and of us. We believe he will bite others because of this. We are working with him to teach him not to be aggressive by making him submit to us and to crate him if he becomes to rowdy. Also, we provide a lot of attention and do not allow him to become agressive by stopping it by watching his body posture and trying to put his attention to something else. You must be dominant and let him know biting is not going to be tolerated.

Enrolling him in behavior classes should help, he may also be trying to establish his dominance, so you must be firm, but not abusive to him. From your note, you are on the right track, so be diligent and patient.

Puppies tend to bite because it is natural, and this will get better with maturity, providing you provide a loving but firm environment for him.

If he stays in a crate all day by himself, this could also be making the problem worse, as he has a tremendous amount of energy that builds up during the day. When he is out he must work off that energy and biting is one way they do that.

There are so many things that could cause his behavior, but knowing his history is probably critical in understanding why. Once your know the why, it will be easier to implement a training regiment to stop the behavior.

Please send us an email with an update on your progress with him, along with what you are doing that works, so we can share it with other boxer owners.

Best of Luck and all the best,

Boxer Dog Advisor

My husband and I are the parents of 8 month old twins. I am really wanting a Boxer for our family. Can you tell me at what age you feel the twins should be before we get a puppy?

Thank you so very much,

Tonya

Tonya,

As for your question, we have heard of people getting a puppy with childen under the age of one and it works out very well. However, because boxers are so playful and are very strong, we cannot recommend a boxer until the children are at least 5 or 6 years old.

Boxers are not aggressive, but can be rowdy playing and small children can be knocked down by accident.

This is a decision your family must make, all we can do is offer our opinion on the matter. Boxers do make great family pets, and should be house dogs, so I hope this helps.

All the Best,

Boxer Dog Advisor

Hi, my name is Sadie Riggs and I wanted to tell you that I really loved your pictures. I think it was so cute how you made the pictures like Obie was telling a story about everyone in his family.

My grandma and grandpa have boxers and they are the most high spirited dogs of all!!!

Sincerly,

Sadie Riggs:)

Hello,

My wife is bound to get a boxer, but she has a daycare that is ran out of our home. She wants the dog to be a inside dog. I am doubting this is a good move.

Are boxers dangerous to the point they will lunge or bite small kids or adults, stangers. Just worried!!

Thanks,

Bruce

Bruce,

While boxers are not generally aggressive, they are very active and they are inside dogs. They are also strong, and while I doubt a boxer would hurt one of the children on purpose, the fact that they are playful, they might hurt one of the kids by accident while playing.

We recommend a home for boxers only when the kids are at least 5 or 6 years old. This is because, at that age, most children are better able to cope with a bouncy, playful, happy boxer.

Thank you for writing and we hope this helps.

All the Best.

Boxer Dog Advisor

We are owners of an adorable boxer, a red and white one. Holly is one of the kids, spoiled rotton and well loved. Holly was a result of rescued boxers breeding and needed a loving home. She is now nearly 6 years old and we are looking at a new playmate for her. We have just heard of a white boxer needing a home as color is not important to us, we are going to see him to see if he will fit in to our busy home.

We have 3 cats ,Holly ,fish and 2 kids. Hopefully Stanly will be happy with what he sees. There should be a law passed to stop breeders destroying dogs or any animals that they consider a wrong color, color is not everthing personality is.

Anne

Thank you for your note and we hope all goes well for you.

White boxers can have more of a tendency for allergies as Chelsea did.
We will be glad to send you the name of the medicine we used for Chelsea and her allergies if you need it.

White boxers are special and I hope all works out for you.

Take care and feel free to drop us a note if you have any questions and give us an update.

All the Best,

Boxer Dog Advisor

Hi! Just a note from me Stanley the white boxer Anne told you about.I have been adopted by Anne and her family even though I am not the best with her 3 cats they are willing to give me a white boxer a chance at a good home.

Thanks from Anne
PS Any tips on problems with white boxers on helping them with their uniqueness would be wonderful.

Congratulation to Stanley and your family!
The unique traits Chelsea had was stubborness and her eyesite was not as good as the others. She was very protective at the same time shy.

These are personality traits and are not due to her color, except for maybe the eyesite.

All the best to you all!

Boxer Dog Advisor