Boxer Briefs

Archive for November, 2005

Here are the answers to just a few of the questions most commonly posed by new boxer dog owners.

1. What supplies do I need to have on hand before I bring my new boxer puppy home?

The first thing you’ll need is a travel crate for your dog’s trip home. You’ll also need to buy some high quality puppy food and bowls for food and water. Your vet, breeder or shelter personnel can tell you which brands of food are the best. Other items you’ll need to get in advance of the new puppy’s arrival are: an adjustable collar, a leash, toys and bedding. Don’t forget to make an appointment with your veterinarian for your puppy’s first check-up!

2. What is crate training and how do I do it?

Crate training is a method by which your boxer dog is taught to stay in a crate within your house for prolonged periods of time. This is an especially useful technique for dogs that would otherwise tear up the house when left alone.

The best time to start crate training is when your dog is still a puppy. Leave him in the open crate for brief periods of time at first and then begin closing the door behind him. Make sure that your puppy’s crate experience is always positive by giving him treats and rewards whenever he enters the crate.

Once he is comfortable, you can leave him in the crate for increasing periods of time – give him his meals there as well. Never use the crate as punishment. You want your dog to feel that his crate is a safe refuge, not a prison. Furthermore, the crate is a place where your dog can go to feel safe and secure while you and your family are away from home for a few hours.

When you’re home, your dog should be out of his crate and socializing with his human family.

3. How do microchips work?

A microchip is a very tiny device that is injected underneath the dog’s skin, usually at the neck. If your boxer dog is lost, then any veterinarian or shelter can use a scanner to read the information on the microchip and then return the dog to you.

Do you need to microchip your dog? If you are always with your dog, then a microchip might not be necessary. However, given that the implantation procedure is such a safe and simple one, you really should consider it. Even the most closely guarded dogs can get away from their owners.

4. How can I tell if my boxer dog has worms?

Some of the most common worms that a dog can potentially have are: heartworms, hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms and whipworms. All can cause internal irritation and damage to your dog, but heartworms can be fatal. So, it is very important that your veterinarian routinely test your dog for these. Your vet will take a stool sample from your dog and look for worms under a microscope. Of course, if you see what you think are worms or worm pieces in your dog’s stool, get him to a veterinarian for treatment as soon as possible.

5. Why should I get my boxer dog fixed?

Unless you plan to professionally breed your dog, you should get him or her neutered or spayed (fixed). Pet overpopulation is an extremely serious problem in the United States. There are just not enough homes for all of the puppies and kittens born each year; and, as a result, over 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized annually. Don’t let your dog contribute to the overpopulation problem – have it fixed! Spaying and neutering procedures are routine and pose very few health risks for your dog. If there are no complications, your dog can usually come home on the same day.

In addition to its being an effective pet population control measure, spaying and neutering can also benefit your dog’s health. If you have your dog neutered or spayed before it reaches 6 months of age, then its risk of developing certain types of cancers and infections will be cut in half.

6. Why should I take my dog to obedience school?

Every dog should go through some form of obedience training. Obedience training not only allows you to get your pet to do what he’s commanded to do, it teaches you to communicate effectively with your pet and get the best out of him all the time. Obedience training also helps socialize your pet, as he is taught to remain calm in a room full of unfamiliar people and dogs.

For more information on caring for boxer dogs, you might want to check out the main site here: Boxer-Dogs-Secrets.com.

Boxer dogs are wonderful, some of the gentlest, sweetest souls you’ll ever meet on this earth.

I’ve dedicated a whole site to them (Boxer-Dogs-Secrets.com) and now I’ve decided to start a blog about boxer dogs too, called “Boxers Briefs.” In the days, weeks, and months to come, I’ll be publishing stories, tips, and advice … all about boxer dogs. I hope you enjoy it and that you’ll contribute your own stories and tips, using the comments function.

By the way, I used to be the proud owner of a beautiful female boxer dog named Lucy. That’s her picture in the header up at the top of the page. She was one of the greatest joys of my life. Unfortunately, she’s no longer with us, but I still love the breed and I hope to own another boxer dog one day.

Now, for our first article…

Five Ways To Tell That You’re Not Ready To Own a Dog

Hopefully, if you’re just starting to think about adding a boxer to your family, you’ve closely examined your reasons for wanting one and you’ve determined that you ARE ready. But what if you’re not? This article may give you some cues and clues…

If any of the following 5 statements ring true, you should re-examine your reasons for wanting a dog and your ability to properly care for one.

1. You’re Always Really Busy with Work and Don’t Have Much Downtime

In order for your new dog or puppy to bond with you and properly acclimate to its new surroundings, you’ll need to set a lot of time aside just for him. You can’t just pick out a puppy, bring it home, play with it for a while and then forget it. You need to spend quality time with your new family member.

This means lots of playtime (especially for puppies), two or more walks outside every day and obedience training. If you don’t spend time with your pet, you’re just asking for trouble. Often, neglected pets will act out by engaging in destructive behavior. Furthermore, if your pet is alone too much, he will not be properly socialized.

This may result in his being unduly fearful of strangers and other animals which, in turn, may cause him to become aggressively defensive towards them. If you are too busy to spend quality time with a pet, then wait until your life is a little less hectic before you adopt one.

2. You Live on a Very Strict Budget and Can Barely Afford to Pay All of Your Bills Every Month

Dogs are never really free, even if you are given one as a gift. First, you have to pay for a good quality dog food. If your dog is a very small breed, this may not be of much concern. If your dog is a large breed, however, food can cost over $100 a month. Second, you’ll need to provide your dog with routine medical care like spaying or neutering, annual vaccinations and exams and dental care.

You also have to be prepared to pay for any emergency medical services. Third, depending on the breed of dog, you may need to have it professionally groomed and this can cost a lot of money. Even if you groom the dog yourself, you’ll still have to pay for the grooming supplies.

Fourth, you’ll need to be able to afford miscellaneous items like dog dishes, toys and other goodies. If you can’t afford to take care of your dog in an appropriate way, then you should put your puppy adoption plans on hold until you are in a better financial position.

3. You Only Want a Dog for Protection Purposes

A dog, even one that has been specially trained to guard your home, is more than just a security device. It is a living creature who deserves to be loved by the people who adopt him. He should be treated as a part of the family and should be treated respectfully.

Guard dogs need consistent and caring interaction with their owners. Otherwise, those same qualities that make them great at guarding their territory (alertness, aggressiveness and possessiveness) can turn them into “bad dogs” if left on their own.

If you are not prepared to accept a dog as part of your family for the long haul and socialize it appropriately, then you should not adopt one. If security is truly a concern, you should have a security system installed in your home.

4. Your Kids Need Something to Play With

If your kids are bored and need something to entertain them, then buy them more toys. Don’t buy your kids a dog unless they really want one and can see it as a living creature instead of as a toy; and, certainly don’t buy your kids a dog unless you want one too.

Let’s face it. You may say that the dog belongs to the kids, but the adults in the household will ultimately be responsible for its care, feeding and medical expenses. Don’t bring a dog into your home unless both you and your kids understand that adopting a dog makes him a part of your family for life.

5. You Want a Dog Because You Want to Breed It and Make Lots of Money

First, successful and reputable dog breeders are in the business because they love the dogs they work with. Often, someone develops a breeding business only after years of having had many dogs of a particular breed as pets.

Good breeders have years of experience with the breed and know everything there is to know about its traits, history and physical characteristics. They also love to educate others about the breed. Second, the bills associated with the feeding and care of the dog far surpasses any income he will generate, especially for the first few years.

Buy a dog because you love the breed and cherish him as a part of your family. Maybe a business will come from it later on.

So, there are a few thoughts. I’ll be back with more tips, etc., real soon. You might want to think about subscribing to my RSS feed, by clicking one of the buttons on the right =========>