Advise for getting first dog?

deadlast

I've had a look through alot of threads and can't seem to find any really covering this. Anyway recently got into the new house and i'm looking to get a boxer. Never had a dog before but love these and their temperament. I'm not in any rush really, sometime in the new year probably.
I'm looking for advice from you experienced dog owners on what to expect or how to go about it...

The house is the usual semi-detached fully enclosed back garden, i'd intend to have the dog sleep in the utility room. Theres also a huge green right outside the front door. The only problem i can see is that I work shift work. I am pretty active though so regular runs/walks is no problem.

Also I was initially set on a puppy but have seen a 14month old looking to be re-homed, what would be the advantages/disadvantages to getting an older dog?

Thanks

Blogger50

Hi Deadlast,

As the proud owner of a fourteen week old puppy I'm not the most qualified here to give advice but I got loads of great information and tips here.

There are loads of threads. If you do a search with the words "tips, new and puppy" in it they should appear. Theres loads of info in them including information on rescue versus buying.

Best of luck!

scudzilla

hey

We got a boxer pup 4 weeks ago, she's so mild mannerd and good tempered, toilet training is coming along a breeze.

There is always someone in the house though so that's a bit different from your circumstances.

Plenty of homeless boxers need homes though, here's a 3yr old boxer in need of a home, few more on this site too

http://www.gumtree.ie/dublin/29/50012929.html


Here's a few pics of our boxer, Brodi

scudzilla

Another adult boxer needing a home

http://dogsindistress.org/blog/?p=2635

Mcloke

If you are going to buy rather than rescue a boxer then contact the boxer club/association and make sure you buy from a breeder who does all the health checks on both the mother and father of the pups. Boxers have health problems and not going to a club associated breeder is asking for trouble....also insure your puppy, it may seem daft but believe me it is worth its weight in gold if something goes wrong....we sadly lost our 11month old golden retriever a couple of months ago to a rare non pure breed related parasite but my point is that her 1 year insurance (€210ish) saved us over €3000 in vets/specialist bills!

Discodog

Having had a succession of four Boxers I think that I know them pretty well. Having said that, they are all a little individual. If I were you I would rehome a rescue providing you can find a rescue who will accept you being out sometimes.

A puppy needs pretty much full time attention. I would speak to rescues & stress that the dog will always get a good walk before it is left. I would plan to take a week off work so that you have about 12 days to help the dog get used to his new home. During that time walk him, then leave him & give masses of praise when you return. Start with a short period & gradually work up to the point where he is left for the length of your workday.

Get friends & neighbours to monitor the dog to ensure that he is not in any distress or barking all day. It's easy to install a little webcam if you want to keep an eye on him. Bear in mind that a rescue may of had a difficult time with it's previous owners. Boxers bear no malice & will soon repay the love that is given to them.

My dogs are left all day but they get a 40 min walk before I go & another when I return.

Top Dog

If you're thinking about getting a puppy ...

http://www.topdog.ie/index.php?pageid=puppy-articles



And good luck in your search what ever route you decide to take

deadlast

Mcloke wrote: »

If you are going to buy rather than rescue a boxer then contact the boxer club/association and make sure you buy from a breeder who does all the health checks on both the mother and father of the pups. Boxers have health problems and not going to a club associated breeder is asking for trouble....also insure your puppy, it may seem daft but believe me it is worth its weight in gold if something goes wrong....we sadly lost our 11month old golden retriever a couple of months ago to a rare non pure breed related parasite but my point is that her 1 year insurance (€210ish) saved us over €3000 in vets/specialist bills!

Forgive my ignorance but can anyone point me in the direction of a list of boxer breeders? Google search isnt really helping.

star-pants

You could ring the IKC and ask them - they should have some registered breeders on file.

deadlast

Discodog wrote: »

Having had a succession of four Boxers I think that I know them pretty well. Having said that, they are all a little individual. If I were you I would rehome a rescue providing you can find a rescue who will accept you being out sometimes.

A puppy needs pretty much full time attention. I would speak to rescues & stress that the dog will always get a good walk before it is left. I would plan to take a week off work so that you have about 12 days to help the dog get used to his new home. During that time walk him, then leave him & give masses of praise when you return. Start with a short period & gradually work up to the point where he is left for the length of your workday.

Get friends & neighbours to monitor the dog to ensure that he is not in any distress or barking all day. It's easy to install a little webcam if you want to keep an eye on him. Bear in mind that a rescue may of had a difficult time with it's previous owners. Boxers bear no malice & will soon repay the love that is given to them.

My dogs are left all day but they get a 40 min walk before I go & another when I return.

Thanks for the post, easing my concern a little. I've really no experience with dogs so I wanna make sure I can look after it fully before I bring one home.

@scudzilla: she's a beaut!!

lrushe

deadlast wrote: »

Forgive my ignorance but can anyone point me in the direction of a list of boxer breeders? Google search isnt really helping.

Email the IKC and ask for their Breeder Directory this will list all reputable Boxer breeders in Ireland.

I also work shift work and my dogs get an hour - hour and a half walk daily either before I go to work or when I come home and they don't seem to suffer any ill effects from this. I would recommend an older puppy or dog though as they will adjust to this routine quicker than a younger pup. Some breeders will have such dogs available, maybe a dog who didn't turn out to be as good in the show ring as the breeder thought but would make a wonderful pet, this dogs would also be slightly cheaper for you too. Just remember to ask for health / vacination certs before any purchase.

Magenta

scudzilla wrote: »

hey

We got a boxer pup 4 weeks ago, she's so mild mannerd and good tempered, toilet training is coming along a breeze.

There is always someone in the house though so that's a bit different from your circumstances.

She's got a full TAIL!
Did you have to specifically request for it to be left alone before you got her?

kildara

scudzilla wrote: »

Here's a few pics of our boxer, Brodi

She's lovely! Love her tail!

juanyjuans

http://www.pets.ie/blog/what-to-look-for-when-buying-a-puppy I think it covers the general stuff well.

If you want to get a certain breed then you should research that specific breed as it may require extra care.

scudzilla

Magenta wrote: »

She's got a full TAIL!
Did you have to specifically request for it to be left alone before you got her?

kildara wrote: »

She's lovely! Love her tail!

Nope, didn't ask for her tail to be like that, we were really lucky with the couple we got her from, we saw there ad and rang them, prices were a lot cheaper than other boxer pups, they said they weren't in it for the money, they just love the dogs and had never sold before.
Ma and Pa were there too, both awesome dogs.
We would never have docked her tail anyway as we just don't agree with it, but i was informed that it's a 1,500euro fine per puppy found with a tail docked

andreac

scudzilla wrote: »

Nope, didn't ask for her tail to be like that, we were really lucky with the couple we got her from, we saw there ad and rang them, prices were a lot cheaper than other boxer pups, they said they weren't in it for the money, they just love the dogs and had never sold before.
Ma and Pa were there too, both awesome dogs.
We would never have docked her tail anyway as we just don't agree with it, but i was informed that it's a 1,500euro fine per puppy found with a tail docked

Sorry, but whoever told you about the fime has got their facts wrong, there is no such thing as a fine for dog thats docked. Its not illegal in ireland to dock.

scudzilla

andreac wrote: »

Sorry, but whoever told you about the fime has got their facts wrong, there is no such thing as a fine for dog thats docked. Its not illegal in ireland to dock.

Ah, i was told by a few peeps that this was the case, nevermind, her tail's cool as it is :D:D

Green Hornet

andreac wrote: »

Sorry, but whoever told you about the fime has got their facts wrong, there is no such thing as a fine for dog thats docked. Its not illegal in ireland to dock.

Why do they dock Boxer's tails anyway? I assume it's done pretty soon after birth?