New Boxer Pup, need advice and info?

Question

Just got a 10 week old AKC Boxer pup (female). The breeder says she feeds her twice a day morning and evening. She wouldnt eat her evening food, and we bought the same food the breeder uses. Is it ok that she skps tonights meal?
Should I start crate training her? Is she too young to start house breaking her? Would you recommend puppy pads?
Any other advice on Boxers please and whats a good book for Boxers?

Answer 1

At 10 weeks just take your time ,
don't get in a big hurry for anything.
I wouldn't use the puddle pads. Just
take her out 20 minutes after she eats.
If you live where it snows, get her a sweater.
Don't worry if she is a little off her feed
at first, she just needs to settle in.
Crate training is great for her. It teaches
her to be more self confident. Any good
pet store should have a book on boxers.
You could go to a book store and get a
copy of Cesar Millan...Puppy Training.

Answer 2

Boxers: A Complete Owner's Manual , by Hertae Kaupa Tuskany is an excellent book.

Have you made sure that the food you are feeding is not one of the many foods in the dog food recall. If it is get her to a vet quickly.
Did you fix her food just the way the breeder does? Call the breeder if you don't know how she serves it.

Yes, you should start housebreaking her. No scolding. Just pick her up and take her out upon wakening, after meals and at other times you think she may have to go. And yes, puppy pads are good ,especially for rainy days or when you are really busy. Crates are excellent for those busy times. Just remember she's a little baby with a little bladder so don't expect her to hold it.

Boxers are an excellent choice for all. I think you will dearly love her. They fit into the family well and like to please. She should be easy enough to train.

Answer 3

Shes probably not eating because of the excitement from the change in surroundings. My puppy did the same for the first 2 days after I brought her home. She ate very little at first but now has a great appetite.

At ten weeks shes more then ready for ALL the training you listed above. Start crate training right away! Start off slow but frequent. I recommend introducing it to her in small stints over the next few days with lots of rewards for going in on her own. Perhaps sleep with her on the couch as shes going to need frequent potty trips. Then when you decide to crate her overnight... get some earplugs!!! Shes gonna whine and test you. Remember, shes fine. Don't give into her whining. If it absolutly drives you nuts... wait until the whining has subsided then get her out of the crate. I'm in the middle of crate training also.

House breaking should start immediately. Make sure you have eyes on her at all times. Look for those signs that she has to go. I'm not sure if I recommend puppy pads or not. I'm using them to some sucess but i'm kinda stuck now with where to go next. We went outside the otherday to play with the doors open, she ran all the way inside the house to potty on the pad!! LOL Oh well... small steps I guess. (shes a smaller dog and I believe that might make it easier to use the potty pads).

Boxers are great dogs, great companions. Have fun with your puppy and remember... Patience, repetition and love are the key to a happy puppy!

Answer 4

I know dogs that miss some meals, but my dogs never have. We exercise our dogs though and make them feel like they earned their meal, so they are always hungry for it. Exercise is very important for every dog.
Nothing is wrong with crate training. We keep one of our dogs in a crate because he messes up the house. The other dog just waits by the front door for us to come home.
The breeder should have already started house breaking her if she is a good breeder. House breaking usually starts with the mother. Puppy pads are ok but you should just take the pup out every 2 hours. And don't get mad if she messes up. Just bring her right outside if you do catch her.
I would recommend reading Cesar Millans "Cesars Way"
Or watching The Dog Whisperer on National Geograpic.

Answer 5

I LOOOOVE Boxers! I had a female but she was hit by a car exactly a year ago this month. She was stubborn...did not like to listen when being called inside. Perhaps this was her puppy attitude. She was GREAT with my 1 year old. He laid on the pup and she did nothing but allow him. I taught her not to nip with her teeth the first day and it only took about a week to break her of it. I would start obdience training around 12 weeks (that is *supposedly* when they are more easily trained). I think she skipped her meal because the stress of a new environment. It will take some getting used to. But she will warm up very quickly. My favorite thing about this breed is the greeting you will get when she is older. It's been referred to as "the kidney bean". Her body will turn into the shape of a kidney bean as she gets excited and greets you. SOOOO CUTE! And my baby Bella also would "talk" when provoked. Only thing I did not like about my boxer is how stubborn she was. She ran outside one day and when my husband called for her she didn't come. She ran into the street and was hit. I only had her for 6 months and I loved her so much. I am still sad about it. Anyway, overall....one of my favorite breeds. P.S. Hope you have lots of room for her to run and the energy to PLAY!

Answer 6

It's ok if she skips a meal. She is getting used to her new home. Yes crate train her immediately. That will help with the housebreaking. Take her out as often as you can at first.You can use a puppy pad but if you train her to that, then start moving it closer to the door, and eventually out the door. I don't recommend it. Better to start off correctly with the crate. Congrats on your new puppy. She will look to you for everything and in the end, you will have a wonderful dog!

Answer 7

12 weeks old is perfect time to begin house training. crate train from day one if you can... dogs feel safe in their crates . it protects them from eating things and having surgeries...also aids in house training. at first place a puddle pad near the door of the crate till he is old enough to hold it all night. when the pad is dry in the am you will know he is old enough to hold it . real important to not feed large amounts..per meal. at his age go by how much the bag says but break it up into 3 x a day... is easier to digest that way.

Answer 8

I'd get stuck into the house training immediately if I were you. It's never too early to start and it's important to develop good habits in your dog from day one rather than trying to correct established problems.

Check out this page for house training info http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/puppy-house-training.html

Good luck with your Boxer!

Answer 9

Don't get her ears or tails clip if they already aren't. They are great dogs there is a show on the LIFE networks called the Dog Whisperer, lots of info there.

Oh, and don't name it something silly like Shorts, or Tyson. You'll only have to explain it everytime someone asks you "what's your dogs name".