Puppy Question

Boxboy · 01-05-2012, 06:49 PM

Hey guys, Most of my Boxers have been rescues so I haven't dealt with puppies much. I bred my girl because She is a great dog and my family and some friends wanted puppies so I know they will go to great homes. I have 5 pups 2 males and 3 females. My question is: I am keeping a male but I need help to decide the best looking male to keep. They are both large and marked the same but one is larger with a shorter muzzle and a big wide head. He also seems to have larger bones? I know they will all be great dogs because the mom and dad are very smart, good nature'd and very lovable . So I guess I am shallow and want the one that will grow up to look the best. I'm sure some of you have been down this road and you can help me decide. Thank you so much!

Doreen · 01-05-2012, 10:44 PM

I have no experience in this either, but I know I like a short muzzle & a wide head.

purplelori · 01-06-2012, 09:45 AM

I agree on the short muzzle wide head (check out Wally!) But I think I'd pay more attention to personality. Is one more 'bouncy' and the other more 'laid back'? Which of those traits fit your lifestyle the best? And even more important--does one seem more connected to you than the other? That way, you get a handsome dog who REALLY fits you!

Boxboy · 01-06-2012, 02:09 PM

Thanks for the responses. I posted on another boxer forum that I shall leave nameless and they all just wanted to condemn me before they even found out that my dog is AKC and meets the bread standard and had all the appropriate test before breeding. They just treated me like I was a back yard breeder and the scum of the Earth.

Boxboy · 01-06-2012, 03:59 PM

It's really hard to choose! Both these little guys love me and they are both so playful, The smaller of the two males is marked a bit prettier then the large but the large one is just so massive! If he has good structure now, will he still be good when he is an adult or is it all just pot luck?

Doreen · 01-06-2012, 04:38 PM

Tough decision....that's why I could never breed.....I would be overflowing with Boxers as I wouldn't be able to part with ANY of them, LOL. Good luck!

Annie · 01-07-2012, 11:49 PM

I would be the same, Doreen! good luck, whichever you pick will be an awesome dog

Boxboy · 01-08-2012, 04:30 PM

I posted a few pics of my puppies on the photo page.

bruinsBoxers · 01-08-2012, 04:42 PM

You really have to wait until 8 weeks to evaluate a puppy , they will change a great deal from day to day .

That being said the correct testing to be done on boxers ( both parents) at a minimum are -

Holter test to check for ARVC ( yearly)

ECHO/Doppler - to check for SAS/AS

Thyroid test ( yearly)

DM test

Most also test hips , eyes and ARVC by gene test.

On the other forum people asked for the test results and you never
replied ( I am also a member there) .AKC registration alone does not make a dog fit the breed standard .
Can you post here about the testing that has been done on both your dogs? Then people won't want to accuse you of being a BYB

Boxboy · 01-08-2012, 06:28 PM

First off, I did not respond to them because I did not like their attitudes. So I deleted my link to that forum. I am not an idiot or a child. I'm not trying to breed my dog to theirs or sell them a puppy. So it's not really any of their business. I'm not populating the world with bad boxers. Maybe next time I want to ask a simple question, I should post my Vet's phone number? I am a one time breeder not a puppy mill. But if you must know, yes! My dog goes to the vet more then I go to the doctor and I have spent far more money at the vet then I care to talk about. She has been tested for hip dysplasia, so far her thyroid is good. The vet kept her 24 hours for her Holter test and showed her heart to be good with no inherited defects. The Echo showed no murmurs. I'm not sure what the DM test is that you speak of (I don't have her records in front of me) or whether it was done or not but my Vet gave her a clean bill of health. Her eyes have not been checked that I know of but I have known her parents and her grand parents and they are all healthy dogs. Also I did not state that she was AKC to say she was healthy it was to prove she was full blooded. She and all the dogs I have seen from the last 3 generations fit the breed standard with many of them being Champions. Showing does not interest me. Also the sire who does not belong to me has had all his test and more and he too is a Champ. Also this was not done for money the pups are all going free to family and close friends that have been waiting on me to breed her. Also let me say thank you for stating "8 weeks to evaluate a puppy". That is an answer that I was looking for. It's crazy that I had to go through all of this just for an answer.