Friend for life

Something I’ve noticed is that it seems to be normalized for puppy buyers to pick up their new puppy from the breeder, and then be left on their own to figure it all out. People show up to training classes not even sure about the basics of potty training.

When the new owners have questions, they google it or come to a group of strangers online. They are getting their diet recommendations from Facebook groups, a vet tech or a pet store. Usually these people do not have experience with the specifics of the boxer breeds’ needs, and online you don’t know who people are (there are a lot of paid pet food profiles out there proliferating all sorts of social media leaving comments and engaging in conversation to sway opinions, they have even created ‘nutrition’ groups).

Breeders have a responsibility to their dogs for life. Buyers, you also have a responsibility to choose your breeder wisely. The most obvious is to not purchase puppies from pet stores, puppy mills or brokers. If you are not able to maintain a connection with the person selling you your puppy for the life of the dog, you should pass.

You might think that this isn’t a big deal. It is. Your breeder is insanely invested in their breed. They keep up to date on the latest health research and news. They will know, often before your vet, if/when new recommendations come out for things like spay & neutering or diet.

Your breeder is your biggest asset to help you with your boxer. Ideally you will bring your puppy home knowing that you will have a lifetime of support from their breeder as well. This person you choose should always be willing to answer questions, share their experiences and knowledge, and help you troubleshoot any issues you might have along the way.

This is an often overlooked bonus of purchasing a puppy from a preservation breeder. I wanted to put these thoughts out there today and hope they get to the people that need them. Having the right breeder can mean the difference someone between keeping their rambunctious terrible teenage boxer who needs help with training, or surrendering them to a shelter due to lack of knowledge or support.