Buying a Boxer Puppy
What to expect from a breeder who puts Health, Welfare and Temperament first.
Avoid dogs with extreme brachycephalic conformation (very short noses or protruding eyes) or heavily wrinkled skin, as these features are associated with health problems.
Essential Documents
- Heath Certificates (both parents)
- Signed AWF Puppy Contract
- KC Registration Certificate (if applicable)
- Microchip Registration Certificate
- Temporary Pet Health Insurance
- Vaccination Certificate
A Good Breeder Will:
- have socialised and habituated the puppy
- provide a supply of food
- provide a blanket smelling of Mum
- follow the Code of Practice for Dog Breeding
Official Health Schemes
- BVA/KC scheme for Hip dysplasia
- abnormal formation of the hip joint – pain and lameness
- BVA/KC scheme for Elbow dysplasia
- abnormal formation of the elbow joint – pain and lameness
- TheBVA/KC eye testing scheme
- checks for many inherited abnormalities that can cause progressive blindness or pain
- Breed club scheme for Subaortic stenosis
- abnormal structure of heart, can cause heart failure
Other Diseases
No current health scheme or DNA test available.
- Allergies
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- Cancers
- various
- Corneal ulceration
- slow-healing ulcers on surface of eyeball
- CCL – Cranial cruciate ligament disease
- rupture of the knee ligament
- Cardiomyopathy
- progressive heart muscle weakness
- GDV – Gastro dilatation/volvulus (‘bloat’)
- stomach fills with air and twists, can be fatal
- Gastrointestinal disease
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- Hormonal problems
- particularly underactive thyroid
- JKD – Juvenile kidney disease
- abnormal kidney structure, often fatal
DNA Tests Relevant to Breed
- DM – degenerative myelopathy
- progressive weakness and paralysis of back legs
- Factor VIII deficiency
- rare blood clotting disorder
Further Information
Puppies that are mostly or entirely white are more likely to be deaf.