Hi I know a dog is not just for christmas but I have been looking for a boxer puppy for ages and my partner and I are really desperate to give our love and affection to a beautiful boxer. My wish would be to buy him a puppy for christmas and give him a really nice surprise that he wouldn't expect. my trouble is, that I can't be sure that there will be any puppies around for the christmas period. Would you be able to help me out and let me know if anyone is breeding their boxers to sell puppies at christmas time. please help. Becky. contact me on hbrian666@aol.com

Hi becky,
Im sure a lot of others will agree with me on this one. Its not just the fact that the dog is being given as a present that people disagree with, but when you first get a puppy it needs your undivided attention at first as he/she is settling into a totally new environment and it will also need to be quite and hassle free. We all know christmas is the opposite of that and a puppy being introduced into a home at this hectic time of year can be very damaging in the long run. As a boxer owner myself I know they are a very demanding breed at first and boxers especially need time to bond with you, I really dont know how one would cope being introduced into a new home at this time of year. Personally I slept downstairs cuddled in a duvet on the living room floor for the first week I had Nellie, this helped me form a really close bond with her from the start and she had no problems settling in- I couldnt have done this at christmas.
I think anytime you buy him a boxer will be just as nice a suprise than at christmas, So why not buy one now and buy christmas he/she will be settled into the home?

Regards
Sam

Hi I agree with sam, Christmas / New Year week is not the time to bring a puppy home. If you can find a litter that will be ready some time in early January you could maybe ask the breeder to take a photo of the puppies and you could make it into a Christma card on the pc and give that as the surprise. Then you could both spend a couple of weeks getting the house/equipment ready together, reading up on how to look after the new puppy, finding the best vet/training classes in the area etc etc. For presents on Christmas day you could buy the "Doglopedia" by Kay White and Jim Evans ( just about the best general doggy care book) if you are getting a male puppy or if its going to be a female "The book of the Bitch" by the same pair. Also a book called "The perfect puppy" - sorry cant remember author, has been highly recommended on this site. PLease make sure that your puppies' parents have had a passed satisfactorily all the hereditary tests for the breed, including heart testing. I am sure a boxer expert here can tell you all about necessary tests for the parents.

I agree with the comments already given and was going to make a suggestion along the lines of giving a photo of the breed - perhaps mum and dad or puppy if possible. Some houses have a very very quiet Christmas and can cope with a puppy but many reputable breeders will not release puppies over the Christmas period because it is usually so unsettling for everybody and does not give the pup a fair chance.

Good luck with your search and do let us know how you get on

Pam n the boys

I also have to agree. We have a six month old boxer bitch, Daisy Jones.
She is amazing, but Xmas with a boxer puppy sounds like hard work to the tenth degree.
Plan it, give him a "voucher for a pup", etc...
Best of luck,
Boxers rule!!!!
Megbel

Hi there

sorry but yet another person who's going to tell you to wait until after christmas. The already given advice is excellent and after re homeing a young abandoned GDS pup from the kennels at the police station i work from last january i have to say it drives the message home! Having a new pup is a wonderful but exhausting experience at anytime of the year. Good luck:)

I generally agree too, however if it's just the two of you and it remains a quiet time for you both I don't see why not. Just ask yourself if you can commit to taking a lot of time to help the puppy adjust at that time of year. If you can't then wait until you honestly can say "yes" to the question.

Carissa

Becky, I almost didn't get my first much loved wolfhound because of the 'Christmas factor'. I'd done all of the research and chosen the breeder (She didn't intend to have a Christmas litter, but it worked out that way). Then my idiot husband then rang the poor woman to say he "wanted to buy his wife a wolfhound puppy for Christmas". At which the poor woman hand seven forms of pink fits and more or less told Ian to get lost :-). It took some fast talking later to get the pup, which turned out to be one of the best I've ever had.