Boxer Puppies for Sale

Males are bigger, at about 65–80 lb and 22–25 in tall, against 50–65 lb and 21–23.5 in for females.

There are no miniature or giant Boxers, and the breed standard describes one medium size.

Not all, but white Boxers are at increased risk of deafness in one or both ears, so a hearing check is worthwhile. A white coat is outside the AKC breed standard, but a white Boxer can receive AKC limited registration and compete in performance events. Its unpigmented skin also needs protection from strong sun.

In US practice, tails are usually docked within a few days of birth, and front dewclaws may be removed. Boxers have no rear dewclaws. Ear cropping is common in the US but not required: the AKC standard allows natural ears, and the UKC and FCI standards accept natural ears and tails.

Boxers are strongly people-oriented, and their wish for human affection is the breed's defining trait.

Boxers are alert watchdogs with a strong instinct to protect their family. They are wary of strangers but can tell a friend from an intruder, and they respond to friendly approaches.

Boxers take part in therapy dog work, including the AKC Therapy Dog program. The breed also has a long working record, including courier and guard duty in both World Wars.

Boxers are good with children, patient and protective. Their bouncy play can knock over small children, so supervise play with toddlers. Boxer breeders on Pawrade report socializing 76% of their litters with older children and 73% with younger children.

Early socialization is the key, so introduce a Boxer puppy to many people and animals and join a puppy class early. Breeders on Pawrade report socializing 83% of Boxer litters with large-breed dogs before the puppies go home. Nearly half of Boxer buyers on Pawrade already have another dog at home.

A Boxer needs exercise every day, more than 2 hours of activity and play in all. Mix walks with play and short training games, because a bored Boxer finds its own entertainment.

They handle neither well, because the short muzzle makes Boxers sensitive to heat and the very short coat gives little warmth. Avoid long spells in heat and sun, keep exercise for the cooler hours, and use a dog coat in cold weather.

Not for long stretches, because Boxers are people-oriented and happiest with their family. A crate makes a safe den, but keep crate time to about 4 hours at a stretch, and remember that boredom can turn destructive.

It can work, but it is not the easiest fit, because Boxers need plenty of daily exercise and room to move. Almost all Boxer buyers on Pawrade have a yard.

A Boxer should never run loose, so it needs a securely fenced yard or a leash. Some are escape artists even from fenced yards, so check the fence and screen doors and train a reliable recall.

Hard running and jumping should wait until the growth plates close, at about 18 months. Growth plates in a puppy's legs stay soft while it grows, and strenuous exercise can hurt them. Until then, keep your puppy lean and stick to free play and easy walks rather than forced exercise.

Boxers shed moderately all year, and no dog is truly hypoallergenic. A short coat does not make a dog allergy-friendly: Boxers shed and drool.

A Boxer needs little grooming, just a weekly brush, a bath now and then and regular nail trims. Boxers tend to keep themselves clean, and their teeth need brushing often.

Boxers are intelligent and quick to learn, but independent-minded, so the right approach matters. Use high-value food rewards in short, varied sessions, because harsh handling and endless repetition backfire.

Adolescence usually starts at about 6–8 months, and many dogs test boundaries and seem to forget their training for a while. It is a normal phase, and consistent training, patience and plenty of exercise help. Boxers do not tolerate a hard hand, so stick to short sessions with high-value food rewards.

Boxers compete in AKC obedience, rally, agility, tracking and herding events, and in lure coursing. They also take part in dock diving, barn hunt, nose work and carting.

Boxer breeders on Pawrade report a typical litter of 6 puppies, usually between 3 and 8.

Set up a crate the puppy can stand, turn and stretch in, check fences and screen doors, and plan to keep the puppy warm. Book a first vet visit and ask the vet to listen to the heart.

Start the day your puppy comes home, because the first 3 months are the most important time for learning that new people, places and animals are safe. Puppy classes can start as early as 7–8 weeks, as long as your puppy stays away from sick dogs. For a Boxer, early socialization also helps channel the breed's energy and protective streak.

Most Boxer litters on Pawrade meet other dogs and children before the puppies go home. Breeders report socializing 83% of litters with large-breed dogs, 76% with older children and 73% with younger children. These figures come from what breeders reported for 267 litters. Keep introducing new people and animals once your puppy is home, because early socialization helps channel the breed's energy.

Spaying or neutering is a decision to talk through with your vet, because the right timing depends on things like sex and expected adult size. Ask about anesthesia for your own dog at the same visit.

The Veterinary Health Report is the record of your Boxer puppy's exam before it goes home. The breeder's licensed vet gives the puppy itself a full hands-on exam to PetPay's standards and writes down what they find. It gives you and your own vet a clear starting point for your puppy's care.

The breeder's licensed veterinarian examines every puppy before it goes home, to PetPay's exam standards. The results are recorded in the puppy's Veterinary Health Report, and a copy travels with your puppy for your records.

The breeder's vet examines the whole puppy and pays close attention to a few things that matter in Boxers. The vet listens to the heart for a murmur, checks the bite and teeth, and checks how a white or mostly white puppy responds to sound.

Before travel, every puppy follows PetPay's vaccination and deworming schedule as far as its age allows: deworming at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks, and the distemper, parvo, adenovirus and parainfluenza combination shot at 6–8, 9–11 and 12–14 weeks. Bordetella and corona are given at the vet's discretion, and no vaccine is given within 3 days of travel. Rabies is given by a licensed vet on the schedule your state requires. Your own vet completes the series. Your puppy's vaccination and deworming records are separate documents that travel with your puppy. Bring them, with the Veterinary Health Report, to your first visit so your vet starts from the same record.

If the vet finds something that could put your puppy at risk during travel, your puppy stays with the breeder until it's resolved. Problems that can be treated before travel are treated by the breeder's licensed vet first. Anything else the vet notes is shared with you.

Puppies grow and change quickly, and their immune systems are still developing, so no single exam can find everything. In Boxers, the heart-rhythm problem ARVC and degenerative myelopathy start in adulthood, and some murmurs are heard only as a puppy grows. The report is a strong early look at your puppy, and your own vet builds on it at every checkup.

Every puppy comes with a health guarantee administered by PetPay, independent of the seller. The terms are on the health guarantee page.

Boxer buyers rate their Pawrade experience 4.7 out of 5 on average, from 234 reviews, and about 80% of those reviews give 5 stars.