Grooming, bathing, etc.

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

bairosk

Boxer Pal
I'm getting a boxer in mid-August and I'm trying to learn everything I can now so I can be ready for him when he gets here.

How often are boxers supposed to be brushed, bathed, and have their nails cut? I heard they don't need to be washed very often but I'm not sure how often. I also read that I should brush my puppy every day as soon as I get him so that he gets used to it. Also, do they shed a lot? Is there a certain time of the year when they shed the most?

Thanks for your help!
 
B

Baby Bella

Banned
First of all, congrats on your soon to be new family member!! Your home will soon be filled with lots of butt wiggles, smooches and laughter!! Boxers are very clean animals and do not require baths often at all. A weekly brush is fine, more when they are shedding....which is usually at the change of seasons. They are mild to moderate shedders....some shed more than others. They need their nails trimmed about once every 2-3 weeks if they are not exposed to pavement or concrete on a regular basis. Regular walks on a paved road will help to keep the nails filed down. Now, for a puppy.....yes, brush every day and ALWAYS touch the feet!!! Get him used to you touching his feet and ears. If you do not crop your boys ears, you will need to clean them about once every week or so. Again, some need it more than others. Now, a puppy does not need to be brushed every day, but the more he gets used to it as a puppy the easier it will be on you when he is a rambunctious 60 pound pup!! Bella HATES having her nails clipped and now that she is 41 pounds, she can put up quite a struggle....I wish I had messed with her feet more than I did! Another thing, do not bathe your puppy too much because it will wash away the natural oils in his skin..making it dry and flaky. If he gets dirty pretty regular, you can use a baby wipe to clean him off. However, if you want to get him used to a bath while young, a "water" bath will not hurt him at all!! You can pretend bathe him as often as you like to help get him used to the water and you washing him! Good luck and kudos to you for doing your research ahead of time! :)
 
B

boxerchick12

Banned
Baby Bella is absolutely right on everything. And again, definitely play with her feet and face area as much as possible to get her used to it. Roxy is fantastic, I would rub between her eyes and play with her feet daily and she is a dream when you cut her nails or have to do something with her face (she has a funky over developed "third eye lid" that requires some extra looking at). Also, socialize her as much as possible. While she is a small puppy, take her everywhere with you! This will not only give you a great bond, but will make her a more well adjusted dog. Not to mention all the great people you will meet coming up to you, "Oh, what a beautiful little puppy, let me pet her!!" My motto is treat them and talk to them like they're people and you'll get an unbelievable bond, in other words, respect them, they respect you. This is the difference between a real pet that is part of the family and a yard dog. Good Luck and have fun!!
 
M

Mya's_Mom

Banned
I agree with everyone. I constantly messed with Mya's ears, feet, mouth, tail, etc. when she was little. Now she holds her paws up for me to clip her nails. As for bathing, we would put her in the tub every week to get her used to baths. She only was in warm water, no soap unless she was really dirty. I do find now that usually water is enough to clean her off and only need soap when she is stinky. She loves her bath (you can see a pic in my gallery) and goes in and turns the water on by herself now! Good luck with the new baby!
 
wnt2adpt

wnt2adpt

Boxer Booster
appicon - yay on your future Boxer baby!!

I would brush every day. This removes dead hair, keeps the coat shiny, and reinforces you as leader of the pack. The more handling the better. I would not bathe your puppy at all (until about a year old) unless the pup is extremely dirty. If you wash frequently, the immune system is not as strong. They have a major 'shed' about twice a year. As long as their diet is good, they shouldn't shed excessively.

We Dremel Greta's nails - we have to do it once every 2-3 weeks! Her nails grow so fast! She's so used to the Dremel now, she falls asleep when we do it.
 
K

KonaKoffe

Boxer Pal
Dremel means to use a Dremel (brand) tool which is a small electric or battery operated grinder. They use them at nail shops too for manicures.
 
wnt2adpt

wnt2adpt

Boxer Booster
Sorry!! A Dremel is a little hand tool that has all sorts of attachments. We use the sander attachment & put it on the lowest speed. When we sand down her nails, we are always sure to avoid the 'quick' (or whatever it is actually called). It's the pink part inside the nail that will bleed if you cut into it. Greta will let us know when we get too close to the quick - she will gently jerk her paw.

You definitely have to be careful with this. However, I don't see this as any more dangerous than using clippers - you can still cut deeply, if not deeper, into the 'quick' with one big clip. I do not use a clipper and will probably not ever use them unless the Dremel breaks. ;) Check out CherryPlum's web address posted above - it gives good reasons why to Dremel (or sand) vs. Clipping. It also shows the tool itself & how to do it!! :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top