Husband wants a puppy

[aeroslove]

My husband has been wanting a boxer puppy for a year now and so do i. We wanted a Dog breed that is good with children but also hyper kids. I been having trouble looking for a breeder near me. I didnt know what BYD was until today. I mean, all i know is that some people do breed dogs at their home and some have papers some dont. I guess i believe people what they say is true if they are honest and i can tell. The only way we can buy a puppy is if its under $500. I dont know if thats asking for a lot but we dont have the cash to spend up front like that. My husband is not into Rescue dogs and tells me he wants a PUPPY and it has to be a BOXER. I initially didnt want a puppy because i have three kids with husband. a 8 year old, a 6 year old and a 2 1/2 year old. I am a stay at home mom but i get tired quickly. He now works and works 40 hrs a week. How is it fair on me to be responsible for a dog HE wants and has all the says so. He says he wants a puppy because he wants the dog to know us only and rescue does are tempermental and who knows if they are pure bred etc etc... So i caved in said okay. I cant find any Breeders in Victorville, Ca.

Checked out the AKC website and emailed or called every person under 100 miles radius and nobody has responded. How does anyone know for sure if a BYB isnt educated enough to still sell them? I mean with out papers? What if the person can tell me about the Mother and Father, Brindle, Fawn etc? What if shes a license vet? Also when someone has no papers, why dont they have them? Does it cost too much?

 

[LILYLARUE]

I don't mean to sound rude, but a puppy is a ton of responsibility and it looks like the majority of it will fall on you! So, if you are not ready to care for another baby, then please, please, please pass on the puppy for a few more years.

I don't want to pick apart your post BUT there are a few key things that I must respond to:

First off, I rescue dogs. So my opinions come from after that cute puppy is no longer wanted by his family.

If you can't afford a puppy from a reputible breeder, then you can't afford the puppy. I say this because well-bred, ethically bred, morally bred puppies are priced high because of all the care, medical testing, and show costs incurred by the sire and bitch (the parents). Getting a puppy from a reputible breeder heightens your chances of NOT getting a puppy that has a history of illness in their lineage. Yes, some of the litters have a puppy with a condition or illness that is common for the breed, but a reputible breeder won't ever breed that sire and bitch again, and will retire the parent with the gene, if found.

Now with that said, if you can't afford the price for a reputible pup, then what will happen when that back yard bred dog or puppy mill dog becomes sick from an congetial issue? Boxers can be a rather healthy breed, but a boxer owner should always have a nice stash of funds in case of emergencies that are never cheap with a boxer.

Secondly, your husband has no idea just how many AKC registered puppies and teen boxers that end up in shelters or rescues. The statistics are that over 30% of dogs euthanized every year are in fact PURE BRED DOGS AND MOST HAVE REGISTRATION PAPERS! Many rescue dogs were GREAT PETS and would be to their next family. In this economy, many well loved pets with a great temperment and history are ending up in shelters and rescues. So please don't discount them. I have 3 awesome, dedicated and well behaved rescues = it's my boxer I got at 8 wks from a breeder that actually has the behavioral and physical problems.

As for papers, whatever registery they are registered with, only means both parents were registered, so the puppies would ge too. If you do not plan to show your dog, the papers are of no purpose. Reputiple breeders register their dogs with AKC or UKC or CKC, depending what country. There are numerous other registries, but not common, and those dogs cannot show at an AKC show. AKC and UKC stipulates the breed standards for their respective countries. Many scrupulous breeders, who don't understand proper breeding practices, or understand showing and registration, will use the papers as means to get a bigger price for the dog. BUT, it means nothing to the quality or health of those puppies or future litters.

There is a section on finding a reputible breeder, or staying clear of the red flags from BYB's or Millers in the FAQ section here on this site. I suggest reading the entire FAQ section to get as much information of the breed so you can make a better informed decision - and hopefully in a few years when the entire family is prepared and ready for that special puppy.

 

[aeroslove]

I understand with everything you say but i cant force my husband to get a Rescue dog. He wants to do whatever he wants and has been wanting a puppy because thats what he wants. I showed him a puppy ready to go to a home in Jan when he/she turns 8 weeks and he said no because the father is probably mixed but the puppy took after the mom. Yes it falls under me and thats what isnt fair because i dont have a say so but he does. I also get why a person would choose a breeder over a rescue and then a rescue over a breeder. there are pros and cons. I just dont want anyone here thinking oh shes nuts or whatever about me... Im trying to make a informed choice.

 

[chrystel]

some boxer rescues have puppies check them out!

 

[cantfindlog]

I agree with all that was written by LILLYLARUE.

Here is what I can add: Have your husband take some time, now that you've joined BW, reading as many posts written here by our BW members. Read tons of posts in the Rearing Puppies section, the health section and Rainbow bridge.

Not to long ago there was a lenghty discussion about the cons of purchasing BYB dogs/puppies, look at those posts. It truly is sad, all the things that can happen. Sure, many people purchase from BYB and they get lucky and have their boxer for many, many years free of problems.

Have you ever seen all the sad commercials on TV asking for donations to help fund various humane society type rescues for all the abandoned animals? If so, buying from a BYB keeps these types of shelters in need all year round due to people buying animals that they later do not want or become sick and can't afford it. My Leah comes from a rescue and it was one of the best decisions that I've ever made.

The last thing I leave you with, and many here would agree: if you're going to get a Boxer you need to save money in a seperate savings account or at least research pet insurance before you purchase a dog. All dogs cost a lot of money, however, Boxers can cost alot more than most! I'm not kidding about saving money first. So many people join here and are so excited that they have a new puppy until the first health situation arises. Then we all see posts about how treatment is expensive and they can't afford it. It's hard to read posts like that because if you want to be a responsible pet owner you need money for treatment and routine vet care.

Good luck in your search and spend time reading posts here at BW

 

[Sansal]

I agree with cantfindlog, I think it would be super helpful for you and your husband to read through the forums. Here is another thread for you to read

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/choosing-breeder/76541-backyard-breeding-consequences.html

500$ will get you a byb puppy, definitely not a puppy from a responsible breeder. However, the purchasing price will not be your biggest expense. The puppy will need vet visits and vaccinations, supplies, toys, food..... Many byb puppies have severe health issues that can cost you EASILY thousands of dollars.

I think that rescuing could be a really good option for you. Or, if you really decided to get a puppy, do some more research and make sure you have enough money put asides for the right puppy from a responsible breeder and to cover any additional costs.

Also, I hope you won't get offended by the replies you get - we certainly don't think you're nuts It can be hard to communicate on a message board and I know from my own experience how easy it is to get offended Especially since we are all so passionate about the boxer breed lovicon

 

[cantfindlog]

Also, I hope you won't get offended by the replies you get - we certainly don't think you're nuts It can be hard to communicate on a message board and I know from my own experience how easy it is to get offended Especially since we are all so passionate about the boxer breed lovicon

Totally agree Santina!

@ aeroslove: please take all posts as a lesson learned by the poster. I wish I'd known about BW before I bought my first boxer. Now I know and have grown by reading and posting on this site. No one wants to discourage the wonderful love of a Boxer. We all want you as informed as possible and to not look back with the old saying hindsight is 20/20.

 

[daisyandduke]

Don't go to a BYB

Speaking from experience in buying my pups from a BYB, never again....I brought them home and both because ill from Parvo, we ended up spending more money in vet bills and medication, not to mention heartache and frustration we felt when we did not know if they were going to live or die.

Looking back, we would have invested money in buying our pups from a reputable breeder or would have adopted from a shelter to ensure that our puppies were healthy. Take it from me...it is not worth the risk and the heartache. We love our furkids and would do anything for them, however, we would have rather spent the money up front to ensure their health. We spent the first 10 days taking care of 2 sick pups rather than enjoying our time with them, not to mention having to retrain them in potty training because they could not go outside for the next 6 months after fighting Parvo. If you cannot afford to buy from a reputable breeder or do not want to adopt from a shelter, then you may not be ready to own a dog (of any kind), it is a definite lifestyle change.

Owning a dog is a huge investment that takes commitment AND devotion, not just up front but for the life of your pet. As time passes, you will see that the initial investment would be worth it for a whole lot of love. It is my hope that you are not wanting a dog/puppy just to have one or to give into the pressure that your hubby wants one - you have to be "all in" especially because you may have the bulk of the responsibility once you get the pup. The novelty of having a cute puppy ends quickly and the responsibility sets in, not just for you, but for the family, before you know it...you have a 55 lb. puppy at 8 months full of life and energy.

Just think about it and make a sensible decision that makes sense for you and your family. Consider the lifelong investment of time and money, not just the up front costs. The cost of training, taking time to train, buying good food, trips to the vet, toys, bedding, medication, vacation boarding or a pet-sitter (in case you go out of town). I wish these were things that I considered prior to buying my pups. I wish I found this board sooner rather than later then perhaps it would have spared us the heartache in the beginning and our decision may have been a little different.

Ultimately, it is your decision - but it is always good to weigh the pros and cons. If the cons outweigh the pros then maybe revisit the idea at another time. Dogs rely 100% on their human companions for love, shelter and support. Are you ready for that? Is your family ready for that? If it is not a resounding "YES! ABSOLUTELY" from you and your family, then there may be an issue. It is good to know what you are getting yourself into and to jump in with eyes wide open.

Good luck to you and your family.