When purchasing a puppy please do your homework. 

Research the breed, is it right for you? 

What health issues are there in the breed?

(See below for a brief synopsis of the health issues in the boxer).

Will you be able to give a boxer the exercise it needs when it is fully grown? 

Can you afford to feed it, worm it, flea treat it, insure it and take it to the vet when it needs to? 

Where will he/she sleep?  Crate or bed? 

What will your boxer eat?

What happens when you are on holiday?

What happens if it gets to big and boisterous – what then? 

What happens if a baby comes along? 

These are questions that need serious consideration. 

The interview process for one of my puppies makes “The Apprentice” look like a holiday camp. 

Once all things have been considered and you are still keen – where do you start?

The Kennel Club advertise puppies on their website and it is a good place to start. 

They also have an Accredited Breeders Scheme (Shimitoki Boxers are part of this scheme) which I feel is a good thing in the way that it protects the purchaser rather than the breeder. 

The breeder has a code of practice to abide by and can be reprimanded for poor service.

My advice is to contact lots of boxer breeders and have a chat. 

If they do not know their dog’s pedigree inside out or its heart score then my advice is  to politely say “bye”. 

I can keep people on the phone for hours talking Boxer.

A good chat with a friendly breeder goes a long way in the PR stakes.

We invite people along to our house to meet all our boxers and have a cup of tea – even if we do not have any litters. 

We have a chat and before we know it we have chatted for two hours.  The record so far is four and a half.  

Some people prefer to find litters that are ready NOW – a desperate or quick purchase does not always work out for the best. 

Just look at some items in your wardrobe! 

I have waited a long time in some instances for the right puppy. 

But it has been worth the wait. 

So you have decided a boxer is right for you, you have found a litter that is KC registered, the sire & dam have been heart scored by a Cardiologist and are deemed suitable for breeding – all the foregoing questions have “YES” answers then you are now going to see the puppies. 

Viewing of the puppies happens at five weeks. 

If you see puppies before this then I would be suspicious of the care and attention demonstrated by the breeder as there is a risk of infection to puppies before five weeks as their immune system is still maturing. 

It is important to see “Mum” and how the puppies interact with her and the living conditions of the litter. 

The Dam may look a little worse for wear as she has put all her goodness into her puppies so can loose condition. 

You may not be able to see the Sire as it is common practice for the Stud Dog to live somewhere else with another breeder. 

Photos should be provided for your perusal as should a copy of the puppies five generation pedigree and the Heart Score Certificates of the sire and dam. 

The most important thing I would advise is not to take your children along, you will not be allowed to leave without buying a puppy even if that puppy is not right for your family as your children will pile on the pressure. 

By all means take them along the following week but not at the initial visit. 

I like to see families because if they cannot control a toddler they have no hope with a full grown boxer.

You have now selected you puppy and the day to picking up your puppy is getting closer. 

It is customary to give a puppy pack to the new owners and it contains food, toys, blanket, etc. 

Each breeder has their own pack and we also give away a folder with lots of information, copies of health certificates, insurance documents, KC papers, five generation pedigree and a DVD with pictures of the litter as they were growing up. 

Most importantly we have a contract that is agreed and is signed by both parties. 

Contracts are there for the purchasers’ protection as much as the breeders. 

A copy of our contract can be e-mailed on request. 

Please ensure that when you pick up your puppy that you get the Kennel Club paperwork there and then. 

There has been numerous disputes over the years in relation to KC paperwork, people not getting the paperwork and paying for a KC registered dog. 

The dog being DL registered instead- this is the Dog Lovers Society. 

Totally different to the Kennel Club and they have no affiliation what so ever.

Please when choosing a puppy bear some of the above information in mind as it can be a minefield for the inexperienced.