NOTICE TO OWNERS
There have been occasions where owners have rehomed their boxer without using the official NIBRS channels and have relied on people saying that they have been "home checked" by NIBRS.

Please be aware that not everyone passes a home check by us and a promise made to you by the new owner as regards spaying etc, may not actually happen.

If you decide to rehome your boxer outside of the NIBRS, then we CANNOT be held responsible or accountable for any future repercussions that may arise.

ADOPTING A BOXER
Boxers make brilliant family pets. They have a reputation of being good with kids, they are loyal, full of fun, and always ready to play. Add to this their handsome striking good looks and it seems you have the perfect pet.

The boxer is a medium sized dog, very muscular, sturdy and deep chested. As a breed these dogs are very lively, strong and very loyal. Temperament wise, they are fearless and very self assured. They make great pets for all the family, and are known for their affection for children. They will be 'one of the kids' if you have a young family and will take them all to their heart! A well trained boxer can be a child's best friend, but a boxer's strength and energy levels can sometimes be too much for a toddler and supervision should be paramount with a new dog. The boxer is a hardy dog, and although full of stamina, is not quick to start a fight. They remain puppy like throughout their lives, making them quite a handful at times, and often unintentionally create havoc wherever they go! They can be destructive if they are left alone for long periods of time.

The boxer loves to live in a busy household, and likes to be involved in all that goes on. Those who receive insufficient attention may resort to 'bad' behaviour in an attempt to get it. The proper balance of rest and exercise is also essential to maintain a happy, healthy boxer. As with any breed, obedience training is essential for a well mannered companion, they are a clever, intelligent breed and its important to remember that an intelligent dog can devise many ways of getting into trouble! They should be trained in a firm but fair manner and do not respond to, or deserve, harsh treatment.

The boxer is an indoor dog. While they enjoy and need to play and exercise outdoors, they are not suited for living outside. Their short coats cannot protect them from long exposure to cold temperatures and their short muzzles can also make very hot weather in the summer quite uncomfortable for them. Their short coats require little grooming, but like most breeds they do shed in spring and autumn.

WHY DO BOXERS END UP IN RESCUE?
Most of the dogs in our rescue come to due to a change in their owners circumstances; a family spilt; owners ill health etc. Some come to us because their owners simply cant cope with the demand of an energetic strong dog and did not realise what they were taking on when they got the dog as a cute little pup. We do unfortunately, sometimes get dogs as a result of cruelty and from time to time, dogs that have been abandoned or are found straying.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A RESCUED BOXER
First and foremost, try to understand how your new boxer must be feeling. He has been taken away from everything familiar to him and placed in a strange house, with strange people. He will not be able to relax or sleep until he has sniffed out every corner of your house and introduced himself to all the people and animals in it. The temperament of the average boxer will help him adapt quite quickly, because, as a breed, they tend to make friends very easily.

However, maybe your new boxer has had a very tough time, been treated unkindly, neglected or even abused. Be sympathetic to his needs and most of all, be patient. It will take 2-6 weeks for your dog to reach the conclusion that he is here to stay. The time it takes will depend on his previous experience, his age, and his state of health. Obviously, a shy nervous dog will need more reassurance than a big bouncy confident dog. Both however, will need a lot of love, understanding and affection.

Generally, it is a good idea to treat your new dog as a puppy, regardless of his age. You need to show him his routine; where he toilets, eats and sleeps. You need to resist the urge to 'spoil' him at first because he is a rescue dog, as the first few days will set the precedent for the weeks to come. Above all, start as you mean to go on, and be consistent.

It is also important to remember that some dogs who have been in kennels may be suffering from kennel stress, which manifests itself in many ways; house soiling, vomiting and diarrhoea, lethargy or even hyperactivity, barking, and generally behaviour that is not 'the real' him. It will normally take several weeks for your dog to feel fully secure in his new home and you should expect some 'teething' troubles during this time. Be patient and feel free to contact us for any support that you need.

BRINGING YOUR NEW BOXER HOME

The first day.
Please take things easy and calmly. Do not invite all your friends and family round to meet your new boxer straight away. It will take him time to sniff out his new home, and meet the immediate family members. Until he has done this, he wont feel safe. To overwhelm your new boxer with too many introductions, will almost certainly result in over excitement or, in the case of a nervous dog, a frightening experience which will take several days to overcome. Let him investigate the house in his own time, show him his bed, and where his water bowl is. A nervous dog may be thirsty and your dog should always have a fresh water supply available. Keep things as calm as you can and do not feed him until he has settled in a bit.

Young children.
Before your new boxer arrives make sure that younger children understand that their new boxer will be a fully paid up member of the family, with rights to rest and privacy and is not just a living toy. It is also important that the children understand that the dog will initially be afraid and nervous and that this may make him frightened and defensive. At the same time, from day one start to train your boxer that chewing up children's toys is not an acceptable way to behave. Teach the children and the dog to respect each other, and they will become firm friends. Young boxers in particular, need rest and over excitement can lead to boisterous excesses. Try to make sure that you have some part of the day, at least, for your boxer alone. These can take the form of training sessions, games, or just cuddles, but its important that you new dog feels that he does not have to compete for your attention all the time.

Household rules.
Before you new boxer arrives, decide where he will sleep, and stick to this. Most boxers will want to sleep as close to you as possible, but if you aren’t keen on this idea, make sure he sleeps where you want him to, on his first night. He may cry or bark initially, but he will usually settle happily once he begins to feel more secure in his new home. Routine is especially important in these early days so try to settle him around the same time each night.

Like children, boxers need to learn their boundaries, and must learn these from day one. If you don’t want your boxer on your good settee, don’t let him on it from day one. Always be consistent. He will quickly understand if your rules never vary but will be confused if they do.

Also like children, boxers (particularly males) will try to test your boundaries to the limit. It is unwise to allow this to continue and can lead to your dog resenting any form of discipline. In the wild, the pack leader calls the shots and your boxer will be a much happier family member of he does not not feel he has to take on the responsibility of looking after you all. It is you who must be the leader of the pack and it will be your job to look after him, not the other way round.

Exercise.
Try to exercise your boxer around the same time each day. Under no circumstances let him off the lead for at least 4 weeks, longer if you are unsure of his reaction. Your boxer needs time to get to know you and his immediate locality, and can easily get lost if he runs off. The first few times you let him off the lead, make sure that it is somewhere you can easily retrieve him if you have to. Test him by calling him back several times, if necessary, with the bribe of a treat or game. If he is reluctant to come to your call, please do take him to training classes and teach him the error of his ways. Never ever chase a boxer who is running away from you in an attempt to catch him. Boxers love to play chase and this can turn into a very fun game for him. You will find it extremely hard to catch a boxer running at full speed. If he is not coming to your call, avoid the urge to get angry and shout. This will only make him less likely to return. Hard as it can be, you need to act like you are having fun, jump around, run the opposite direction etc and you will find that he finds it very hard to resist investigating what you are doing.

Boxers are very intelligent dogs and a bored boxer can be a force to be reckoned with. Toys and games that encourage your boxer to think are invaluable and once he gets the hang of it, can keep him happily entertained for some time. A stuffed Kong toy or a treat cube filled with kibble are our personal favourites, please ask your rescue contact who will be happy to elaborate on this.

Leaving him/her home alone.
We get a lot of boxers into rescue because, as a breed, they do not cope well with being left alone for long periods of time. Typically this will result in destructiveness or house soiling, in all cases, this is a protest at being left alone. Boxers think that their place is at your side, and to be honest, any form of separation from you hurts them very much. However, all dogs must be left alone at some time, so start off with only few minutes at a time and work your way up to half an hour or so. Try if at all possible, not to leave your boxer until he is settled with you and your family home, as a non destructive dog may well do some damage through insecurity or fear in the early days. Its important that you resist the urge to make a fuss of the dog when you return home, as this is only reinforcing his view that you being apart is a bad thing, if you calmly return home and ignore the dog for the first few minutes, you are showing him that to be apart for a short time, is no big deal. Giving an anxious dog a stuffed Kong etc when you leave teaches him to associate you leaving with good things happening, and also gives him something else to concentrate on other than your absence. A radio being left on can also be a great comfort, especially when your house is normally full of noise.

Feeding.
We try as hard as possible to give you as much information as possible about your new boxer, but in some cases, this is not always possible. If you can continue with the same diet and feeding schedule, even for a short time, it will help with the settling in process. If you wish to make variations to the diet this is fine, but please do this slowly. Introduce a new food gradually over a few days. Sudden changes in diet can lead to tummy troubles, the last thing you both need. Gradually introducing supplementary foods like oily fish (tuna, sardines or mackerel) from a can, cored apples, and natural yogurt will help get your boxer fit and healthy.

Health.
All the boxers in rescue receive veterinary attention for their needs, and you will receive a full medical history where possible. We will always pass on any information that we have about your new dog. We do ask that you have a full medical examination of your new dog, made by your vet who will look after him for the rest of his life as soon as possible, PLEASE INFORM US IMMEDIATELY IF YOUR VET HIGHLIGHTS ANY PROBLEM.

PLEASE NOTE - Sadly due to the withdrawal of the Dogs Trust neutering vouchers on 1 January 2008, we can no longer help towards the cost of neutering or spaying, but it IS a condition of adopting. Be aware, that any person or family on benefits, can still get help towards the cost of spaying or neutering your dog. Please ask your Vet or call the Dogs Trust directly for details.

Please allow your Boxer a few weeks to settle in before organising this.

Boxers can be prone to some health problems, (heart troubles, skin and allergy problems, some tumours and some digestive issues) we ask that you regularly have your boxer checked over by a vet and seek prompt veterinary attention for any problems that arise. Getting your boxer accustomed to being checked over by you means that you can quickly spot any changes or problems and act accordingly. This is best done when the dog is calm and quiet and it can be a nice bonding experience for both of you.

We are always available if you need any extra support with your new boxer.
Please contact us if you have any problems, need some advice or just a quick chat.