How do you know you are right for a boxer?

[delyn]

I am so torn right now. I visited with a prospective puppy and her breeder on Friday afternoon. Puppy is exactly what I'm looking for, all of the recommended testing with paperwork and pedigree were made available. Boxer puppies will be 9 weeks next week so timing is perfect. Problem being, after having been visiting these boards, I'm questioning myself.

I'm home for several months and then will be going back to work at the end of summer. I'm questioning whether I would be good for the puppy since I would be gone 9 hours of the day and the pup would be in a crate. Those I have spoke with including the trainer (that previously showed boxers) and I used with my sheltie have indicated that knowing me, I would be fine with a boxer. It would break my heart (again) if I were to get the pup and not be able to provide it all it needs with time.

Please let me know how many of you do work a 40 hour week and have dogs that were able to manage this using the crate method. I am a single adult household for the most part and want this pet to be actively involved with me outside of my work hours but I'm not finding daycare available in the area. I don't have family in the area or someone to depend on to come in thru the day. I appreciate any help and constructive advice. In 6 months I have done as much reading as possible and really thought this would be my perfect choice. Why, after all of this time am I having doubts? Thanks!

[RockyCody]

My husband and I both work a 40 + hour work week. I have another job and usually go from job 1 to job 2 then get home around 10pm. Our pup Rocky, who is 8 months now, is in his crate from about 7:45am until 5:30 pm. My hubby goes home at lunch to let him out for 20-30 minutes. We have had a few days where we couldn't make it home. We feel like the most horrible people on the world and are worried that Rocky will have made a mess. But everytime we come home he is laying down in his crate, sleeping - and the crate is not damp or smelly. He does well with it.

Since the minute we got him home we have been doing it that way. IMO you can get a dog and it will adapt to your lifestyle. Trust me, I wish I could be home more with him but we need to work to pay the bills.

He has adapted well to that lifestyle and never has given us any trouble. He feels safe in his crate and we always play games and give him treats involving the crate. Everytime he goes in the crate he has a "treat ball" that we stock up. He saves the treat ball until we come home at lunch or after work then he'll bring it out eat it - almost like he's rewarding himself for doing good.

So 40+ working hours and a dog is manageable - but you just have to make time to exercise your dog - before and/or after work.

We walk Rocky every night - but we are lucky. He is not super high energy, he's pretty dang lazy actually. HE hates walks - he even stopped and laid down once, I had to call the hubby to come pick us up!

I think you can do it if you really devote yourself to it and if you have done 6 months of reading you know what to expect. The dog will adapt as well but you need to put the effort in. Good luck let us know what happens!

[johann]

Could you get a pet sitter to come let the puppy out once or twice during the day? We lucked out and found a college kid home for the summer that loved dogs. She came over once or twice a day and let Johann out/played with him/fed him lunch. Maybe the trainer you know could recommend someone?

It's not healthy (or feasible) to keep a puppy in a crate for 9 hrs a day. But, there are alternatives that may prolong housebreaking...but cause no long term damage. Creating a puppy proof room or using an exercise pen to keep puppy safe, but still provide an area for peeing/pooping. We had Johann in our mudroom once or twice a week from 7:15 am until 5 pm....the only time he peed was when we got home and he was excited. But, we didn't want to leave him in his crate for that long- it's not fair to the puppy because they physically cannot hold their bladder that long.

Hubby and I both 40 hrs a week. Johann does go to daycare 2 times a week...but he didn't until around 8 months old. There are days that it is exhausting and the last thing I want to do is play or bring him for a walk.....but he is so worth it. We use food/treat toys a lot (kong, buster cube, etc) during the day when I have to sleep (work overnights now).

It seems like you've done your research and are used to pretty high energy dogs. If you are committed to exercising the dog in the morning before work and after work, then you should be all set. A tired boxer is a happy boxer.....so lots of playing and exercise.

[Caney Creek]

Totally agree with Johann. I don't like the idea of keeping a dog (especially a puppy) crated 9 hours a day 5 days a week, but there are alternatives to crating. You could keep your pup in an exercise pen or a puppy-proofed room during the day, send him to doggy daycare, or even crate him but hire a pet-sitter that comes by once or twice daily to let him out. I don't think that you should nix the idea of a puppy just because of your job. You can make it work!

[delyn]

Yes, I realize it's a commitment. I had already planned on obedience training, priced a good size run for the yard, pricing crates, planned on adjusting my morning schedule to include a romp before leaving as well as in the evening. Planned on the company for weekend errands where we could and couldn't be together. And, thought about the possible "playmates".

Since my sheltie of 13 years wasn't crated beyond 6 months, I hadn't considered the amount of time another best friend would have to be crated. The majority of my neighbors are elderly. I don't live in a development with homes close together - my area doesn't even have side walks and I'm on a main road. This in itself would make it difficult to find a teenager for the task of letting him out.

I'm not trying to over-think this. But, I don't want to bring a pup home without giving hard thought to the necessities and issues. When my sheltie passed, I didn't think I'd ever want another fur-friend (other than my maine coone cat of 10 years). But, here I am.
Thank you again for any and all input.

[whiskers]

It's definitely feasible, and I think most people who get puppies--of any breed--are people who are working full-time jobs. Heck, I WISH Juno would have been crated more as a pup. Not that she dislikes her crate, because she does fine in it... but she is a dog that always expects to be going, she doesn't settle down very well. She's just really never had to.

I think if you can get someone to come let the pup out at least once during the day, then that would be fine.

[Althea]

We both work full-time, however, some days my husband works out of the house. On those days, we have a petsitter who takes the pup to her house to watch her (sort of like daycare only there's only my dog and the sitters). I have done it single and crated my dog, some days for 8 or 9 hours (as an adult) and we made it through. Not my preference, but you do what you have to. Start looking into alternatives...could you come home over lunch? Do you have any teens near you (as someone mentioned) who could let your pup out after school. There are some hardworking kids out there that would love to get a couple of bucks for that. How about local pet sitters? They are suckers for puppies (I was when I was one) and will stay longer than necessary to love up your pup. How about friends and family members who might help out here and there?

I see ads on craigslist all the time: "We love buster so much, but we don't have the time to give him the attention he deserves. Call if interested." I got news for ya -- buster would rather stay with his family than turned out to the unknown. Believe me, you can make it work. You just have to be willing and committed. And it sounds like you have plenty of time to get situated before you have to go back to work.

Keep us posted!

[SweetCody]

When we got Cody he was in his crate for 8 hours everyday. He did fine.....some accidents but not everyday and he did at one end of the crate on a pee pad. It was not feasable for anyone to make it home during the middle of the day. He got lots of play time and is a well adjusted dog now. When we got Aniah work had changed and I was able to come home everyday at lunch and let them go potty but that was about it. Now DH is no longer working and the pups aren't left alone anymore.
Mine did fine and I don't feel like we are terrible fur-parents. They are both well loved, taken care of, have everything they want and so many toys that I can't walk through the house without tripping on at least 5. They have always been walked everyday...and have multiple 30 minute sessions in the yard chasing a ball or each other. Also impromtu playdates with the neighbors pup Sheba.
I'm sure that you will have no problems working out a workable schedule with a new pup.

[delyn]

I have thought about each and every one of your alternatives. Some of them are possibilites, others not so much. It just seemed from what I was reading that crating was used minimally and since I would be using this on a regular basis, I had my doubts about the "fit".

This pup would basically be my baby and I know I would probably suffer more from seperation anxiety than my pet when I return to work. The pup would be 5 months. The fact that there are far too many animals up for adoption is exactly why I am looking at this so hard.

Believe me, I'm thinking about any/all alternatives. That's all I've been thinking about lately - trying to put pieces together and fit. Your suggestions are wonderful and I truly appreciate the fact that there are those of you that have your babies and work - that makes a tremendous difference.

I'm going to contact the breeder today and see if my girl is still available. Thank you for all of your help, comments, and personal experience.

[Madea]

Welcome first of all. Second i hope that your girl is still availabe. I know it sounds unreal to keep a puppy in the crate for such a long time, but if you can't be home to attend to them, then the crate is the next best place for them. She will love you just same. I have put Tyson in the crate every day since i have had him. He is 9 months old now and loves his crate. He only goes to the crate during the day, when we are at work. When we get home he is out for the rest of the evening until the morning. I work 7 minutes away from where i live, so i come home and take him out for lunch. We had a picnic outside today, because it was so nice. I love that guy. It will work.

[mhendo]

Originally Posted by delyn

I visited with a prospective puppy and her breeder on Friday afternoon. Puppy is exactly what I'm looking for........ I'm questioning myself.
........I have done as much reading as possible and really thought this would be my perfect choice. Why, after all of this time am I having doubts? Thanks!

I have to say that what you said in your original post shows that you can make it work. You've done you're research and you have found a reputable breeder. One other thing that you managed to do (after seeing the puppy I might add) is to question whether or not it's the right thing to do, a lot of people don't have second thoughts after seeing those cute little puppy wrinkles. That shows me that you will be a very responsible fur baby parent and you can make it work, and I too hope the puppy is still available.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[djheitz]

Since no one has mentioned this yet...have you thought about getting an adult instead of a puppy? There are SO many out there right now that need homes.