Yikes! Getting pup at 5 weeks! (long)

[Cary]

Hi,
We were waiting to get our new boxer pup, and now it suddenly looks as if we are getting him at 5 weeks, 3 days old. Here's the story:
We have a 3 1/2 year old boxer female named brook. We got her from someone named sue, who has a lot of experience with boxers and shows her dogs. One of sue's boxer "grandchildren" had puppies. Sue has been trying to advise the people about raising the puppies and they pretty much haven't been listening. She's been doing what she can to get the dogs sold. Feeling that things weren't going very well, she arranged to pick up the puppies at 6 weeks. Well, she went over there on Friday and the dogs are alone all day in the back yard (with the mother and father dog), there was no food, and it was chilly. She went back later, and the bed was filthy, there wasn't an area for them to pee, and the food dish was absolutely disgusting. The teenager who seems to be doing the care wasn't even going to be home until today. So she talked to the dad and said that maybe she should come get the puppies, and he said he'd talk to his son and they'd bring her all of the puppies on sunday but still get the money when the puppies were sold. she has several adult boxers at her house. Then she'd take them to her vet on monday and then keep the puppies until next friday (when they turn 6 weeks old) OR we could pick up our little guy as early as monday if we want. Like I say, we have a 3 1/2 year old boxer, and I am home all day. We don't have children. I guess i would be devoting myself to the boxers for quite awhile. Any thoughts or opinions? I have to do some research...for example, do I start crate training right away? How long can the puppy be in the crate at night, or do I get up at night? I'm concerned about the puppy but he's a boxer, so I'm not going to just let him go to any old home just because these people aren't responsible. (I've left out the worst story to spare all of you). Thanks..so glad you are all here!

[tanyaj77]

I got my Boz at 5 weeks due to poor conditions and the owners of the parents not wanting to put up with the "hassle" of 9 pups for any longer than they had to. Grrrrrr!!! When we picked him up he stunk terribly I was so glad to get him out of there He is now just over 7 months old and we have yet to experience any behavioral issues with him. I will admit that I babied him as much as humanly possible though (I'm his Mommy and it's my job) We kept him in a crate beside our bed for the first few weeks and when he cried I always woke up and talked to him, pet him, and let him outside to pee of course. Within a week the crying stopped (unless he had to go potty) and his crate was moved downstairs. He had accidents in the crate more than a few times but he quickly learned. By 3 months there were no more accidents
Just have lots of love and patience with your new baby and everything should be just fine. Good Luck and please keep us posted!

[Rowdy's Dad]

I got Rowdy at 5 weeks and 4 days due to my ignorance and their laziness. He ate canned food for about 2 days. I tried dry food and he preferred it over the canned. He hasn't messed in the house since he was 10 weeks old. At 16 months, he is very tall and a lean 73 lbs and healthy as a horse.

[olliesdad]

i just got a 5 week old boxer puppie (not knowing how old he was SUPOSED to be) and he seems to be duing fine he cries a little at night but other than that hes a very happy puppie except for diareah

[Konah's Mom]

I got Konah at 6 wks. He started crate training on day 1. At first, no more than 2 hours, which meant getting up during the night (usually when he slept...which was A LOT!), and when he woke up and cried, we took him straight out to pee etc. WE'd play and when he got sleepy back into the crate. Now he goes in when he's tired, on his own. When i started work again, (4 days after we got him), he was alone for three hours and occasionally he'd have an accident. he's nine weeks old now and hasn;t messed in the crate for three days and not in the house for two days.

I think it depends on the pup, but it sounds like you can give him a HECK of a lot BETTER care than those people. If you think you can do it, then do it. Good luck!

Erin

[pinkpuppy]

I feel so bad for those puppies! What IDIOT would leave puppies out all day long - and in filth! People like that make me so mad!
I can't give you any advice: other than take the puppy to vet and do your best... Oh, and report these greedy, money making, cruel worthless "owners". I hope their dogs get taken away - and placed in loving homes; where people will respect them, protect them and give them happy lives.
I apologize for being perhaps a little mean; but it just boils my blood! We have tiny puppy - you can see her in the gallery - at 5 and a half weeks she weighed mere 1.65 lbs... And she is being cared for - the Breeder sits and watches them all day long! Granted - the litter got sick, and some babies even died - and that why Lola is so small. And it just bugs me that people can but so much care and effort and trrible hings still happen - all the while some jerks just neglect their dogs!

All the best to your baby puppy, please give it lots of love...

[gmacleod]

Closing this thread as it is two years old...