going to look at new puppie this friday what to look for..

downs523

hi, im going to see a 8wk old puppy me and my partner like this friday, just looking for any advise on what to ask, look out for. thanks

foreign_correspondent

A few questions for you first - Is the breeder well known and reputable? How did you find out about them? Do they have a waiting list for pups? what breed is it?

downs523

its a 8 week boxer x beagle. its an advert from pets4homes. its only one pup from a boxer and beagle. theres no waiting list she has 3 people interested but is willing to keep hold of him untill the right person comes.

foreign_correspondent

That is a funny cross...if it ends up with the strength and boisterous nature of the boxer, with the untrainability and urge to roam of a beagle it will be very hard work...

Also both breeds tend to hate being alone, and beagles let you know this by making a lot of noise... howling and wailing!

My friends boxer destroyed the settee and removed a couple of door frames when he was left alone...

Will someone be home all the time for the first couple of months? If not, I would strongly advise against a pup, expecially this cross.

Was there only one pup born? that is quite unusual. I presume it was an accidental mating?

foreign_correspondent

Here is some advice from the dogs trust...

Buying a new puppy

Buying a puppy from a breeder can be a real hit and miss affair if you don’t know what to look for and what questions to ask. If you don’t get it right you could end up with a sick or dying puppy that if survives may be plagued with behaviour and health problems for the rest of his life.

Just because a puppy is registered with the Kennel Club isn’t a guarantee that the breeder is responsible. Remember that a good breeder may have a waiting list for puppies; a happy healthy puppy is well worth the wait.
When buying a pedigree dog it is always worth finding out what inherited problems the breed you are considering might have. Many relate to the shape of the dog but there are also many specific diseases as well. The best person from whom to ask advice is your vet, as he will have dealt with most breeds, and have a good idea of the likely problems. Once you have decided which breed you wish to buy, find out what tests are available for the breed. If testing is available, make sure that both parents of your puppy have been tested and that you see the test results. If in any doubt, take copies of the paperwork to your vet and ask for their interpretation of them. Always ask for actual test results rather than just being told they are OK.
Of course looking at the mother and, if possible, the father will help answer questions about the shape of the puppy. Look for the obvious things such as: can they breathe easily without making snoring noises, can they run and jump easily, are there any deep folds of skin around the head and eyes and do they look bright, clean and alert? If the parents look healthy there is a much better chance that your puppy will also grow up to be healthy.

A good breeder will not let a puppy go until he is at least 8 weeks old and some prefer to wait until 12 weeks. They may want to meet you and ask you questions before the puppies are born, or a few weeks after, so that they can be happy that you will be a good owner. This is a good opportunity to meet the mum of your puppy and see the conditions he will have been brought up in. Here are some questions you will need to ask yourself and the breeder.

• Can I see the puppies with their mum?
You need to see the mum to make sure that she is a nice friendly dog because puppies inherit their temperaments from their parents. If the breeder does not let you see them interacting with the mum – it may be that they aren’t really her puppies!

• How old are the puppies?
Puppies must be at least 8 weeks old to leave their mum.

• How old is mum?
She should be over the age of 1 year and not obviously very old.

• How many litters has mum had?
She shouldn’t have had more than 6 in her lifetime.

• Are the puppies weaned?
At 8 weeks they will have been weaned. If they have not been weaned by this time, they may be younger than the breeder says.

• Have the puppies been wormed?
All puppies are born with worms. Worming should start with the breeder and be continued in the new home.

• Has your puppy had any vaccinations? If so, when is the next one due?

• Does the puppy look healthy – clean eyes, ears and bottom?
If the puppy is unwell, collect him another day. If he is still ill, then don’t take him and try another breeder.

• What should I feed my puppy and do you have a diet sheet to take away?

• What sort of socialisation or experiences has my puppy had so far?
Puppies should have preferably been raised in a home environment with all the noises and through-traffic of a normal home. Those raised in kennels away from the house will need a lot more intensive socialisation training to make sure they can cope with every day life. If the puppies have already met other dogs, animals and people they will be happier and more confident than those that have not.

• Can I return the puppy if there are any health problems?
You will need to have the puppy health checked by your vet within 48 hours. A good breeder will offer to take the puppy back at any point should you not be able to keep him.

• Is the puppy Kennel Club registered?
If so, make sure you are given the registration certificate and pedigree when you come to take the puppy home.

• When can I take the puppy home?
It is absolutely essential to see the puppies interacting with the mother. Some unscrupulous people who claim to be breeders may in fact be dealers who have brought in puppies from elsewhere. These are likely to have been poorly bred, may be ill and are usually too young to leave their poor exhausted mothers. These puppies rarely make good pets (if they live into adulthood) and you will be fuelling this cruel trade where money is the priority and the welfare of the dogs is completely ignored. This is also why you should not buy a puppy from a pet shop, and should be suspicious of anywhere advertising more than 3 different breeds of dog.

Do not buy a puppy if you have the slightest doubt about the breeder or situation – even if you feel sorry for it and desperately want to rescue it. Contact your local authority or Trading Standards Office to report your concerns. If there are signs of obvious neglect or cruelty, then contact the RSPCA.

shiny_happy_people

hi dont forget boxers are really lively and beagles make that awful howling noise when they bark
best of luck though i would always choose a dog i could see with the mum and choose a dog thats not too timid as this could cause them to snap if they feel threatened :j

downs523

because it is a beaglex boxer does this mean it will definatly make this howling noise?

downs523

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

That is a funny cross...if it ends up with the strength and boisterous nature of the boxer, with the untrainability and urge to roam of a beagle it will be very hard work...

Also both breeds tend to hate being alone, and beagles let you know this by making a lot of noise... howling and wailing!

My friends boxer destroyed the settee and removed a couple of door frames when he was left alone...

Will someone be home all the time for the first couple of months? If not, I would strongly advise against a pup, expecially this cross.

Was there only one pup born? that is quite unusual. I presume it was an accidental mating?

i will be home for the first 3 weeks all day so hopefully this will be long enough

foreign_correspondent

downs523 wrote: »

i will be home for the first 3 weeks all day so hopefully this will be long enough

what are the arrangements for after that?

downs523

i will be at work from 9.30-4.30 and my partner finishes at 2. i have my parents near by to check on him for when were away

foreign_correspondent

well, no he isnt bound to make that noise, but he may well. He may also chew the house to bits and its optomistic to think you will have house training perfect in three weeks.

So, if s/he does howl the house down, chew everything in sight, and pee and poo on the carpets, what will you do?

Beagles are hard work to train, and boxers can be very bouncy - I would say this is not a good mix for an inexperienced owner, and may well be too bouncy and boisterous to be around small children, so that may be a consideration too, depending on your circumstances.

With your work hours, a mature steady dog would be a much better bet to be honest.

ETA - both breeds tend to be stubborn too so probably another good reason to think carefully unless you are experienced with dogs