New Puppy Basics
If you are getting a puppy, the breeder will tell you what kind of puppy food she uses. Many reputable breeders will provide you with a little going-home kit that includes food and toys or maybe a blanket that carries the scent of your puppy's litter. This can be a big help in easing your pup's transition into your family.
Holidays and other special occasions are the worst times to bring home a new boxer. Unpredictable schedules and frequent visits from guests can create a chaotic environment for a new puppy or adult boxer. It is best to give your new boxer the benefit of your complete and total attention for a day or two (preferably a week) after he gets home. You may find that you, too, feel a little overwhelmed with your new dog.
Before you leave the breeder, be sure to ask about the puppy's housetraining experience, if any, as well as what kind of socialization he has had. In many cases, the dam will have begun to take the puppies out to train them to potty where she does, and they will have some rudimentary idea that a good, clean puppy does not potty in the area where it eats and sleeps. If the pup was raised in a cold climate, the breeder may have provided newspapers or wee-wee pads for the puppies to potty on. Just make sure you find out as much as you can about what the puppy knows about house-training. It will help both of you in your continued education on this matter when you get the new puppy home.
Where Does the Puppy Sleep?
Before your puppy comes home, you should decide where he will sleep at night. The best option is a crate (wire or the plastic airline variety) that provides your new puppy with his own private space. People often buy the biggest crate that they can, thinking that the puppy will it need when he's an adult. If you do this, make sure that you can segment part of it off. Little puppies need littler spaces to feel comfortable.
Since a crate is fairly cold and bare, you will need to make it nice and cushy by providing comfortable bedding — either a soft foam-filled pad or one made of fake sheepskin. The material should be something that your new puppy can snuggle into and that reminds him of the comfort of his pack. You can give him a few soft toys, too, and maybe a little hard plastic bone to chew on to reduce stress.
In addition, you will need a little collar, preferably cloth of some kind, and a leash, so that your puppy can be safe while learning what he needs to learn about limits in life. You'll need at least one small-to-medium bowl for food and one for water.
Crate Location
The best place for your new puppy to sleep is in your bedroom, where someone will hear him if he cries. If you leave your puppy alone at night, he will be slower to understand the importance of letting someone know when he needs to potty, and housetraining will be more difficult. By sleeping in your room, he is also less likely to feel overwhelmed by loneliness. He may still be frightened at being alone and may bark or whine somewhat at first. If he sleeps alone somewhere else in the house, he will be so excited when he does see you that he is likely to go potty on the spot, depriving you of the opportunity to show him the right place to go. Remember, the fewer mistakes your pup makes in the beginning, the more quickly and readily he will become housetrained.
