pug puppy vaccination schedule

pug puppy vaccination schedule - Breeds The link has been copied! When considering the addition of a Goldendoodle to your family, one of the first questions that come to mind is, "How much does a Goldendoodle cost? This comprehensive guide will delve into various aspects influencing a Goldendoodle's price. Additionally, we'll discuss the importance of choosing reputable breeders and provide valuable information on protecting your pup with innovative technology like Fi's GPS-tracking dog collar. By learning about these factors beforehand, prospective Goldendoodle owners can confidently navigate this process while ensuring they bring home a healthy and happy companion. How Much Does a Goldendoodle Cost? If you're considering adding a Goldendoodle to your family, it's essential to understand the costs associated with this popular and lovable breed. In addition to the upfront cost of purchasing or adopting a puppy, ongoing expenses like vet visits, vaccinations, grooming services, and pet food need to be considered. The cost of a Goldendoodle puppy can vary, depending on several elements, which will be discussed in further detail later. First, however, it's essential to focus on the purchase price and consider routine costs throughout your dog's life. These may include annual check-ups at the veterinarian's office including vaccinations , monthly heartworm prevention medication, grooming sessions every weeks, and high-quality pet food that meets their nutritional needs. How Much Is a Goldendoodle Puppy? The price of a Goldendoodle puppy can range widely depending on the breeder, its location, and any special features it may have. However, some breeders may charge even higher prices if their puppies come from an exceptional bloodline or have unique traits. Purchasing From Breeders Breeder reputation: Look for reviews online and ask around within local communities or social media groups dedicated to Goldendoodles. Health testing: Reputable breeders will conduct health tests on both parent dogs before breeding them together. Puppy contract: A responsible breeder should provide a written agreement outlining what they guarantee regarding your new pet's health status and other terms related to care after purchase. Finding Adoptable Dogs Through Rescues and Shelters Adopting a Goldendoodle from an animal rescue or refuge can be a great way to give a home to an abandoned pup while saving money. Many organizations specialize in rescuing specific breeds, like the IDOG Rescue , which focuses on finding homes for doodle dogs such as Goldendoodles. Keep in mind that adopting through shelters may require additional time and patience compared to purchasing from breeders since you might have to wait until your desired breed becomes available. However, this option is often more affordable than buying directly from breeders and helps support animal welfare efforts. Factors That Impact the Cost of a Goldendoodle When considering the purchase of a Goldendoodle, it's essential to understand that various factors can impact their cost. Colors The color of a Goldendoodle's coat can significantly influence its price. Rarer coat colors, such as reds and merle goldendoodles , are more expensive than common shades like cream or apricot. While this may not affect the dog's personality or health, many potential owners are willing to pay extra for unique appearances. Dogs with proven lineage from reputable breeders often come at higher prices due to their genetic quality assurance than those without documented ancestry. Breeder Reputation Reputable Breeders: Purchasing your puppy from reputable Goldendoodle breeders ensures you get a healthy dog raised in good conditions. Reputable breeders follow ethical breeding practices by testing parent dogs for genetic disorders and providing proper care during pregnancy and after birth. This level of care comes at a higher cost but provides peace of mind knowing your pup is coming from responsible hands. Puppy Mills and Pet Stores: It's crucial to avoid buying from puppy mills or pet stores, as these establishments prioritize profit over the welfare of their animals. Dogs bred in such conditions often suffer from health issues due to poor breeding practices and inadequate care. While puppies from these sources may have a lower initial cost, they can lead to higher expenses in vet bills later on. We do not recommend buying from a pet store or a puppy mill. Estimated Size The size of your Goldendoodle will also impact its price. Smaller Goldendoodles, like Mini Goldendoodle or Teacup varieties, typically cost more than Standard-sized dogs because they are in higher demand due to their convenient size for apartment living and easier handling by owners with limited space. On the other hand, larger adult Goldendoodles might be less expensive but could require more resources for grooming costs, food consumption, and exercise needs. The Prices of Different Size Goldendoodles Goldendoodles come in various sizes, which can significantly impact their cost. In this section, we will explore the prices of Mini, Teacup, and Standard Goldendoodles to help you understand how size affects the overall price. Mini Goldendoodle Price The Mini Goldendoodle is a popular choice for those who want a smaller dog with all the wonderful qualities of a standard-sized one. These dogs typically weigh between pounds and stand around inches tall at shoulder height. You may also find that some breeders charge more for rarer coat colors or patterns. Teacup Goldendoodle Price If you're looking for an even smaller version of the beloved doodle breed, then consider getting a Teacup Goldendoodle. Weighing only pounds and standing just under 12 inches tall at shoulder height when fully grown makes them perfect pets for people living in apartments or small homes. Keep in mind that caring for teacups might require extra attention compared to larger breeds, so be prepared for additional expenses in the long run. Standard Goldendoodle Price The Standard Goldendoodle is the largest of the three sizes, weighing between pounds and standing around inches tall at shoulder height. These dogs are known for their friendly personalities and low-shedding coats, making them great family pets. It's essential to choose a responsible breeder who prioritizes health testing and ethical breeding practices when purchasing your new furry friend. This innovative device allows you to keep tabs on your dog's location at all times, giving you peace of mind knowing that they are safe. The Fi Smart Collar offers several features that make it an excellent choice for Goldendoodle owners. These include: Real-time tracking: The collar uses advanced GPS technology to provide accurate location data so that you can find your pup quickly if they wander off or gets lost. Fence alerts: You can set up virtual fences around specific areas such as your home and receive notifications if your dog leaves these boundaries. This feature helps prevent them from venturing too far away or into dangerous situations. Durable design: The collar is built with high-quality materials designed to withstand rough play and harsh weather conditions, ensuring long-lasting protection for your pet. Battery life: Boasting a battery life of up to three months between charges, this collar ensures continuous monitoring without frequent interruptions for recharging. In addition to providing security and peace of mind, the Fi Smart Collar also tracks activity levels. It enables you to monitor how much exercise your Goldendoodle gets daily - crucial information, given their energetic nature. Now that you know the cost of owning one, let's look into what makes this breed so special with our next heading: Goldendoodle Breed Guide. Goldendoodle Breed Guide The Goldendoodle is a popular and versatile breed, known for its friendly personality, intelligence, and low-shedding coat. A blend of the Golden Retriever and Poodle breeds, this hybrid pooch presents a great mix of attributes that make it appropriate for various ways of life. Personality Goldendoodles are typically affectionate, social dogs with a gentle temperament. They get along well with children and other pets in the household. Their high level of intelligence makes them easy to train as they quickly pick up on commands and cues from their owners. Moreover, these dogs have an innate desire to please their humans, which further contributes to their trainability. Generally speaking: Miniature Goldendoodles: weigh between pounds kg and stand at about inches cm tall at shoulder height. Standard Goldendoodles: Standard Goldendoodles are larger, weighing between pounds kg and standing at inches cm. Average Lifespan The average lifespan of a healthy Goldendoodle ranges from around 10 to 15 years when provided proper care, including regular vet check-ups , vaccinations, exercise routines, grooming sessions, and a balanced diet. They enjoy activities such as walking, running, swimming, or playing fetch. Providing them with at least 30 minutes of daily exercise is essential for keeping your Goldendoodle happy and healthy. Additionally, engaging in mental stimulation exercises, like puzzle toys or obedience training sessions, can help keep their minds sharp. Approximate Lifetime Care Costs The lifetime care costs of owning a Goldendoodle include expenses related to food, grooming, veterinary care including vaccinations , pet insurance if opted for , and accessories like collars and leashes Fi GPS Tracking Dog Collar recommended , among others. How Can I Lower the Cost of a Goldendoodle Goldendoodles can be quite expensive, but there are ways to reduce the cost while still enjoying the companionship of this lovable breed. Adopting vs. Buying From a Breeder Pet adoption websites and local animal shelters often have Goldendoodles available for adoption at significantly lower costs compared to buying from breeders. By adopting, not only do you save money, but you also provide a loving home to an animal in need. Purchasing or Adopting an Older Dog Instead of a Puppy If your heart is set on owning a Goldendoodle, but the price tag seems too steep, consider adopting or purchasing an older dog instead of opting for puppies. Older dogs usually come with lower prices as they might not possess certain desirable traits like specific coat colors or pedigree lineage. Additionally, senior dogs tend to be calmer and require less training than their younger counterparts. Conclusion After considering all the factors that impact the cost of a Goldendoodle, it is safe to say that they can be quite expensive. The price of a Goldendoodle can vary significantly, depending on factors such as size, age, and the breeder's reputation. Additionally, grooming costs and potential health issues should also be taken into account when calculating the actual cost of owning a Goldendoodle. If you're interested in getting a Goldendoodle but want to lower the cost, consider adopting an adult dog or purchasing from reputable breeders with reasonable prices. Investing in pet insurance is essential to ensure that any unforeseen medical costs won't be a burden. If you're ready to welcome a new furry friend into your home and want peace of mind knowing their whereabouts at all times, try Fi's GPS-tracking dog collar today! Be sure to keep tabs on your pup with Fi's GPS collar, which gives you real-time location updates and activity tracking. The link has been copied! You might also like. Adding a Goldendoodle puppy to your family is a big commitment…and it can come with an equally big price tag! Knowing what the average Goldendoodle price is and the factors that influence the cost can help you budget appropriately. It can also protect you from vastly overpaying or being the victim of a scam. So, how much does a Goldendoodle cost? What Determines the Price of a Goldendoodle Puppy? There are six main factors that will help us determine how much you should expect to spend on your future Goldendoodle. Size There are five sizes of Goldendoodles —standard, medium, mini, toy, and teacup. That rule is, the smaller the size, the higher the price. First and foremost, you want to pick the Goldendoodle size that will work best in your family. All else being equal, however, you may save significant money by choosing a larger dog. Generations are what describe the genetic makeup of Goldendoodles and how close in DNA they are to their Poodle and Golden Retriever ancestors. Some Goldendoodles may even be hypoallergenic , though this can never be guaranteed. More Poodle DNA frequently results in a curlier coat. When it comes to Goldendoodle price, the closer in DNA your potential dog is to a Poodle, the higher the cost will usually be. This is because the demand for allergy-friendly and low-shedding dogs is very high. Location As the cost of living increases, so does the cost of a puppy. For example. Sometimes it can be helpful to drive a few hours to a Goldendoodle breeder further away. While less convenient, it could save you a little bit of money if you are from an area with a high cost of living. How did they seemingly get such a bargain? The answer is where they got their dog from. These owners likely adopted their Goldendoodle from a shelter or rescue organization. Quality, reputable breeders typically charge a premium for their puppies. On the other hand, puppy mills and backyard breeders will sometimes charge very low prices because their expenses are so much lower. Be careful, sometimes you get what you pay for. A cheap, unhealthy puppy will cost you more in the long-term than a more expensive, healthy dog. Click here to get an instant, online pet insurance quote from Healthy Paws! These stores thrive off of emotional, impulse purchases and receive strong criticism for obtaining their puppies from questionable breeders. Color There are so many colors of Goldendoodles, it may be impossible to choose your favorite! There is a wide spectrum of solid color options like cream, apricot, chocolate, or black. On top of that, there are unique, multi-color patterns like parti, merle, phantom , and sable. Many breeders base their pricing partially on color. Usually, the rule of thumb is that multi-color Goldendoodles, particularly those with rare or desirable patterns , are going to be significantly more expensive than their solid-color counterparts. For more budget-minded folks, a solid color Goldendoodle puppy will be just as cute for a fraction of the price. Usually, black. Black Goldendoodles are adorable, but are often overlooked and you can sometimes find them at a bit of a discount depending on the demand. The moral of the story when it comes to choosing a Goldendoodle color is to keep your options open. When there are lots of prospective buyers and not a lot of available puppies, prices will go up. When there are plenty of available puppies but not a lot of buyers, prices will go down. The best example of this when it comes to buying a puppy is around the holiday season. Goldendoodles, along with many other breeds, are often given as Christmas presents to children or spouses. For this reason, many breeders charge more for puppies that will be available to go home around the holidays. Why Are Goldendoodles So Expensive? Why are Goldendoodles so expensive? The simple answer is supply and demand. Poodle mixes are extremely popular due to their adorable, teddy-bear looks and also their likelihood to be allergy-friendly and low-shedding. On the other hand, reputable breeders struggle to keep up with demand and often have waitlists that extend months, or even years, down the road. All Goldendoodle puppies should come with at least their first round of vaccinations, deworming, up-to-date flea and tick prevention, and a vet check. Most reputable Goldendoodle breeders also offer a health guarantee on their puppies. This can range anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. Usually, breeders will send your new puppy home with a few basic items like a blanket, toy, collar, and a small bag of food. In almost all cases, you will be required by a breeder to place a deposit to secure your selection from a particular litter. Be extremely careful sending money to any breeder who you have not personally visited. Do your due diligence to make sure they are legitimate. Many scammers are out there luring eager Goldendoodle buyers in with adorable, fake or stolen puppy pictures only to take their deposits and never be heard from again. Lifetime Cost of Owning a Goldendoodle If you thought the price of a Goldendoodle puppy was expensive, you might want to sit down for this. Here is the average lifetime cost of owning a dog according to a few, reliable sources which utilized major research studies to arrive at their conclusions:. Before buying or adopting any dog, it pays to do your homework. Knowing where to search for your next dog, what to look for in a reputable breeder, and what you should expect to pay can improve your odds of bringing home a healthy dog at a reasonable cost. Purebred dogs have national breed clubs that provide information about the breed. Though the goldendoodle is a crossbreed, a national organization called the Goldendoodle Association of North America supports responsible breeding and pet ownership. Cost of Adopting a Goldendoodle Goldendoodles occasionally find themselves in need of rescue when people buy puppies from unscrupulous breeders who make unrealistic guarantees, or when new pup parents find themselves unprepared for caring for their goldendoodle. For instance, reputable goldendoodle breeders should never guarantee that a puppy will be 'hypoallergenic' or will not shed. When those adorable goldendoodle puppies start shedding, or when their human has an allergic reaction, the doodle may be in need of a new home. Rescuing an adult goldendoodle is not only a great way to save some money on the purchase price of the dog, but also provides other benefits. Goldendoodle puppies may also end up in rescue occasionally. This adoption fee generally includes the costs of updated vaccines and a spay or neuter surgery, and helps to ensure the organization can continue its lifesaving work. Cost of Buying a Goldendoodle Buying a goldendoodle puppy from a breeder is the most expensive way to acquire a goldendoodle. However, the cost of a puppy varies wildly. Breeders from different states may charge more, and the cost of a larger size goldendoodle may be different than a smaller goldendoodle. Some breeders also charge more for more desirable colors or coat types. Responsible goldendoodle breeders put a lot of money into their breeding programs, which is why their puppies cost a lot. Such breeders purchase or keep high-quality dogs for their breeding programs, perform genetic health screenings on the parents before breeding them, maintain pedigrees and pair dogs thoughtfully to better the breed. Reputable breeders also pursue thorough veterinary care for their adult dogs and puppies, feed high-quality diets, register their litters with the proper organization, and never overbreed their females or breed more puppies than they can responsibly care for. Due to the efforts they put in to produce healthy, high-quality dogs, good breeders usually offer a health guarantee on their puppies. Such breeders may simply breed together any male and female they happen to own and sell the resulting puppies. When a goldendoodle breeder tells you the price of buying a puppy, ask about their breeding program, genetic screening and health guarantees to find out what you are paying for. Additionally, be aware that some pets stores sell goldendoodle puppies along with many other breeds of puppies. It is very difficult to obtain accurate information on breeders who supply to pet stores, and in many cases, animal welfare experts worry about these puppies coming from puppy mills. A puppy mill is often described as a commercial dog breeding operation where the goal is to produce as many puppies as possible without regard for their health and the welfare of the breeding dogs. Both the adult dogs and puppies often have poor health, are exposed to more infectious diseases, and tend to have ongoing health problems in additional to coming from inhumane living conditions. For this reason, it is best to avoid purchasing a puppy if it has a questionable origin. One significant cost to consider for goldendoodles is the cost of professional grooming. Almost all goldendoodles need to have their hair trimmed by a groomer. Some goldendoodles may need grooming once a month; others can go about eight weeks in between haircuts. Article Sources The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. You will need more toys for your dog during its puppy years, particularly for chewing and teething. As your dog ages, you may want to get more challenging toys for mental stimulation, such as interactive toys, robust chew toys, treat-dispensing toys, and more, all of which keep your dog entertained and well-adjusted. If you need professional services like dog walking, pet sitting, boarding, or training, your monthly costs will go up. Puppy obedience classes are recommended for your Goldendoodle puppy, but you can continue training into adulthood to teach your dog skills like advanced obedience, agility, or rally. The most important aspect of your pet budget is health care, including high-quality food. You may also need to treat a chronic health condition, which can add hundreds of dollars each month to your expenses. Other expenses may vary according to your lifestyle and schedule. Dog training is another possible expense if your dog develops behavioral problems that require professional help. You should also consider security deposits if you rent an apartment or home. As your dog ages, some of your expenses may change. Your dog may require special prescription diets, more frequent vet visits, and extra supplies like diapers, potty pads, or mobility aids like ramps. Preventative care is one of the best ways to avoid major expenses in the future. You can cut back on other areas, such as making your own toys instead of buying expensive toys and relying on friends or family to walk your dog during the day rather than a professional walker. Some pet insurance companies offer special coverage for preventative care, alternative treatments, pet boarding, behavioral training, and more. Conclusion Goldendoodles are a highly desirable dog breed, but they can be expensive. There are many optional expenses, such as pet sitting or boarding , training, and pet insurance , to consider before bringing your pup home. This blog explores why these Goldendoodle puppies fetch such a premium and the aspects contributing to their pricing. Goldendoodle Puppies and Their Worth Goldendoodle puppies are the delightful offspring of two popular breeds: the ever famous Golden Retriever and the Poodle. The combination of the attractive and hypoallergenic characteristics emblematic of Poodles with the loyal and loving temperament peculiar to Golden Retrievers mixes wonderfully in a hybrid that combines all the best parts of their ancestors into a strong Goldendoodle. The price of a Goldendoodle can vary based on several factors. Firstly, the amount of health testing completed on the parent dogs can significantly affect the cost. Breeders who do physical health testing will have passing certifications to share with customers. They should include results for hips, elbows, patellas, heart, and eyes. Breeders should only utilize dogs in their breeding program that pass all these physical tests. Removing a dog from the breeding pool who fails a test results in loss of the investment in that dog as a breeding prospect. DNA panels screening for diseases is also critical so that pairing of breeding dogs can avoid crossing two who carry the same disease mutations. When both parents carry the same disease genes, the puppies can inherit a gene from each parent resulting in the puppies being affected by that disease. Reputable breeders ensure proper DNA and health testing to rule out genetic disorders, ensuring the puppies have the best chance of a long, healthy life. As a result, costs could rise. Goldendoodles with rare colors may command a higher price than their counterparts. However, choosing a puppy solely based on its color is never a good practice, as temperament and appropriate size for your home is always the top priority. While it might seem initially high, the price of a Goldendoodle reflects the care, effort, and responsible breeding practices invested in raising a healthy and well-adjusted puppy. The Role of High Demand in Goldendoodle Costs Goldendoodles have gained significant popularity over the years, and the demand for these adorable puppies is sky-high. However, responsible and reputable breeders prioritize the health and welfare of their dogs over the volume of puppies they produce, ensuring each puppy receives the right amount of care and socialization. The high demand and the limited supply from reputable breeders naturally drive the price upwards. However, these breeders might not adhere to proper breeding practices, often skimping on health checks, failing to properly socialize puppies, and ignoring the genetic diversity necessary for a healthy pup. Quality breeders invest time, energy, and resources to ensure their puppies are healthy, well-socialized, and ready for their new homes. Avoiding puppy mills , which often prioritize quantity over quality, is paramount. Such places tend to breed more puppies without sufficient regard for their health and well-being. This can lead to puppies with health problems, poor socialization skills, and even behavioral issues. This ensures that the puppies they sell are genetically sound and free from preventable health problems. Breeders with a good reputation ensure good care for the mature dogs under their charge, furnishing them with a good life, regular examinations by a veterinarian, and plenty of affection and personal notice. How to Find a Reputable Goldendoodle Breeder Knowing how vital it is to select an ethical breeder, comprehending the hallmarks that distinguish reputable breeders is crucial when embarking on your quest to welcome your first furry companion into your family fold. So, how do you find a reputable breeder amidst the sea of Goldendoodle puppies for sale and mini Goldendoodles for sale ads? Next, note how the breeder talks about their adult dogs and puppies. A reputable breeder will be more than happy to answer any queries you have about the breed, health issues, or their breeding practices. Remember, a good breeder will never have an abundance of Goldendoodle puppies for sale. They focus on the quality of the litter, not the quantity. Owning a pet is a long-term commitment, and it goes beyond the initial purchase cost. The ongoing cost of feeding your pet a high-quality diet is critical for their overall health and well-being. Spay or neuter costs are other factors to consider. Although not immediately necessary for puppies, this procedure is required by contract by all responsible breeders once the puppy is old enough so as to prevent unwanted litters and specific health issues. Finally, investing in pet insurance can be a wise decision. While it adds to your monthly expenses, it can save you significantly in case of accidents or illnesses. The love, companionship, and joy that these furry friends bring into our lives make every penny spent worth it. Bringing a Goldendoodle puppy into your life is a decision that comes with both financial and emotional considerations. However, when you investigate those intelligent , adoring eyes and experience the unconditional love they offer, every dollar spent feels worthwhile. Reputable breeders, like those affiliated with the GANA, go to great lengths to ensure their Goldendoodle puppies are healthy, well-adjusted, and ready to bring joy to their new homes. They invest in health tests, provide high-quality care for their adult dogs, and take the time to socialize their puppies properly, all of which contribute to the cost of a Goldendoodle puppy. This could be in the quality of care, health testing, or breeding practices. Opting for a cheaper puppy could mean facing higher vet bills and potential heartache. By doing your homework prior to bringing home your new puppy, you will be assured you have a quality bred, healthy, well-socialized puppy. Your journey awaits. At their best, they are intelligent, friendly, and affectionate. They come in three sizes: miniature weighing 15 to 30 pounds , medium 30 to 45 pounds , and standard 45 to more than pounds. Because they are a cross breed, their traits are not fixed, so there is not a guarantee that the Goldendoodle puppy you purchase will fall into the desired weight range. The Goldendoodle is intelligent, friendly, and family oriented. It is a highly social dog. Goldendoodles tend to follow their nose wherever it leads, so a fenced-in yard is recommended. They are always ready for a game; most Goldendoodles retain the natural retrieving instincts of the Golden Retriever. Goldendoodles do not bark frequently. History Less - In the s, breeders in both North America and Australia began crossing golden retrievers with standard poodles. The original purpose of the cross was to attempt to develop guide dogs suitable for visually impaired individuals with allergies. The goldendoodle is sometimes called a designer dog. The Encyclopedia Britannica traces the term "designer dog" to the late 20th century, when breeders began to cross purebred poodles with other purebred breeds in order to obtain a dog with the poodle's non-shedding coat, along with various desirable characteristics from other breeds.

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pug puppy vaccination schedule - As mentioned, some breeding purists denounce any Labradors other than the three classics and believe that the emergence of other colors is due to cross breeding with Weimaraners. However, no solid evidence supports this theory, and a quick glance at the science reveals that the unique Silver Lab puppies, and their Charcoal and Champagne counterparts, come from a rare combination of recessive genes. A big D is considered dominant, while a little d is recessive. This is why the AKC allows Silver Labs to be fully registered as Chocolate Labs — they come from pureblood, they just have recessive genes. These are even more rare than the trendy Silver Labradors. Hunters loved them for their innate ability to retrieve ducks and after a whole century of developing the breed and meticulously recording characteristics of each litter, Labradors were formally registered with the AKC in .Most kennels strived to breed Black Lab litters, but records include documentation of tan, red and brindles, in addition to the traditional Yellow and Chocolate Labs. But Silver Labs? No one seems to know quite where they come from. They emerged seemingly from nowhere, only adding to their allure. This is because there are only 7 traceable bloodlines. The gene pool is small, and most responsible breeders only allow their female Labrador to produce litters before retiring her. Basic supply and demand keeps the price of Silver Labs very high. There are however, specific rescues geared toward finding the perfect home for Labrador Retrievers of all ages and coat colors. You may find your new Silver Lab puppy through an online search of local rescue organizations. Decade of Friendship: Labrador Life Expectancy When compared to other Labradors, Silver Labs have a typical life expectancy of years - with an average of .Labs generally are known for their friendly, gentle personalities and ability to bond with multiple family members. They are very patient and typically get along well with children and other pets. When socialized from a young age, they enjoy interacting with the whole family. Silver Labradors are well suited for an active household, as they thrive with at least 60 minutes a day of vigorous walking, running, playing, and swimming. As they are natural born swimmers and retrievers, Silver Labs will be happy romping and splashing through water, or chasing a tennis ball. Many owners love to combine the two! Start by finding a clean, safe source of water for your new pup. Then, let him practice his retrieving skills by tossing a ball or other toy that floats. Watch as your new furry friend blossoms into his instincts! Be sure to keep your new Lab puppy physically and mentally stimulated to avoid destructive behaviors like chewing. Puppy puzzles are a great way to provide entertainment without getting outside. The first step in avoiding an unexpected health concern is buying a Lab puppy from a reputable breeder. Still, any Labrador can develop these conditions. Overtime, this condition leads to pain, lameness, and even an altered gait. Though it sometimes requires corrective surgery, if caught early, it can usually be managed with medication and physical therapy exercises. Due to their diluted genes, Silver Labs have additional health risks. Color Dilution Alopecia CDA is a genetic disorder that causes flaky and itchy skin, as well as hair loss. The first sign is thinning coat, which usually occurs at 6 months old. You can also help by providing your puppy with a healthy, balanced diet rich in essential fatty acids and Vitamin A. Coconut Oil is a great supportive supplement! If there is food around, they will find it and eat it so keeping food secure is a must! Adult Labs require between and calories per day from a high-quality, protein-rich food. Most vets recommend splitting their daily needs into two meals, to make digestion easier. Both male and female Labradors are prone to unwanted weight gain and obesity. Monitoring their food and treat intake is essential to raising a healthy dog. Training Tips: Best ways to Teach a Labrador Labradors are a national favorite because of their trainability. They respond exceptionally well to positive reinforcement, and reward-based methods, especially when rewarded with food or treats. However, they can get bored easily and training sessions should be kept short, but frequent. As mentioned above, they are highly food-motivated and should easily learn basic commands like sit, down, shake, stay, etc. Just remember to account for the extra calories! Their unique color is due to a simple combination of genes. They love to play and will live best in an active family where they are socialized from a young age. So what do you think? Are you team Silver Lab? Let us know! Conclusion: Why the Silver Labrador Retriever? How much does a Silver Labrador Retriever cost? If you find one for adoption, the cost will be lower. What Is a Silver Labrador Retriever? Silver Labs are Labrador Retrievers with gray, silver coats and haunting grayish eyes. Silver Labradors most likely developed from a recessive trait found in some Chocolate Labradors. However, there are many who believe that Silver Labradors are not true Labrador Retrievers at all. Major breed clubs including the Labrador Retriever Club Inc. Frances O. In this section, we will explore the most common Silver Labrador Retriever traits. However, please note that not all Silver Labs will be identical to each other in terms of personality. There will be differences between individual dogs. Still, this list will give you a basic sense of what to expect from the Silver Labrador Retriever temperament. Sporting Dogs are bred to work in partnership with humans as hunting companions, pointers, flushers, and retrievers. Therefore, these types of dogs thrive when they have a purpose or a job to do. Silver Labrador Retrievers are very active dogs, especially when they are young. They need an ample amount of daily exercise as well as mental enrichment. If you leave an energetic lab pup home alone for hours on end, be prepared to come home to evidence of destructive behavior such as chewing or digging. A young lab needs about an hour of vigorous exercise per day. If you are not able to provide that level of exercise, consider adopting an older Lab or Silver Lab mix. Silver Labrador Retriever exercise can include activities such as hiking, biking, swimming, or romping at the dog park. Doggie Daycare is another great way for Labradors to fulfill their daily exercise needs. Labradors were bred to work in tandem with their human guardians out in the field. Therefore, they are very attentive and eager to please. They may not be quite as clever as some of the herding breeds such as the Border Collie or the Australian Shepherd , but they are still very smart. They can be trained for all types of jobs including hunting, search and rescue, and police work. Silver Labs tend to get along well with other animals and children, especially with proper socialization. Of course, it is still advisable to supervise your Silver Labrador anytime he or she interacts with kids or other animals. Photo by Nilda Guzman These dogs are notorious for getting into mischief when left alone. Crate training is highly recommended, especially for puppies and young labs. Labradors are especially obsessed with finding food! Labs love to eat. Do not leave food accessible on countertops and make sure your trash can has a dog-proof lid. Joyful, Goofy, Fun One of the most beloved components of the Silver Labrador Retriever temperament is the joyful nature of this breed. Labs are happy, silly, fun-loving dogs. They enjoy romping in the snow and swimming in the summertime. Silver Labs love to play! They are especially fond of playing fetch with tennis balls for hours on end. If you add a Lab to your home, your home will soon be filled with laughter! Labrador Retrievers originated in Newfoundland , Canada. They were bred to work alongside hunters and fishermen as water retrievers. Their popularity began to soar in the s as specimens spread to Europe and America. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in .The Lab has held the highest-ranking since .The American Kennel Club recognizes three color varieties: black, yellow and chocolate. The Silver Coat Coloration Photo by Nilda Guzman The silver coloration first appeared within the last few decades and has caused great controversy within the Labrador community. It is not recognized as a distinct coloration. The silver color has become incredibly popular and desired because it is attractive and rare. Consumers are willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money for a silver lab puppy. Respected, responsible breeders discourage the practice of breeding specifically for a physical attribute. They argue that a good breeder should always prioritize health, function, temperament, and the improvement of the breed. When breeders are breeding solely for appearance, health and temperament are inevitably compromised. Size and Appearance The Silver Lab has the same general appearance as any other Labrador, other than the color. They are the same size and shape as other Labs. For example, the Silver Labrador Retriever weight range is between 55 and 80 lbs. Likewise, the Silver Labrador Retriever height range is between 21 and 24 inches at the withers. These measurements are the same for all coat colorations. Silver Labrador Retriever colors are described as gray or silver. They have gray noses, nails, and gray pads on the paws of their feet. The gray color occurs as the result of breeding two dogs that each carry a recessive gene for dilute coloration. How to Train a Silver Labrador Retriever? In fact, Labrador Retrievers are trained to do many important jobs including drug detection, search and rescue, and therapy work. They are also commonly used as service dogs for people with disabilities. There is no doubt that this is a very trainable dog. However, like all dogs, training a Silver Lab takes patience, effort, and consistency. Make sure you find a trainer that uses modern, positive, force-free training methods. There is no need to use painful training devices such as shock collars, pinch collars or choke chains. Instead, find a trainer that uses reward-based training. This type of training is more effective and more enjoyable for you and your pet. Once you have mastered basic commands, you can look into more advanced activities such as canine sports. Silver Labs can excel at sports including flyball, dock jumping , water retrieving, agility, tracking, nosework, Frisbee and much more! His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog. You will need to brush and bathe your Silver Labrador on a regular basis. However, professional grooming should not be necessary. Labradors are moderate shedders, so be prepared for some dog fur in your house. Are Silver Labrador Retrievers Hypoallergenic? Labrador Retrievers of all color varieties are NOT hypoallergenic. If you are looking for a breed that is hypoallergenic, check out this article for some possibilities. Silver Labrador Retrievers are prone to certain genetic conditions, and your vet can give you an idea about what to expect in terms of care and financial cost. For example, be on the watch for signs of the following conditions:. How Much Does a Labrador Cost? And, this is just the upfront cost of the puppy. This includes the cost of food, veterinary bills, grooming, bedding, and so on. Labrador puppy costs depend on a few factors. Quality of the breeder Quality of the parent dogs Type of Labrador eg. For instance, puppy prices tend to be higher before Christmas, so buy a puppy in the spring, instead. Originally, black Labs were favored above other colors. Brown and yellow Labs were extremely uncommon, and were not at all desirable. Over time, this opinion changed and brown and yellow Labs became more accepted. Shooting communities still tend to prefer the black Lab, but yellow Labs are very common in other working roles, like as therapy dogs and guide dogs. On the whole, each official Labrador color will cost a similar amount. But, yellow and brown Labs may cost slightly more than black Labs, since the genes that cause their coloring are recessive and therefore are less common. Non-Standard Colors Labrador costs can be hugely increased or reduced by non standard colors or patterns. For instance, dilute shades or mismarks. Dilute coloring is recessive and highly controversial in the Labrador community. The genes that cause these shades will dilute pigmentation, turning black Labs into charcoal Labs, chocolate Labs into silver Labs, and yellow Labs into champagne Labs. Some believe this color results from cross-breeding. But, others believe the recessive genes simply remained hidden over generations, like original yellow and chocolate coloring. Dilute colors are not accepted in the official breed standard. So, many breeders will not adjust their price, and may even lower it for unexpected dilute puppies. The same is the case with mismarks. Mismarks can include white patches and spots, brindling, and even tan markings. Extensive mismarks will disqualify a Lab from show. Show type Labs are bred to fit the Labrador breed standard. They are usually slightly stockier and less active than field types. Field types are more often bred for their working ability than for any specific appearance. Labradors cost more when they are bred to show standards. Field Labs tend to be cheaper than Labradors bred for show. But, you should consider which type is best for you, rather than just going for the cheapest Labrador you can find. Field type Labs can be much more energetic and active than show types. First time owners may find the English Lab slightly easier to raise and train! Conversely, Labrador costs can be highest with field trial champion bred dogs that are likely to win awards. Labrador Costs From Breeders vs Shelters Labrador puppies from reputable breeders will cost more than dogs from a rescue center. Whilst Labs from breeders can cost thousands of dollars, Labradors from rescue centers can only be a few hundred dollars. A major difference between Labs from a breeder and Labs from a rescue center is the history of the dogs. Puppies from a breeder will stay with their mom and siblings until 8 weeks old. At 8 weeks, puppies can go to their new home. Rescue center dogs can have unknown histories, or even histories that involve abuse. Labs from rescue centers are usually older, and have often lived with other families. However, many Labs are given up for non-behavioral reasons. They can be just as wonderful pets as puppies from a breeder. And, many dogs from rescue centers will have basic training, including house training, obedience, and potentially recall. Why Are Breeders So Expensive? Reputable breeders tend to cost more than any other puppy source. Breeders have to spend a lot when breeding a litter, and all of this will lower their profit margins. Labrador breeding costs include: Health testing and certificates. November 22, There is no denying that Labradors have long been one of the most popular dog breeds. In this guide, we are going to reveal everything you need to know about Silver Lab puppies. Just like traditional Labradors, these dogs are adored for their outgoing and friendly personalities. They are lovable, sociable, loyal, and energetic. The only real difference is their unique grayish-blue color, which is adorable, to say the least. For the price of or to apply for one of our silver labs contact us at the bottom of this page here. You may be wondering how we have ended up with Silver Labs, and why they are the perfect family companion. Another feature of a dilute dog is the color of the eyes and the nose. The dilute gene is something that you will find in a lot of different dog breeds. Nevertheless, it has only appeared in Labrador Retrievers quite recently. The dilute gene and coat color The American Kennel Club recognizes three different Labrador colors: chocolate, black, and yellow. You will notice that three colors are missing from the list: champagne, charcoal, and of course, silver. Just like silver is considered a diluted version of chocolate, champagne is a diluted version of yellow, and charcoal is a diluted version of black. The way the dilute gene works A set of genes controls the coat color a Labrador has. When it comes to the silver color, it is the D gene that is at play here, acting as a type of switch. This means that a Labrador is going to require two copies of the dilute gene to have dilute fur. This means that a silver coat can only be produced with the final combination. Unless one little d is paired with another little d, it is not going to have any impact. There are some dog breeds whereby all of the individuals will have two little d genes, with Weimaraners being a prime example. Where do we get Silver Labs from? In the United States, reports of Silver Labradors were first seen from around the s. One of the earliest kennels to produce Labs in this new silver color was Culo Silver Labs. Our Silver Labrador Romeo Precisely how this new color came to be is a question that a lot of people debate, with a number of different opinions on the subject. How did Labradors end up with the dilute gene? There are a number of different options that can explain the appearance of a new gene in a purebred dog. This includes the following: Hidden genes Spontaneous mutation Mixed breeding The first and most obvious explanation is that there was a cross between a Labrador and a breed of dog that carries the dilute gene at some point. The capacity of a rare gene to stay hidden for an extended time period is a phenomenon that the majority of scientists are aware of. The explanation for the appearance of the Silver Labrador in the s is arguably the most valid alternative to the theory of cross-breeding. We know that some genes are more dominant than others, and can hide or mask them. These are known as recessive genes. A lot of diseases happen as a consequence of recessive genes, and they only appear when the unfortunate individual inherits two copies. Rare diseases that are carried by genes can actually remain hidden for years and years and years, only to appear when dogs that are closely related end up mating together. This is something that happens more regularly when the gene pools are small, as is the case in pedigree dog populations. Colors can be recessive or dominant as well The B color gene is one that determines whether or not a Labrador is brown or black, with black dogs being favored. Brown is a recessive color, and a Labrador is going to require two copies of the little b brown gene in order to end up with a coat that is brown in color. Brown Labs only became popular when breeders intentionally set about mating them to each other. Some people believe that the rare dilute gene has been present in Labs all along and that it only appeared when two dogs that were closely related were bred — as some rare diseases end up doing. It was not until that the AKC registered the first Labs. This includes the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, which is a breed that does have the dilute gene. Spontaneous mutation Another theory to consider is spontaneous mutation. It is not uncommon for genes to mutate. This is another way that an unusual or rare characteristic can appear in a family of dogs that were not affected by it previously. This is a theory that is not overly popular for the appearance of the dilute gene in the Silver Lab. The reason for this partly comes down to the fact that hidden genes are such a plausible explanation. For a mutation to be identical to a gene that exists already for unusual coat color in a different breed would be a coincidence. A lot of people feel that the spontaneous appearance of the dd dilution gene in the Silver Labrador Retriever gene pool is, to say the least, unlikely. However, this is not something that we can rule out. Mixed breeding A lot of people believe that the first Silver Labrador were, in fact, crossbreeds. This is a theory that is plausible, and there are evident motivates for dog breeders wanting to create a new color variation of an existing breed. Motives can include the allure of creating something new and the financial gain, although they may not have realized that Silver Labradors would be so popular. A lot of people that believe mixed breeding is at play here believe that Labradors were mixed with Weimaraners, creating a cross. However, it is worth pointing out that this theory has lost a bit of credibility as of late because of the genetic testing of Silver Labrador, which has not shown any connection to Weimaraners. The appearance of a Silver Lab Of course, the stunning silver coat is the first thing that people tend to notice about a Silver Labrador. This smooth, double coat appears almost like it is velvet, and it tends to be a faded brown or a slate grey shade. Another one of the defining features is their straight otter tail, which enables the dog to move through the water safely. They are built for both water and land, and they have long, muscular legs, which are made to suit swimming and running. Colors The Silver Labrador can come in a number of different shades. Typically, it is a bluish-grey or slate, yet, faded brown is another possibility. The coat is incredibly smooth, and when you stroke a Silver Labrador, it feels a lot like plush velvet! Size Once a Silver Labrador has fully grown, the girls are going to be between 21 and 23 inches tall, and the boys are going to stand between 22 and 24 inches tall. The females are between 55 and 70 pounds while the males are between 65 and 80 pounds. Silver Labrador longevity and health Silver Labradors suffer from the same health problems that other purebred Labs can experience, including over-eating and a predisposition to joint issues. Two studies that have been carried out record the lifespan for a Labrador at between 11 and 12 years of age, and Labs also have a higher cancer rate when compared with other breeds, i. On the balance, though, Labradors are a breed that is well-constructed and healthy, free from some of the different disabilities that plague a lot of other purebred dogs. However, this is a possible medical issue linked with the coat color dilution gene that you need to be aware of. Color dilution alopecia The color dilution gene — the dd gene that we have been referring to that causes the beautiful silvery coat — is sometimes linked with coat issues. Particularly, it may be connected to a type of hair loss. It is not typically a condition that is life-threatening, but it also is not curable either. It can result in progressive hair loss in young dogs and could cause a recurrent infection in the hair follicles. Coat dilution does not always result in skin issues. Not all dogs that have the dd gene are going to have the faulty alopecia variant. And, you will find that the majority of Silver Labradors do not have alopecia. However, it is important to be aware of the fact that this can be an issue. To date we have not seen it in our bloodline. In a lot of respects, therefore, the health of a Silver Labrador is a lot like any other type of purebred Lab. Silver Lab training and temperament No matter the origin of the Silver Labrador, the Silver Labs we see today are very much Labrador in both conformation and temperament. Training a Silver Lab puppy can be a great deal of fun. Of course, it will take a little bit of patience and time, as Labs can be a bit nippy when they are small, and rather bouncy when they grow into their teens. So, you are going to need to make sure you have a little bit of time every day for training. As long as you are able to handle the high energy that your Silver Lab has, you should not have too much trouble. Aside from the need for mental stimulation and high activity level, the requirements that a Silver Labrador has are very basic, even kids can learn to care for one. Grooming, training, and feeding do not need to go far beyond the needs of other dogs to be happy and healthy. It is not going to take too long for your friendly Silver Labrador to fit right in. Health considerations Chocolate and Silver Labradors are more likely to suffer from skin diseases and ear infections when compared with other fur colors. This dirty water can remain in their ears, which can result in an infection. There are a number of different symptoms that can arise, including crust and itching around the ear, and darkening and redness of the ear canal. Of course, your vet will be able to advise you. With Silver Labradors, you also need to be on the lookout for painful skin lesions that are known as a hot spot. These sorts of lesions happen when a dog picks or licks a spot of the skin that is injured. Sunburn, insect bites, and regular injuries can all form hot spots. For problems like this, anti-inflammatory medication tends to clear up the issue, yet you may need to place a cone on your dog to prevent him or her from picking at it. Nutrition Another important factor to consider when it comes to Silver Labs is that their nutritional requirements are different at different points within their lives. Once your dog has grown fully, it is going to require between and 1, calories each day. In terms of what you feed them, any premium quality kibble is going to be suitable. Never feed raw pork or beef to a dog. Healthy fats are next on the list. The last thing should be carbs. It is important to make sure that all of the ingredients are derived from natural sources instead of artificial fillers. Expected growth for your Silver Lab It is important to know about the growth stages for your Silver Labrador. Your puppy should weigh between 10 and 22 pounds when they are seven to 12 weeks old. When your dog is between 12 weeks and six months, it should be around 40 pounds, which is half of its adult weight. Between six and nine months of age, your puppy should be around three-quarters of his or her way onto the adult size. Puppies when they are this age tend to weigh between 50 and 65 pounds. Finally, your dog is going to be their full weight once they reach one year of age. This is between 55 and 80 pounds. Grooming Despite the fact that a Silver Labrador has short fur, they are not deemed a breed with low shed. If you do bring a Silver Lab into your home, you should expect to see a few of their silver hairs on the carpet and the couch. The dog will shed throughout the year moderately, and you will need to brush it at least once per week. Throughout the spring months, your Silver Labrador will drop a lot more hair than usual. The same goes for the fall, as they prepare for their seasonal coat. If your dog is active, you are generally not going to need to cut its nails. Just be sure to check their nails every fortnight. Silver Labrador exercise The Silver Labrador is a breed that has a lot of energy and will spend most of the day on its feet. They will want to jump and run for most of their waking hours. This is why it is critical to make sure they have a minimum of one full hour of physical activity each day. A game of fetch in the pool with your Silver Labrador can be heaps of fun. They can also enjoy games of chase, and you can even play tag with your fluffy friend. We would rank their activity level as a four out of five, and your Silver Labrador will need to have at least 60 minutes of activity on a daily basis. Some helpful tips on buying Silver Labs If you are thinking about buying a Silver Lab, we have a number of different tips and snippets of information that can assist you with your purchase: Make sure that your property has sufficient space to accommodate a Silver Labrador, as this is a breed that is very active. If you do not have your own garden, you are going to need to take your dog to the park for at least an hour per day so that they can let out their energy. Even it means paying a little bit more, it is important to be sure that you receive the Canadian Kennel Club CKC certification for the puppy. You want to be certain that your puppy is what you expect, and that they have been cared for properly as a youngster. A Silver Labrador can be more costly when compared with other common colors, so it is imperative that you budget effectively. There is often a waiting list that you will have to get onto and wait for your puppy. Established breeders have a greater demand for their dogs because of the quality of puppy they breed. Final words on Silver Labs So there you have it: everything that you need to know about Silver Labradors and the characteristics associated with this breed of dog. We hope that this guide has helped you to get a better understanding of Silver Labs, and why they make such good pets. If you are looking for a friendly, lovable, and unique dog to bring into your family, a Silver Labrador Retriever is well worth considering. In the end, the color of coat of any dog should not make a difference unless you plan to show it. Remember, a silver lab is a chocolate lab with only 1 more copy of the dilute gene. How could this make them unsuitable as a pet? So, our suggestion is as it always has been. Love your dogs not based on a superficial quality such as color of coat, love them because they love you unconditionally and will serve you until their final breath. FAQ about Silver Labs We are going to finish by answering some of the most common questions we receive about Silver Labradors, so you can get a better understanding of this breed. Are Silver Labradors rare? In some countries, Silver Labs are rare, as this is deemed a relatively new color variation. This is partly to do with the fact that registering silver puppies is not widely permitted. Although these sorts of dogs are not considered rare, Silver Labs are more unusual when compared with the likes of Brown, Yellow, or Black Labradors. How big do Silver Labradors get? The recommended breed typical height for a labrador is up to 23 inches and a half for females and 24 inches and a half for males. Nevertheless, individuals can vary a couple of inches to either side of this. With regard to body weight, the variations can be even more diverse, and a lot of this is going to depend on which of the two groups the Silver Lab falls into, i. English or American. Female Labs tend to reach about 60lbs in weight. Male Labs will often reach approximately 70lbs in weight. However, there can be a difference of around 20lbs to either side of that. American Labrador Breds, which are used for retrieving and hunting, tend to be taller and slimmer, and so they are often lighter than the chunkier English type, which you would see in a show ring. Do Silver Labs make good family dogs? Yes, Silver Labs are known as excellent family dogs. Ideally, a Silver Labrador Retriever is going to be suitable to an outdoor-loving, active family, with children over the age of five years old. As Labradors can be bouncy dogs when they are young, a Silver Lab puppy is not always the best choice if you have toddlers in your household or anyone who is unsteady on their feet. However, a calmer, older Lab can be ideal if you have a household with younger children. Labradors, no matter their color, are incredibly sociable. They are happy when they are in a family environment whereby there are people at home for at least some of the day, if not most of it. How much do Silver Labs cost? You may be wondering how much it will cost for you to add an adorable Silver Labrador to your family. We always suggest to find the best quality puppy you can find, not the cheapest. An investment into the health of a well bred silver pup is something that will follow. For more on what a quality Lab puppy looks like visit this page. The rarity of this breed of Labrador has pushed the price up. If you were to go for a classic Black Labrador or a Yellow Lab, you would not need to pay as much. Of course, it is all about finding the perfect companion for your family. Silver Labs cost more than standard colors because they are less common than the standard Black, Yellow, and Chocolate varieties. For the most part, they behave just like the Labradors you grew up with as a child—the most loveable things on four legs. Why this particular color causes so much contention, however is a much more heated subject. The life expectancy is 10 to 14 years, just like any other Labrador. I cannot tell you what to believe when it comes to this difficult subject. Before you decide which side to settle on, however, you should be aware of the important points. In this article we are going to dive into the issues and help you educate yourself on everything surrounding Silver Labradors. For reasons that we will address later on, the Silver Lab costs more than standard Labradors. These are all AKC Labradors. Some of the litters have parents with health clearances. Others do not. Issues Surrounding the Labrador Breed in General You are already treading on some pretty thin ice when you are talking Labradors. With that many devoted fans, you can guarantee there are some serious feelings surrounding the breed. That might be the biggest issue when it comes to the Silver Labrador. You could probably start selling Green English Foxhounds and nobody would care. When you start messing with the number one breed, however, it becomes a different story. The problem arises in the fact that there is a huge demand for this incredible breed and demand has brought a lot of backyard-breeders into the market. These breeders are not concerned about or capable of protecting—at least in the eyes of professional—the overall health of the breed. The rarity of the silver coat has made this particular variety of Labrador even more attractive to backyard-breeders. As a result, the divide between opinions when it comes to the Silver is even more contested. If the answers were clear cut, then the whole controversy would have ended decades ago. Unfortunately, there are no absolute when it comes to the issues that really make up the debate. So, the best you can do is to learn as much as you possibly can before deciding which side to take or whether to just ignore the issue altogether. Having said that, I think it is also important to point out another great quote on uncertainty. The standard colors are as most people know black, yellow, and chocolate. The three standard Labrador colors are black, yellow, and chocolate. The black and chocolate varieties have really remained the same over that time, but the yellows have experienced some variation. Today, however, Yellow Labradors can vary from almost pure white to a fox red or butterscotch without any raised eyebrows. On the other hand, if someone comes with a dog that is designated a Silver Lab or a Champagne or Charcoal it can be another story. So, why do people that accept such wide variation in the Yellows have a problem with the Silver Labs? It really comes down to one accusation that some breeder somewhere crossed a Labrador with another breed of dog to introduce the unique color. So, technically speaking, in order for a dog to be considered a Labrador, it must meet the breed standard setup by the corresponding kennel. These are the ground on which people want kennels to refuse to register a dog that is silver in the Labrador world. There are other disqualifying features that will get a Labrador excluded. Some of those include: Pink nose or one without any color at all Eye rims without pigment Docked tail or otherwise altered When it comes to color, the AKC website says: The Labrador Retriever coat colors are black, yellow and chocolate. Any other color or a combination of colors is a disqualification. A small white spot on the chest is permissible, but not desirable. White hairs from aging or scarring are not to be misinterpreted as brindling. Black: Blacks are all black. A black with brindle markings or a black with tan markings is a disqualification. Yellow: Yellows may range in color from fox-red to light cream, with variations in shading on the ears, back, and underparts of the dog. Chocolate: Chocolates can vary in shade from light to dark chocolate. Chocolate with brindle or tan markings is a disqualification. To some purists in the breeding game, this statement says it all. Photo by Marcus Benedix on Unsplash Those that support and love the silver or charcoal and champagne colors, there is more to the story. What Causes the Silver Coat? The arguments for and against the Silver or Charcoal Labs is set with the origins of the color. Genetics tells us what makes the silver coat, but it cannot settle the debate over where it came from. It is not art. This is science and it allows us to predict what color of puppies result in any combination of dogs. Gene Combinations There are 9 possible gene combinations when it comes to Labrador retrievers: eeBB, eeBb, and eebb will always result in a yellow lab. Eebb and EEbb will always result in a chocolate lab. It seems to reason that there are more black labs in the world than yellow or chocolate. There are more possible combinations that can lead to that color. So every lab has these two pairs and when you breed two dogs they each pass on one of the allele associated with their pair. For example, if you have a black lab with the genetic makeup of EEBB then that dog will always pass on one E allele and one B. On the other hand, if your black lab has the genetic makeup of EeBb, then your puppy might receive an E or e and a B or b. If both parents are yellow labs, regardless of what the B alleles are, you will always get yellow puppies. On the other hand, if you have two black labs, your litter might include yellow, black and chocolate puppies. The following chart might help you see how this works. The top row represents the contributions of the male and the far column represents the female contributions: Labrador color is determined by science. The Dilute Gene There is another gene pair in labs that typically does not influence the color. This gene pair is made up of the D allele or its recessive counterpart d. Historically, that pair has almost always been DD. For a lab to have the silver color that has become so popular over the last several years, this D pair must have two recessive alleles dd and results in a dilute color of the solid color. If there is even one D in the pair, the lab will have one of the three acceptable colors. As a result, in their minds, the AKC should refuse to paper these dogs. Additionally, the dogs would be refused entry in field trials. Other Diluted Colors Although we are focusing this article on the Silver Labardor, each of the three standard Lab colors have their own diluted variation. The Silver Lab is a Chocolate Lab with the dd gene. When a Yellow Lab gets the dd gene, the diluted color is called Champange. This may be the most difficult to recognize because the colors of Yellow Labradors already have a significant amount of variation in them. If you ever see a Champange Labrador, you will still notice a slight difference. If a Black Labrador ends up with the dd gene, the dog will have a charcoal look. When did Silver Labs Show Up? When such a drastic change comes into a popular breed like the Labrador, people start asking questions. Just puppies of the black, yellow and chocolate varieties. There are plenty of speculations as to how the dilute color was introduced to Labrador breed. Some breeders and enthusiasts, based only on appearance, accuse breeders of having crossed a Lab with a Weimaraner. Here is one breeder and geneticist that believes the Silver Labrador resulted in a cross with a Chocolate Lab and a Weimaraner. Remember what I said about uncertainty? If you have ever seen one, you know what they are talking about. The color of a Silver Lab almost matches that of a Weimaraner perfectly. The similarities have given room for reasonable doubt and a plausible explanation as to where the color variation came from. Although the colors seem to scream foul play, the heredity records seem to dispute the accusation. Some people see this as the smoking gun. It is cold, hard proof in their heads that somewhere along the way Labs were crossed with Weimaraners. Some people claim that there is another connection to the Weimaraner. They claim that Silver Labs have longer ears a distinctive Weimaraner feature. Mutated Genes The other side of the argument against Silver Labradors is that the particular gene mutated along the way. Breeders that believe the gene mutated hold the position that those dogs should have been bred out of the breed when the color first appeared. In other words, the breeder should have refused to let dogs with the gene reproduce. This is why the AKC refuses to register Labradors with the disqualifying features that were mentioned above. Those that hold this view see the AKC has the culprit. They had a duty to stop this problem before it could grow to where it is today. Although this kind of gene mutation is extremely rare, it does happen and there is evidence throughout the animal kingdom. It is hard for some people to believe because the mutation if that is what happened resulted in a gene combination that already existed in another dog. For that to happen would be even more uncommon than the mutation happening in the first place. According to scientists, even though mutations like this can happen, they typically do not reproduce. So, I think mutation is the least likely of the explanations. Evolutionary Progress Those that support the diluted variations claim that the gene has always been present in Labradors. These supporters point to the fact that the first Labradors were predominantly black. They claim that Yellows and Chocolates are recent additions to the breed and that the silver and charcoal colors are just the next evolution in the breed. Breeders that love the silver color, would have us accept the new shades and expand the breed. It seems pretty obvious that the genes causing these other two standard colors were present from almost the beginning—even though they were more rare than Black Labs. The reality is that people preferred the Black Labrador to Yellow and Chocolate. So, that preference weighed in on how people bred their dogs. You can see the preference for colors if you consider the Field Trial winners over the last 50 years. Although Yellow dogs were more common, the Blacks were winning everything at one point. Then, slowly, there were more and more Yellow dogs taking the wins. Recessive Hidden Genes There is a scientific phenomenon where genes remain hidden for long periods of time. This phenomenon is the other explanation for why the Silver Labrador may have taken so long to surface rather than hitting the scene at the same time as the Yellows and the Chocolates. This is actually not unlikely as you might think. The likelihood of the eventual pairing of the diluted genes if it was there all along increases as the Labrador breeding pool shrinks. Once you have the paired genes, it becomes more likely in the later litters. Before there was a Labrador breed, individuals were mixing and matching breeds to get the perfect dog for their situations. In the case of Labs, one of the dogs that was used in the mix was the Chessie. The kicker is… Chesapeake Bay Retrievers carry the diluted gene. The AKC has actually ignored the problem. In doing so, they have made the contempt among the breeders even more intense. The AKC does not recognize the diluted Labrador colors. So, then how do dog owners get their Silver Labradors registered? Well, you have to register them to the non-diluted color. Charcoal Labradors are registered as Blacks. And, Champagne Labradors are registered as Yellows. The truth about the kennels, in my opinion, is that they are never going to make a ruling on this matter. To tell you the truth, I am not sure that they can do anything but accept the dog if the pedigree seems to be in order. This is really difficult to answer because we cannot settle on whether or not this is a variation of the Labrador breed or a Labrador mix. The answer to that question will determine what we can say about their temperament. If it is a part of the Labrador breed, then we would expect to see Silver Labs with the typical Labrador personality. Although there are always variations within that breed, there is a breed expectation. On the other hand, if the Silver is the result of a cross-breeding, then we would need to know what the other breed is to anticipate any changes to the Labrador behavior. Most people assume that any cross-breeding would have been with the Weimaraner. So, take a Labrador and give it copious amounts of caffeine. That is pretty much how I would describe this breed. The Weimaraner has a huge prey-drive more than a Labrador. The higher energy levels and increased prey-drive would make a Silver Labrador if the cross happened more difficult to train than standard Labradors. There have been some concerns about the diluted dogs health. Some writers have even suggested that Silver Labradors will experience increased health concerns because of inbreeding. In the earlier days and still today in the case of lousy breeders , there were not enough of the diluted colors available. As such, the breeders had to use dogs that were closely related in order to continue the color deviation and ensure silver or charcoal litters. Although recent studies of the diluted dog suggest that there are more than enough Silver Labs to keep them from inbreeding problems. Regardless, rumors still concern potential buyers from investing in a Silver Lab puppy. The reality it is that any Labrador can succumb to the ill-fate of bad knees or hip dysplasia. If you are considering buying any puppy, you must do your due diligence. Make sure that both parents have the proper health clearances. This should be done regardless of what breed or puppy you get. Click here to learn more about hip dysplasia. What is the Life Expectancy of a Silver Lab? As the Silver Lab gets more and more common, we will get a better feel for things like their longevity. I anticipate, however, that the life expectancy of a Silver Lab will be the same as any other healthy Labrador. When you bring your little silver bundle of canine chaos home, remember that you have somewhere between 10 and 14 years to love and care for him. Should I Purchase a Silver Labrador? Only you can answer this question. In addition to the typical questions you should ask before making this huge commitment. There are all the typical questions that you must ask before taking the plunge with a new puppy. You need to consider how much space you have and whether your schedule allows you to give the dog enough time. These are difficult questions, but you must be honest with yourself. In addition to the normal questions that you would tell your friends to consider what you want to do with your dog. Are you going to run him in field trials and hunt tests? If that is your plan, then you need to consider the fact that you will likely be allowed to run every time, but that in doing so, you will also likely get heckled by the purists. Although there is mounting evidence that suggests this could be the case, it is mostly circumstantial evidence and nothing more. There are other explanations that offer somewhat equally-plausible explanations. If you purchase a Silver Labrador, you will be able to get it registered. You will not, however, be able to register a Silver Labrador. What do I mean and why does it seem like I am talking in riddles? In order to register the litter, the breeder had to tell the AKC that he had a litter of Chocolate puppies. You can register your little pup, but when you go to register him do not look for the box that says: Silver. It does not exist. Ultimately, you can register Silver Labs, but not as Silver Labs. Fact: It is impossible to determine if Silver Labradors are purebred with current testing. Some supporters of the Silver Labrador adamantly insist that tests have been run to ensure that Silver and Charcoal and Champagne are purebred Labradors. Unfortunately, the current DNA tests for canines are not sophisticated enough to identify ancestral markers. They are really good at pointing out parentage. Reasons People Oppose Silver Labradors It does not take much time in the retriever world to realize that there is some stiff opposition to Silver Labs. All you have to do is attend one Field Trial or Hunt Test with Silver Labs to find out how deep the controversy and the animosity goes. As you bounce around the different forums you can get a feel for how ugly the debate can get. Sharon Wagner does not pull any punches about her opinion on Silver Labs. She said, There are many reasons why silver Labradors should not be produced and the main one is that they are a disqualification and adhering to a standard while breeding is what keeps a breed a breed. The Labrador looks and acts like Labrador and not a German Shepherd because of the dedicated breeders preserving the breed. A standard is a blueprint and varying because it looks nice will undoubtedly cause the structure to fail see full article at www. I think this is the most common and logical argument against the Silver Lab. This leads me to believe that they are breeding simply to make money and do not care about a superior individual nor do they care about the breed in general. Unfortunately, Ms. Wagner allowed herself to stoop to the type of exaggeration that has blown this argument out of proportion over the decades. If you are in the market for a Silver Lab or charcoal or champagne then you had better be ready to pay a little extra. Although their numbers are increasing, they are still a rarity, especially in the UK. This fact has led some to believe that it is the only reason breeders choose to breed for this rare gene. As they become more common, it is likely that the prices will come down, although they may never reach the level of standard labs that meet the AKC regulations. If you are planning on running your dog in AKC events, understand that you will likely run into problems with other handlers. Not everyone is ready to move on. Some of them will express their frustration with the AKC on innocent dog handlers that just want to run their dogs in a Hunt Test. Conclusion Regarding Silver Labs The reality is that this argument and discussion hopefully more of the later will continue to rage on. It does not seem like anyone is even close to presenting information or facts that will completely establish the truth regarding Silver Labradors. Whether you love the color or believe that it is going to bring the downfall of Labrador Retrievers across the globe, we should all agree on the fact that we need to be civil and treat each other with respect.

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pug puppy vaccination schedule - We've had her for 2 days now and she is adjusting well to her new home. We recommend boxermompupsaz. Dave and Debbie Phx. Cheryl was extremely helpful and supportive throughout the entire process. I would recommend her to anyone looking to find their nest boxer puppy. Kona is a great addition to the family! We just adopted Rock fawn male boxer on Jan 20th from Cheryl, we are so happy with the service and great care they gave our boy! We are so blessed to have found the and brought us our new boxer, We had Sparky for 12 years and we just fell in love with the breed. We are very happy with our whole experience with this breeder and would recommend them to all. Thank you again I have been a Boxer fan my whole life. My mom bred Boxers back in NY. I love that sweet face, silly personality and wiggle butt you can only have with a boxer! We recently had to put our girl Reese down at 12 years old. We didn't know if we were ready.My boss recommended I reach out to Cheryl, as she had just gotten a pup from her a month before. I did and Cheryl took the time to find out what color, gender and timing we wanted to have a puppy. She kept me posted on available litters and when I could expect a new baby. Cheryl was very good about answering all the new mom questions I had and was very patient. Within 3 months of putting down our deposit we were the proud parents of Riplee! Our crazy, beautiful Seal puppy. We could not be happier with her. She is bright eyed, sweet and full of energy. Michelle Phx So here we are.Boxer parents again. Doris has went to the vet with our Yorkie for vaccinations. Low and behold there was a 6 month old boxer more than likely from Cheryl there that jumped and played with my wife as the story goes. She came home and was crying. Prior to us moving here, we had two boxers. Once you have a Boxer your life will never be complete without a Boxer jumping around, slobbering and those eyes.That day after the vet my sole purpose was to find another Boxer. I searched Phoenix not knowing we had the best breeder here in Tucson! I called Cheryl and we actually went to a visitation for other parents to be that weekend. We got to play, snuggle and bathe some of the pups. Miss Cheryl was busier than a one legged man in butt whooping contest. It was Amazing. So we chose to get a pup from the next litter. We too started getting texts at like am. We chose Princess Tessa. She is home with us now and we love her so. The anxiety was killing us like a kid around Christmas! Could not wait for that day Tessa came home. Thank you Cheryl for making us whole again. Tessa is happy and doing well. If you want a Boxer, please call Cheryl! We decided that we would get a boy and a girl. It had great information on it and lots of pictures so we could see how the dogs were taken care of. We got lucky and Cheryl had a pick of the litter male available first. Moose has been a blessing to us as he reminds us daily of our old boy we lost. We then waited for our girl to be born from Khalessi and Bama Boy. We finally went to pick up Poppy a few weeks ago and the two have been inseparable ever since. Cheryl also gave us a nice starter kit for both dogs and provided the microchip for the dogs. We would definitely recommend her if you are looking to get a boxer in the near future. Working with Cheryl was absolutely amazing and you can truly see that she honors the work that she does each and every day. She cares about these animals and she keeps her promises. We purchased a beautiful female fawn boxer this past February after she was born into a litter last December. The price was also very reasonable and Cheryl went above and beyond our expectations. Our baby boxer Bella is an absolute gem and beyond everything we thought she was going to be. Thank you Cheryl and God bless you. We were thrilled to find Cheryl in Tucson. I loved that we could see her previous puppies on the website as well as the expecting parents. Even the sales contract was online to help us understand what to expect. We felt comfortable making a deposit and waiting for the right puppy to come along. Cheryl communicated throughout the process and she was responsive to any questions we had. Love at first sight! He has melted our hearts as well. He is very handsome too, clearly has good genes! Highly recommend obtaining a boxer puppy from Cheryl! Great experience and great dogs! Michelle- Phx Cheryl is great to work with, she was very helpful with all my questions. Would definitely work with Cheryl again, if I was crazy enough to get 2 puppies at the same time again! When she passed in December, we did the math and calculated that putting in a deposit on a pup in February would be perfect timing for a new summer family member. Best laid plans.Eddie "Cue Ball" McDonald came home just in time to keep us company and get the best puppy pampering and bonding experience ever during quarantine. He's brought so much love and joy--and much needed entertainment and exercise--into our lives, and has been exactly the happy, healthy, smart, good boy we hoped for. Cheryl was so kind and great to work with, and her love for the animals is very clear. We'd recommend working with her anytime! Leigh - Tucson Would definitely recommend Cheryl when purchasing a puppy. She was there for us during the good and not so good times. Cheryl is a very knowledgeable breeder, she is a compassionate and loving human being. I have already been recommending her here in Willcox. Thank you so much for Buckshot Cheryl. She kept us up to date through the entire process. When it came time to pickup Ava, she provided us with a little goody bag to give Ava the best start! We are so happy we added her to our family. She is already bossing her big brother around and they love to snuggle. Racheal in Phx Hi, Cheryl! My husband has wanted a Boxer dog since he was a kid. We finally got into the golden stage with our family -- kids all the perfect age, big house with a big back yard -- and we decided to go for it. I happened upon Cheryl's site and immediately reached out to her. We got in touch over the phone and had the greatest conversation ever. She answered every single one of my questions and helped me feel so comfortable! I could tell right away that she'd been doing this for a long time and that she truly cared about her dogs. It was so comforting! It would be a whole lot worse though if we didn't have Hondo and Duke around to keep us company. Thank you, Cheryl, for everything! We could not have asked for a better experience! Michelle- Phx Cheryl is such a pleasure to work with. We bought our first boxer from her almost a year ago. Dex has such a great temperament and Cheryl does a great job at socializing her puppies. We couldn't be more pleased with Dex. In fact we had such a great experience with Cheryl that when we decided to get a friend for Dex and more Boxer love for us, we contacted Cheryl and we bought our little girl Remi basically over the phone. Cheryl sent us some pictures of her and we fell in love. Over the next 2 weeks Cheryl was great with sending videos and pics before pick up day. We have gotten a lot of compliments on Dex and Remi Kristen We contacted Cheryl through her website, we were not sure we wanted to travel to Tucson but after looking at her pups online we were interested. There just was nothing in Phoenix. Either they didn't have the mom or they didn't have the dad, we weren't interested. So we drove down to meet Cheryl. She was well into breeding and knew a lot about the boxer breed. She didn't have any puppies available at the time as they were all sold. But we came on a visitation day, we were impressed with her puppies. She said there would be a couple of litters coming up if we were interested. We wanted a flashy female. She called us in a couple weeks and said she had one come available and we could have her in 5 weeks, we could come and see her in a week so we jumped at the chance. Cheryl kept us updated and sent pictures once a week. Very very impressed with Cheryl and feel we gained a friend as well as our dear Daisy. Cheryl thanks again! Janet-Phx Cheryl was absolutely amazing from start to finish. Getting a puppy from her was the best experience. From getting to meet the parents then getting updates on puppies along with pictures. Even visitations with them while we were waiting to take him home. I will definitely be coming back. We love our Onyx more than words. Lynette-Tucson Cheryl Galloway is absolutely amazing and the quality care she puts into breeding boxers is absolutely amazing. She truly cares about what she does and we are over the moon with our baby Boxer Bella, born December .I highly recommend Cheryl. She definitely has a passion for what she does. Thank you again Cheryl! Lois-Phx Cheryl was amazing through every step of the way!! She is VERY knowledgeable and takes great care of all her dogs and puppies. She was very honest and accommodating with all my questions and fantastic at responding to my MANY requests for pictures and videos of our girl : Our little firecracker is FULL of personality, well-socialized, and came home knowing how to use the doggy door bonus! Domino is the perfect addition to our family, and there is no doubt that we know just who to contact when we are ready for another. Can't thank you enough! Kim Phx We had a great experience! Cheryl and boxermompupsaz. Great communication leading up to the sale, great payment options and very friendly to deal with. Our pup was in excellent health,,he had current health record and all of the proper shots for his age! Adam and Jodi in Tucson I found Cheryl on line when looking for a boxer puppy after losing our best friend Rookie. Cheryl was friendly and kind on the phone but when we met her in person I was taken by her knowledge and her professionalism as well. Mugsy was born to Lexi the night before Thanksgiving. Cheryl texted me all night long starting at 10pm until am until all 9 pups were born. You might not want to do that but I asked and Cheryl delivered! After Mugsy was born we came out several times for visits. The puppies were all healthy and clean and full of personality. When we picked Mugsy up Cheryl sent us home with a care package with everything we would need to get us through the first week just in case we forgot anything. She thought of everything! New toys, food bowls, collar and leash, first aid kit, basic medical supplies. Because Cheryl socializes her pups so well, Mugsy came home already using the doggie door. Cheryl is warm and caring and she loves her pack. All that we met had great temperaments and were living long healthy lives. Mugsy is part of our family now and we know Rookie would approve. Thanks Cheryl for a great experience. Working with Cheryl was wonderful! From the very beginning she was very open to communication and tons of questions from us. She was patient when we explained we had to wait because we lost our dog in February. We were able to go meet Cheryl and a few of her dogs, just to put a face to the name. She is open to any questions and very knowledgeable about the Boxer breed. Once we found out a litter was due, she kept us informed on the due date and sent pictures of the pups immediately! We were so happy! Even for the first weeks, Cheryl sent pictures of our chosen pups and videos! Which made my day! I would recommend Cheryl to anyone seeking a Boxer to add to their family! Shelley W. While we were waiting for our little Kai in December, we decided to adopt Meka Gucci one of your retired females in October. Meka is such a sweetheart and gets along with the family. Then in December we were able to bring Kai home. They get along so well, and they're so much fun to watch. They sure bring a lot of joy and happiness! Thank you for what you do, we know for sure who to go to when we need another boxer or two! Thanks again! Pam and Bob Surprise Az. .Cheryl was wonderful to work with. I was very lucky that when I called her she had just had a litter of pups available! And I have Lucy. We had decided on getting a brindle girl, and when the litter came, Cheryl let us know. We came for the first visit and saw that she had a boy still available. And of course we couldn't leave him so we ended up with two puppies. We love Luke and Leia so much and Cheryl was so easy to work with. If ever we are looking for another puppy, we will come back to Cheryl. When I was ready for another pup, I knew Cheryl was the one to call. I had expressed my interest in an older Boxer that was retiring and needed some love. It was so special to have the opportunity to adopt little Scout's dad, Buddy has absolutely completed the home and he is the most loving and gentle dog in the world. It means so much that you chose and trusted me to take care of this sweet boy, he is beyond spoiled and so very loved! Thanks for all you do! Xoxo Kenzie,Scout and Buddy Hey Cheryl, I have gotten two dogs from Cheryl and have really been pleased with the service she gives and you can really tell this is her life passion. Cheryl always explains what she has done for the puppies she brings into your life and really wants her puppies to start out right with you. Cheryl is always willing to give you advice and always willing to answer questions. I would highly recommended Cheryl and her puppies to anyone. Thank you Cheryl Sincerely, P. Mongo and Brawley are doing great and getting along. I lost my beloved boxer a few years ago and was ready to get another one. I love the breed and how they bond with their families. The previous breeder was no longer breeding, so I decided to try Cheryl because of the reviews. She did not disappoint. She let me and my daughters come down to pick our pup, spent time talking with us and telling us about the parents and their temperaments. Our puppy, is a puppy and full of boxer energy, but she has already bonded with me and comes near if she feels I am upset, she is amazing with my 2 year old. Shannon-Chandler Cheryl is a total joy to work with, and an awesome breeder. It is obvious how much she loves her dogs. They all have great and gentle personalities as well as being physically beautiful. She clearly explains the process to transfer CKC registration and microchip ownership information. She sends your puppy home with a great starter bag that includes a dog pillow, a leash and collar, stuffed toys, treats etc. We would highly recommend Cheryl as a breeder. Our little Bella is now four months old. We take her everywhere and she always draws a crowd of admirers which she graciously soaks in. We are so very blessed because of Cheryl and her beautiful babies. My husband is retired and the house was just too empty without Damien. I hated not being greeted by my fawn colored kidney bean when I would get home from work. So we talked and decided we would get a Boxer from a breeder. We found Cheryl and we feel so fortunate that we did. The first Boxer we got from her is Lil-Bit and she is retired and the sweetest girl ever. She's laid back and very protective of myself and my Husband. Loves to just be with us and go on walks. We also got a brand new pup and his name is Sam. He is almost 9 weeks old and very smart. I had many questions about his shots and was super concerned about the Parvo virus. He already had three shots and was wormed when we brought him home. Cheryl told me to have visitors take off their shoes before they enter my house and wash their hands before touching the pup. I went as far as buying shoe covers! She is always available for questions or to just run something by her. She really loves her dogs. I truly believe that this is her calling, just by the way she is with all of them. You could not find a better person to buy a Boxer from. Cheryl lets you visit whenever you want, unless one of her girls is delivering. She stays home with them the whole time, You also bring home a huge bag of goodies when you bring your pup home. Food,bed,toys,collar and leash and so much more. Every Boxer I ever get will be from Cheryl. So I googled and found Cheryl. I decided to surprise the family for Christmas and Cheryl made this such an easy and fun experience! She was very informative and willing to be on call for any help I needed. Our baby Petunia is healthy, adorable and smart. If we ever decide on another puppy, we will definitely be calling Cheryl again. Julie- Chino Valley Cheryl is not only an amazing breeder but a kind heartened and sweet women that is passionate about her boxers. This is a late review but there is no better time then now to share my experience. I had to put down my old boxer of 15 years back in April and I was distraught. After a couple months I branched out, looking for boxer breeders. I'm so glad I found Cheryl. She responded to my text right away and I was set on the last male puppy in Luna's litter. Cheryl was attentive and sent updated photos of baby Apollo, all the way up until pick up. She was kind enough to meet my boyfriend and I half way, on her way to Phoenix. Baby Apollo is now 19 weeks old. He is a great addition to our little family; very healthy, happy, goofy and spunky. I'm so thankful for Cheryl. We might come back for second addition soon! Nicoletta- Az. My Husband and I knew we wanted a puppy for our family. We have always adopted from a shelter, but now with 4 small children and one on the way we decided to find a breeder. The minute we made contact with Cheryl we knew that we were working with a person who loves her dogs and her puppies. Our sweet boy Leo is just the most amazing puppy and we are all so in love with him. From the first day that I contacted her, she sent tons of photos, videos and had quick responses to my emails and texts and she always had the puppies best interest at heart, which I absolutely loved. We can tell that our puppy Aspen was so well taken care of and loved because of how attached to Cheryl she was every time we went and visited her. I would recommend Cheryl to anyone looking for a purebred boxer that is very well taken care of and loved. Cheryl, thank you for our precious new puppy and her amazing going home bag and gifts. We love Aspen so much! Rivers Family It all started back in early December as my wife and I were wanting to get a second boxer as we had to put our Boy down in , we have a female 6 year old boxer named Delpheena Rose. Cheryl contacted me back saying that she has a litter due in late Dec. Well the puppies were born and on we got the best present, we got 1st pick of the pups! We picked the all black male boxer. We were so excited, starting putting names on a list and name after name we just couldn't pick one. We asked if we could come and meet our puppy and Cheryl welcomed us to come and meet our boy. The puppy was 2 weeks old when we went to meet our baby. Love at first sight to say the least, we chose the name "Dexter". I have to say that being able to go and meet the puppy was one of the best things we did. We ended up going to see Dexter twice and then at week 7 and one day we picked Dexter up. We are so happy with how well Cheryl takes care of these babies. I would totally recommend Cheryl to anyone who is looking for one of the best additions to the family. We will be getting a second puppy in the future. Marc and Megan I am so happy I was able to find Cheryl and her pups. I had a horrible experience of losing my brindle baby and best friend of 8 years. We rescued her from the streets and gave her love and I never thought I would lose her. Well, when I found Cheryl, i knew i had to get another puppy. I have been in love with my puppy since we went to pick her up. She is amazing, she has adapted very well and she loves seeing us walk thru the door after a long day of work. I will forever be grateful for Cheryl for giving my new baby girl and myself a new chance. We will definitely be going back to you!! Just got Firulais! I contacted Cheryl months after losing my best friend Winslow, a rescue boxer who had to be put down do to lymphoma. I was sure I wanted another boxer because a home is just not complete without one. I found Cheryl online. Having always done rescues I was nervous, but Cheryl had great info about her and her dogs and all her reviews were glowing. Cheryl responded to my and email right away and asked to put Winslow's picture on the memorial page. She asked if I was ready for another puppy but understood if I wanted to wait. She told me Midnight and Buddy had just had a litter. She sent me photos and I fell in love with Wyatt. Cheryl encouraged us to come see Wyatt right away. She worked hard to coordinate with us and brought Wyatt and even his mom Midnight. It was obvious Cheryl loves and cares for all the dogs she has. Both were happy, healthy and social. We got to see Wyatt every week and even met his dad, Buddy, and his siblings on and off her property. He was always clean, and on schedule for shots, de-wormer etc. Cheryl would text me photos, videos, and updates. Wyatt even got his nub nipped by a litter mate and she made sure he was looked at and cared for. We picked Wyatt up to bring him home and Cheryl literally gave us everything we needed. At 18 weeks Wyatt is an active, healthy, playful, loving puppy who is great with people of all ages and other dogs. Thank you so much Cheryl! As someone who doesn't trust easily and as someone who always had rescues, I can say this was a great experience. I wish all breeders were as responsible and caring as Cheryl. Someday Wyatt may get a sibling and we will be using Cheryl! Thank you Boxer Mom Pups Az! Christina Amazing! We now have a happy, healthy and very special little girl. Cheryl is one of a kind, she takes great care in making us feel apart of the whole experience from birth to take home. The pictures during the first weeks the visits and take home care package. We will never buy from anyone else. Thank you so much for our new baby girl, Zoey! They came home with us Dec 4th. What a wonderful delight they are- healthy happy puppies. Cheryl does a wonderful job with her breeding! If you are in the market for a puppy- Cheryl is definitely the place to go. She loves her Dogs! Not a typical breeder.Yvonne - Tucson Cheryl is not your average breeder. She cares about everyone of her puppies and she makes sure they go to the right homes. We just got not one but two puppies and I couldn't be happier!! We met and picked our first one at 4 days old and fell in love with another one while we had visitation of the one we originally picked!!! When the 7 weeks finally came so we could take our babies home. Cheryl had a bag full of needed items as well as pillows to make the transition easier!! I will definitely keep in touch with how our babies are doing and would love to see new puppies as they are born!! My whole experience was amazing. I recommend Cheryl to everyone. My nephew and daughter both are proud owners of Cheryl 's boxers. I consider her a friend now! I will be in the market again SOON! Shawnee - Tucson Boxer Mom I want to thank you so much for our wonderful puppy Angel we got from you a couple years ago. You were so helpful and when she got lost, you were so helpful in reminding us about the microchip and got her BACK! You have been there anytime we have an issue and referring your vet they are Great! Just recently Angel had 6 puppies and you were on the other end of the phone the whole time, offered to come over if there was a problem. Everything went well, pups all found loving homes. Thanks again for your help. So glad you have this section for us to tell our experiences, I am sure I'm not the only one! April - Tucson Dear Cheryl I want to let everyone know I have purchased several dogs over the years, and have never met a more compassionate person as you. You really want whats best for your pups. We will certainly refer you to anyone interested in purchasing a Boxer puppy. Our pup came with a starter kit. It even had some things in there for me! It was much more than I expected. We brought Honey home and didn't need to go to the store to buy anything. You were very through in selecting what we would need our first night at home with our new puppy. Also, your Memorial page is very thoughtful for those of us that have lost a canine companion. He is such a good puppy and great addition to our other Boxer Lola. The starter kit you sent him home with shows how much you love your dogs and want the best home for them. Thanks again for all the pics and updates you sent me prior to us bringing him home! Sheryl - Scottsdale Cheryl was so amazing to work with and we would do it again in a heartbeat! The initial conversational was great, she took the time to ask us our needs as a family and helped match us to the right pup; Sigourney is exactly that, the perfect boxer girl. Cheryl also sent pictures and updates during the waiting period which was immensely appreciated. Pick up day went smooth and we had a peaceful time chatting with her for a bit. Her goodbye with Sigourney touched our heart, her love for all her dogs and the puppies were palpable. Sigourney's temperament is amazing. She is happy, calm and patient. She is doing great with all three kids and all under 5yrs old! She truly is a little ball of joy. We recommend and will continue to recommend Cheryl to everyone who genuinely wants a happy, healthy boxer paired with the best experience. We look forward to the future, God Bless! My daughter named her Baja. You were wonderful in keeping us up to date with pictures and helpful with our questions. It was such a pleasure to have met you. I will definitely recommend you to other people. It was a wonderful experience and Cheryl is a loving, caring breeder. Our puppy Coco is a beautiful, healthy and a joyous addition to our family. We highly recommend her puppies! As a lifelong boxer owner and lover, I have to say this was my best breeder experience ever. From my initial contact to email to the day I picked Max up, Cheryl was so responsive to questions, sent lots of pictures and updates as Max grew with his siblings. When I first went to meet Max not only could I meet his parents, but a lot of her adult boxers. I knew right away this was a great place. Every dog adults and pups were clean, friendly and happy. Sure enough Max has that same great temperament as his parents. It is hard to find breeders who are truly loving and care so deeply to better this great breed. This is the only breeder I know who actually holds the pups till 9 weeks just to make sure the 2nd round of the 4 puppy shots is done. In addition Max came home with all the info I could ever need, plus a great goody bag with treats, food, food bowl, and some of his favorite toys. Along with a surprise for us! I could have found 50 breeders closer to my home, but will never get another pup anywhere but from here and would recommend them to everyone. I can't thank Cheryl enough for completing our family! Mesa, Az. I want to thank you so much for giving us the most awesomest experience in finding our new family member. Being able to visit with our new pup throughout the weeks was so great, bonding with her and seeing her grow. All of your dogs were so great and after meeting them the first time I knew I made the right choice coming to you. I could tell you take pride in breeding and raising such wonderful dogs. You made this such a pleasant experience. I look forward to keeping in touch and we are so proud to be apart of boxermompupsaz family!! Thank You, Thank You!! Shannon O. Tucson We want to thank you so much for Lego, he is the perfect addition to our family. From the moment we met you till we picked up Lego, you were great! You gave us a lot of advice and answered our questions and concerns. Even now I know I could call and you will be there to help. Thank you so much for the wonderful experience. Stevie H. Tucson On an odd rainy day in February, I met up with Cheryl at the vet's office to meet Valentino, when I saw the puppies I could not decide which one so I adopted them both as love is not for sale. There were only 3 in their litter and Romeo was already reserved. Teddy and Valentino named so due to being born on Valentines Day are the love that we needed in our family. Let me tell you, sometimes they are very mischievous, rambunctious and can be down right stubborn. With that being said, I would not trade them for the world. Valentino is the leader, he has gotten into the sink and stole a defrosting London Broil. How did he get into the sink? Maybe he stood on Teddy's back. I can imagine them doing this, they are THAT intelligent. Well dinner was a little late but I was more concerned about his sensitive stomach. Teddy loves being on my white Italian leather sofa, he loves it so much that he smelled something probably crumbs and tore a hole right into the shoulder of it. I spent a Saturday sewing it up, while arguing with Teddy. He has claimed this sofa as his own. This is the love that I speak of. No matter what they get into, just one look at those sad eyes and I am a big bag of mush. They are the cleanest babies I have ever seen. They love to play in the mud and I let them! They are my babies. They are so smart, I lock them out of the doggie door and they will clean themselves, when finished they knock on the door. They loves kids! They use to jump on them but I have trained them that babies cry. So now they walk up and allow them to pet them while they wag their stumps and drool thank goodness Walmart has an endless supply of baby wipes. They are very territorial,nthis is our fault. We have kept them all to ourselves. We love them so much. Cheryl, the cost that we paid for them is nothing to the joy that they have brought us. The wagging stump waiting for us after a bad day, they love us unconditionally, to hear them "talking back" when one of us tells them to " Go to bed", it is priceless. Thank You Cheryl for doing such a good job with your breeding services. The Reades Tucson We found Boxermompupsaz. Cheryl bent over backwards to give us a few chances to meet our new family member before we brought her home. We had to drive a few hours to get there and were thankful for that. Our care package was a fun "treat" to go through too. Charles's personality?? I can't say enough about her. She is our second dog with our other boy being "not so friendly to other pups BIG dog", Charlie walked in and took his heart along with his toys, but somehow knows how to back off when she needs to. She is smart, loves to please and the most adorable dog we have EVER seen! Apart from out first born boy of course! Thank you Cheryl. We recommend Boxermom to the moon and back! Angela A. Tucson Thank you so much for our beautiful sweet and snuggly little Lily. We are so grateful to have met you and been given the opportunity to adopt her. She is adapting nicely to her new home, but misses her mama, brothers, sisters and of course you! She's got quite the personality. We will keep in touch and share your site with our friends, family and neighbors who are interested in boxer pups. I can't thank you enough for the experience and being so kind and helpful during this whole process. Best of luck to you always. Jill C. Phoenix Follow Us. They aim to please and will when they have an active companion that gives them direction. A Boxer Dogs Temperament When choosing a dog, their temperament is one of the most important characteristics to know. A dogs temperament can make all the difference in determining if it will fit the dynamic of your home: Single owners, family with kids, or household with other pets. Lucky for you, Boxer dogs make good pets for these home dynamics when properly trained to socialize with other pets or people, know how to expend their energy and are given direction for their natural curiosity. Is a Boxer a Good Pet for Adults? Once a boxer dog is placed with its owner it will grow a strong bond. Boxers become very loyal and work hard to obey commands. They are very affectionate dogs and extremely protective of their owners. This is what make them such great companion animals for any adult owner. Boxers are easy to train and will obey commands given. As an owner though to keep their energy in check you will need to take them on daily walks and plan quality activities for them to burn off their energy. Otherwise a Boxer can become bored and stubborn. They desire quality attention and should receive it. If they do they will always be your best friend through thick or thin. Are Boxers Good Pets with Children? A standout attribute of boxers is their patience. This patience translates to a dog that can take the constant barrage of love and rough play children may give. This type of loyalty is very desirable which makes them a wonderful dog for families. To foster and grow this affection it is important that you provide training early to your boxer and fill its life with love and praise. Boxer dogs feed off this love and will reciprocate to its owners. A well trained and loved Boxer will watch over its family and protect it. Its in its nature to do so and has been breed as a loyal animal. Boxers are renowned for their immense courage and being fearless in the face of danger. Boxers love to serve and serve those they love, including your children. Boxers have been breed as the warrior dog which meant they were the guardians, protectors, hunters, and even involved in dog fights. This can make a Boxer seem like a poor choice when trying to answer the primary question if Boxer dogs are good pets. In reality these attributes gained from breeding, years of training and conditioning if instilled valuable characteristics in a Boxer. Boxers are loyal, patient, loving, and trustworthy. Not just to people but can be with other family pets when trained. This specialized training will focus on the Boxers social skills. Not only to people need to know how to communicate and work with others from various backgrounds but so do dogs. When a Boxer is trained to be social it may still remain curious and show an inquisitive nature around new pets but it will be less aggressive. Bulldogs can become close friends with household pets, even cats. That small piece of training can be the difference maker in a peaceful home or all out war between your pets. The right time to train this skill or any others is while the Boxer is still in its youth. By introducing new animals to the adolescent Boxer throughout its training, the Boxer will quickly learn how to co-habitat with other pets. Ongoing praise and guidance is needed to show that household animals can co-exist with one another. Your Boxer can learn to live peacefully with other household pets and play nice. Boxers can have a lot of energy that can overwhelm other pets and make them feel smothered. A few other items to be aware of. A non-socialized Boxer can be aggressive towards other male dogs, they have a tendency to chase cats, and may view small pets as chew toys. For the most part these attributes are more prevalent in a poorly trained Boxers. All animals need guidance and proper training. With the right direction your Boxer can become more sociable to other animals. Training a Boxer Dog The great thing about training a Boxer is their intelligence. They are highly intelligent, patient and quick learners. Boxers want to please and are excited to learn, especially in their youth. These teachable attributes are exactly what you look for in a dog. Having the right attribute ingredients to train a pet successfully is half the battle and for a Boxer they are ready for the challenge. But if a Boxer is not trained early this can be extremely problematic. A Boxer needs and requires adequate training to socialize well with strangers and other animals. Their high energy and curiosity requires discipline and direction. Otherwise they can become very stubborn and protective. Barking will also become a bigger problem. When starting training, plan to do so while the Boxer is young. Instilling these habits and work ethic at an early age will help any future training that will take place. Be sure to be firm in your training and consistent. Your Boxer needs this continued support to succeed. While your Boxer is young it is very important to work on its socialization. Take your puppy out and let it interact with other dogs, animals, and people. Stepping outside the confines of the home can nurture is curious spirit. It will also help your Boxer behave for guests, when walking, or when it is left home alone. Make sure to get out a lot or have tons of visitors during the Boxers adolescence to promote this healthy form of growth and socialization skills. Boxer Dogs Longevity It can be easy to get attached to a pet and the Boxer is no exception. Once a bond is formed between the owner and the Boxer you treat your dog like family. The joy that comes from this companionship is immense but with joy there is always grief. Boxers are not immortal and their average lifespan is very similar to other large dog breeds. On average a Boxer can live between 10 — 12yrs. With that in mind it is always best to love and lost than to never love again right? A well trained, socialized Boxer will bring joy and a different form of appreciation than you have experienced in the past. Now to make sure that your Boxer reaches that average of 10 — 12yrs or possibly exceeds it depends on your level of care. Are you committed to walking your Boxer every day? Are you committed to being actively involved with the Boxer meaning playing games, grooming, and building a loving relationship with one another? Will you feed your boxer a balanced diet that focuses on its needs and not necessarily its wants? Dogs always want people food but you have to be the responsible adult sadly and show restraint most of the time. The secret to a healthy Boxer revolves around these 3 before mentioned things: exercise, diet, and love. Boxer Dogs Common Health Conditions Boxers tend to have various health problems because of their flat faces, larger size, and genetics from their breeding. It is important to know what health issues may arise when deciding if Boxer dogs are good pets for you. Here are a few health issues that you would deal with and others that are potential risks: Boxers Flat Face A shortened face can cause snoring, difficulty sleepy and other health problems as your Boxer ages. But this labored breathing can be a sign of Brachycephalic Syndrome. This is a known breathing and heat regulation problem. The shortened face can make it difficult for a Boxer to eat and breath regularly. They tend to gulp in more air when eating which can lead to excessive gas. These bowls are great at preventing bloating and gassiness that ensues from eating too quickly while gulping in a lot of air. Slowly eating food can also prevent the more serious gastric dilation volvulus which is where the stomach twists back on itself after eating too quickly and gulping too much air. Review the parents health history for breathing problems. Always ask to see the parents as well so you can listen to their breathing. If the Boxer parents are quieter and more natural in their breathing this is a great sign that your pup will also inherit these good genetics. Boxer Heart problems Heart issues are very common to Boxers, in fact congenital heart disease is a higher risk in Boxers when compared to other dog breeds. To prevent or identify heart defects seek the advice of a Veterinarian. A vet can detect heart murmurs and conditions specific to your pet. Many heart problems can be identified early so maybe before forking over money for a new Boxer puppy it may be wise to view the health history of the parents. Heart conditions are genetic meaning they can be passed down to offspring. Specific heart conditions to be aware of: Restricted blood flow between the heart and the rest of the body Weak valves preventing the normal flowing of blood Boxers High Risk — Cancer Because cancer can be a risk in your Boxer it is good to look at the parents health pedigree to see if this has been an issue. Female Boxers are especially at high risk of mammary cancer. A good pedigree is a better indication of a cancer free life. Hip Dysplasia occurs from poor bone development which leads a loose hip joint. This looseness will cause arthritis in the hip joint and increase in both severity and pain over time. To learn more on hip dysplasia read Do Bulldogs get Hip Dysplasia? And What to do! Even though it focuses on bulldogs, the symptoms of the health condition and steps to take to care for it are almost identical. Other Common Health Conditions in Boxers Boxer dogs can also have health concerns with bone inflammation, eyelids, and even epilepsy. Expect health costs when adding a boxer to your family but when weighing the love and devotion a Boxer will give you this should tip the scale in the favor of getting a Boxer. If a Boxer is adopted be sure to find and visit a Veterinarian on a regular basis. A Veterinarian can spot potential health concerns early and provide treatment needed by your pet. The likelihood of catching health concerns increases as your visits become more regular and you follow your Veterinarians advice. You have made it through this Boxer review and helpful it put your mind at ease and helped you with your decision making. You should be a step closer to deciding if Boxer dogs are good pets for you. Boxers require an active lifestyle, structure, attention, love, and a responsible owner. But if you are up to the challenge and these high expectations you to care for a Boxer fantastic! A Boxer is a whirlwind of love and will fill your life with great joy as you embark on growing your family with the addition of this pet. Good luck! Post Views: .Buying A Boxer Puppy? Finding Your Puppy -- Buying From the Breeder The conscientious breeder plans a breeding to reproduce the best characteristics of an outstanding sire or dam. His guide is the official AKC Standard of the breedthe written "blueprint" that helps keep the breed uniform for generations to come. You can find the breed standard, revised in , at the American Boxer Club website: www. The more common disappointments for pet purchasers come from commercial sources--especially pet shops that often buy puppies from the infamous "puppy mills" that take little notice of the quality or health they are producing. The pet store or dog broker will sell you a puppy with a breeder's name attached to the paperwork--but this puppy may easily have been born in a puppy mill. The reputable breeder, on the other hand, will not only be able to demonstrate the pedigree and registration papers, but will also show you either the sire or dam themselves, or pictures of the parent who may be owned elsewhere. Though the mere presence of "papers" does not guarantee good health, conformation, or temperament, you will most often find these attributes in the puppy who has been raised with loving care in the home or kennel of a conscientious hobby breeder. The serious breeder often strives to produce a potential "champion. Sometimes the distribution of white markings alone may make the difference between the so-called "pet" and show-potential puppy. The pet puppy will have benefited from the same proven bloodlines, nutrition, and medical care as its "champion" littermate. His breeder will have health tested the parents and done the best he can to insure good temperament, soundness, and longevity. Here is your best buy. Boxer magazines publish ads from breeders. The American Boxer Club web site www. Usually any time after weeks. Many states have regulations regarding minimum age. However, your individual circumstances must be considered. Do you have the time to spend with a very young puppy? Will someone be home to housebreak him? Would an exuberant 6-month old puppy overwhelm a tiny child? Or would he be better matched with a 6-year-old youngster? Remember too that the puppy under 3 months needs lots of time to rest. Don't forget that adult dogs, already trained, also make ideal pets. While much can be told at six to eight weeks about the puppy's eventual looks, if you are seeking a show prospect you might be better off waiting until the pup is six to eight months of age. At that time, be prepared to pay a higher price for all the additional time and effort that the breeder has spent raising the show potential Boxer. Male or Female? This choice is a matter of personal preference. Both males and females make admirable pets. Breeding is a serious committment of time, energy, and money, and not to be taken lightly. If breeding is not anticipated, it may be appropriate to spay or neuter your dog. This procedure is best done as your Boxer approaches adolescence. Please be aware that these surgeries should be discussed with your veterinarian as to safety of anesthesia and any long term effects other than sterilization. Spayed and neutered animals are not eligible to compete in the conformation ring but may be shown in performance events. Check this list! Tails should have been docked within a few days of birth. Optional removal of front dewclaws fifth toes is done at the same time. The Boxer has no rear dewclaws. Ear cropping is customary and appropriate but not required--it is a matter of personal preference. Uncropped ears are permitted under the breed standard. If cropped, this procedure is done under general anesthesia, usually between six and nine weeks of age. If the puppy is taken before cropping, the breeder usually makes arrangements. The breeder also advises regarding aftercare and taping if ears are not already standing. Sometimes this is a lengthy process. In the male, both testicles should be descended into the scrotum. They should be in place by two to three months of age. A dog with undescended testicles may still make a fine pet, though he would be ineligible to compete in the conformation show ring. Consult your veterinarian for advice. Avoid the unusually quiet, inactive puppy, or the one that might shy away from you. This might mean a fault in temperament or even ill health. Papers the Seller Should Furnish: a. A three or four generation pedigree signed by the seller. There should be no extra charge for this. The pedigree preferably gives the color of the sire and dam, and the AKC registration numbers of each. The registration from the AKC, which is an official document identifying your puppy's individual registration number, sex, birth date, sire and dam, and name of the breeder s. There are two ways to register puppies for the first time: 1 Limited Registration If the puppy is not to be bred, and is being purchased only as a companion pet, the breeder may check off the Limited Registration option. This does register the puppy with the AKC. However, it does not allow any registration of offspring from the mature dog. The breeder and only the breeder can cancel the limited registration should the puppy at maturity be considered of breeding quality. Records the Breeder Should Furnish: a. Date and type of vaccines given. Depending on the type of vaccination program started, your veterinarian will advise you on following through. Vaccination protocols are evolving even among the medical professionals. Date and agent used for worming, if done. Do not worm your puppy without consulting your veterinarian. Avoid store-bought preparations which can be dangerous. Diet your puppy has been receiving. It is well to maintain the regimen begun by the breeder, especially while the puppy is adjusting to his new home. If changes are to be made. When he is an adult it will be wise to maintain your Boxer on two smaller meals a day. Very real potential for health problems and a short lifespan A Boxer may not be right for you. Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training. With an adult dog, you can easily see what you're getting, and plenty of adult Boxers have already proven themselves not to have negative characteristics. If you want a puppy, you can avoid some negative traits by choosing the right breeder and the right puppy. Unfortunately, you usually can't tell whether a puppy has inherited temperament or health problems until he grows up. More traits and characteristics of Boxer dogs If I was considering a Boxer, I would be most concerned about.Health problems. Most Boxers, unfortunately, do not live a long life. This is partly due to unwise breeding practices such as inbreeding and linebreeding, which are more likely to pass along defective genes. It's also partly due to the deformities in their structure, especially their shortened face. An alarming number of Boxers die of cancer or heart disease in middle age. Other health concerns include eye diseases such as corneal ulcers , digestive diseases such as ulcerative colitis , hypothyroidism, itchy allergies, skin tumors, and more. Prospective Boxer owners should be aware that they might be taking on expensive health problems over their dog's lifetime. Read more about Boxer Health. Boxer sounds. Boxers are not quiet dogs. Now I don't mean they're yappy! Not at all. But they do vocalize with grumbles and grunts which owners find endearing and also snorts, snuffles, and snores which bother some people. Only you know whether you're one of those people. Gassiness flatulence. All short-faced breeds gulp air when they eat, and that air has to go somewhere, after all. However, commercial diets make flatulence worse by including fibrous or hard-to-digest ingredients. Boxers who are fed a homemade diet of real meat and vegetables have much less trouble with gassiness. Many Boxers, especially those with loose lips, slobber or drool, especially after eating and drinking. You seldom see Boxers in obedience competition. They have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. Many Boxers are passively stubborn and will brace their legs and refuse to do what you want them to do. Some want to be the boss and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show your Boxer, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say. Read more about Boxer Training. Older Boxers can be quite mellow, but most young Boxers up to about two years old romp and jump and play with vigor, and things can go flying, including small children or infirm people. Potential dog aggression. Most Boxers are fine with other family pets, including the family cat. But many Boxers are dominant or aggressive toward strange dogs of the same sex, and a few Boxers view cats as prey. An expert researcher and author of 15 books about dogs, she loves helping people choose, train, and care for their dogs. To help you train and care for your dog Dog training videos. Sometimes it's easier to train your puppy or adult dog when you can see the correct training techniques in action. The problem is that most dog training videos on the internet are worthless, because they use the wrong training method. I recommend these dog training videos that are based on respect and leadership. Respect Training For Puppies: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved puppy. For puppies 2 to 18 months old. Your puppy will learn the 21 skills that all family dogs need to know. If your dog is over 18 months, you'll want Respect Training For Adult Dogs: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved dog. Again your dog will learn the 21 skills that all family dogs need to know. Teach Your Dog English Words is a unique Vocabulary and Respect Training Program that will teach your adult dog to listen to you and do what you say. Related posts you might enjoy. If you have a Cimarron Boxer and would like to leave a review and picture, please do so below. Great family dog. Loving personality. No health issues. Cimarron Boxers was very professional to work with. Would definitely use them again. Rene Madeiras Bona This handsome boy is five years old today! We love you Zeek Von Cimarron!!! They are great camping buddies, Great with kids and grandkids. Kenny Thompson Clyde E litter is 1 year old today! Colin Lee-To Freya, our 7 month old boxer is a joy to have in our lives! She is spunky, sweet and a very smart girl! Thank you Cimarron Boxers for sharing her with us! Penelope is beautiful and an amazing personality. Great with every human and animal soul. Sweet as sugar, smart as a whip, and a beautiful boxer. And a real strong facial profile and perfect physique. But most of all, a kissy, lovey, loyal, extremely affectionate girl. I fell in love with Finn in from the picture that Christy had on her website. A few weeks later he was ours!! They are the best parts of my day!! I just wish I could share more pics with you!! Thanks, Cimarron Boxers for giving us all great family dogs!! Our Hanna is almost 11 and Falcon is 8 months. Both are great family dogs and have good temperaments. Minimal health issues and vet visits for both, Hanna being older has had some recent concerns which are being managed and she is doing well. We had good communication with the breeder from when we picked out our pup to when we got it home. We love our Cimarron Boxers! We love him to pieces! Kaitlyn Denopoulos We have gotten 2 pets from Cimarron Boxers, wonderful healthy, happy pets when we picked them up. Christie and her husband are wonderful to work with, providing great updates on the pups until they are ready to go to their forever homes. Highly recommend!! Jenny Javers Our beautiful Sage. She is the queen of the house, no doubt. Little sleepy in this pic. Just back from the beach! Love her, thank you Christy and Jonathan. He is doing great and being spoiled. I am working on getting a better set of photos but he seems to know when I am trying and either lays down looking away or runs up and sits in my lap looking at the camera from about an inch away. Thank you and your family again for the opportunity to have such an amazing puppy to my family. Sweet, feisty, and super smart. We just adore her and loved working with Cimarron. Thank you, Christy, for letting us raise one of your beautiful babies. Janice Mesli We got Beau and loved his temperament so much, we were lucky to be able to get his sister from another litter Lily, a year later. You can tell they came from the same parents. They are attached to each other. Such an amazing part of our family. Danelle Stipes This is Sita! She is perfect in every way and is the best pet sister to her human siblings. We can take her anywhere and she is the life of the party. I flew out to pick her up and brought her back to Washington state just in time. I met Cimarron Boxers at the airport and I fell in love with her the moment I saw her. He is my baby and Cimarron boxer she was great to work with. Leslie Parkins We have two boxers from Cimarron and they are the light of our lives! Everyone that sees them, comments on how beautiful they are and we have to agree!! Cristina Viola We have two babies from them, a 9. I love working with them! He is a healthy, happy, and engaging 80 lb 21 month old male. We live in AZ and flew out to pick him up just as Covid struck in March ! Let us know how your puppy is doing and send us a photo!