Annoy us?? Hell no... we are all thrilled that you are doing your research BEFORE you decide about breeding. IMO breeding is best left to people who do their research, have the breed's best interests at heart, have the money and time, and are prepared for the heartbreak and mess, as well as the cuteness and fun of having a littler.

First off, your female should fit the breed standard (no bitch is perfect but they should be close). The best way to tell if your bitch is "breeding quality" is to have her evaluated by members of your nearest Boxer Club, or better yet, to enter her in some shows to have professional judges evaluate her. They don't have to be a show dog to be bred, but they should have an honest evaluation by people who know what qualities a brood bitch should have.

Second, your bitch must be at least 2 years old. There are several health tests that any responsible breeder will have done prior to breeding, and they cannot be completed until two years of age. These tests include: eye, thyroid, hip, brucellosis, and heart (Cleared for SAS and 24 hour holter). These test get expensive but will tell you if there are any genetic issues your bitch may pass on to her offspring.

Third, after passing her health testing, a suitable stud dog must be found. He should also be a good example of a Boxer, and have passed the same health testing as the bitch. His strengths should balance out your bitches weaknesses, and vice versa hopefully leading to a betterment of the breed.

Fourth, assuming all the above happens and the bitch gets pregnant, diet and exercise routines need to be tailored to keeping the bitch healthy and strong during her pregnancy. As with a pregnant woman, diet needs change.

Fifth, OK, now to whelp the litter. THe breeder (you) must be ready to bring those puppies into the world. Boxers commonly need emergency C-sections, and you must know the signs to watch for showing your bitch and her puppies are in danger. An emergency C-section can get very expensive so you need to have the funds to pay for it if needed. If the bitch whelps naturally, you have to be ready to help her, clean piuppies, revive dying puppies, dry puppies, get the puppies nursing successfully, etc. You need to be prepared to deal with still born puppies, puppies with possible birth defects requiring immediate euthanasia, etc. Mother Nature can be very cruel. Oh, and the process is incredibly messy.

Sixth, lets assume the puppies are born, and stable. You now need to watch over them 24/7 for at least a week to make sure puppies don't smother under blankets, are warm, are getting plenty of milk, supplementing feedings if necessary, or if the bitch dies, you will need to feed each puppy every 2 hours round the clock, as well as potty them, etc. Also in the first week, you will need to take them to the vet for their tails and dew claws (usually 3-5 days old), another expense out of your pocket.

Seventh, OK the puppies have survived... you now need to go about finding homes for them. Actually, you should have been screening potential homes all along. You want to find the very best homes for your puppies possible. How much you can honestly charge for them depends on area of the country and their pedigree. Be happy if you break even... breeding done right rarely makes much if any profit (but the goal should never have been money in the first place)

Eighth, you now have a litter of puppies, sold/given to new owners. You now have the moral obligation to keep track of those puppies, checking on their welfare, and being willing to take back any one of them for any reason. Any puppies you breed are your responsiblity for life. You decided to bring them into this world, your obligation to them does not end with a bill of sale or placement in a new home... ultimately they are yours forever.

Sounds like fun, huh? Don't get me wrong... we all love puppies, but to be a responsible breeder, there is an immense committment of your time, money, care, and the overall well being of your bitch, the puppies, and the Boxer breed in general. A HUGE undrtaking and responsibility. Do not take it lightly.

:::Stepping off my soap box now:::