Just a quick question about hand-raised pups!

[rue&maegan]

Hello, everyone. I am new here (in fact, this is my first post) but I have browsed the forums and everyone seems really nice. :)

My question is about the dog that we have bought from a breeder. She is a flashy fawn Boxer, and right now she is about 5 weeks. (We don't have her yet, we will have her when she is 8 weeks.) Anyway, here is my inquiry.

She was raised by the breeder with her littermates, because when the puppies were born, their mother, sadly, hemorrhaged and died. The breeder has hand-fed them and they have grown up with her & her children, including her 3-year-old daughter. I am wondering if this will have any effect on my puppy's temperment or any other aspect of her life? I know that puppies learn very, very much from their mother, and I am wondering if she will grow up to be like your typical Boxer. (Other than the obvious variables that she will have in her personality.)

Any stories or anything that could help me understand if my puppy will be well-adjusted as a dog can be would be wonderfully appreciated. Of course I have seen many a episode of a show on Animal Planet where a dog was raised by people and then adopted successfully, I am just wondering what it is really like.

Thanks so much! :D

P.S. Here she is at 3 weeks:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a19/tiredasdeath/DSCF0005a.jpg

[Bailey+Ralph]

I'm afraid that i don't know any more about this than you know yourself.
But i just wanted to say "Hi and Welcome" :D
Good luck with your puppie :)
There are lots of people here with the answers that you seek :)

[rue&maegan]

I'm afraid that i don't know any more about this than you know yourself.
But i just wanted to say "Hi and Welcome" :D
Good luck with your puppie :)
There are lots of people here with the answers that you seek :)
Thanks so much! :D!

[Roxy's CD]

Ah, from my personal experienced (getting a puppy at 5 weeks old) there are pros and cons. The main con being that the mother teaches the puppies that there are places that are ok to eliminate and other's are not. Ex) You don't poop where you sleep. I had a really hard time housebreaking my puppy, took me months and he would freely urinate on himself while crated, "dirty dog" syndrome. LOL

I personally think that my little guy and I have a much stronger bond though due to all of the time we spent together and how young he was when I got him. He loves being cuddled, we carried him everywhere in a blanket swaddled like a baby for the first few weeks.

I believe another thing the mother's and littermates help to teach each other is bite inhibition. So knowing how hard they can bite without actually hurting each other. Biting is totally normal while playing, but puppies have to figure out how hard is acceptable. I never had this problem with my little guy though.

Learning how to socialize with other dogs, body language etc. is another thing I believe the mother and littermates teach each other (the puppies). So you'll just have to work extra hard to socialize him with other dogs, friendly, calm dogs.

That's all I can think of right now, but once you get him be sure to post plenty of pics! :D

[rue&maegan]

Ah, from my personal experienced (getting a puppy at 5 weeks old) there are pros and cons. The main con being that the mother teaches the puppies that there are places that are ok to eliminate and other's are not. Ex) You don't poop where you sleep. I had a really hard time housebreaking my puppy, took me months and he would freely urinate on himself while crated, "dirty dog" syndrome. LOL

I personally think that my little guy and I have a much stronger bond though due to all of the time we spent together and how young he was when I got him. He loves being cuddled, we carried him everywhere in a blanket swaddled like a baby for the first few weeks.

I believe another thing the mother's and littermates help to teach each other is bite inhibition. So knowing how hard they can bite without actually hurting each other. Biting is totally normal while playing, but puppies have to figure out how hard is acceptable. I never had this problem with my little guy though.

Learning how to socialize with other dogs, body language etc. is another thing I believe the mother and littermates teach each other (the puppies). So you'll just have to work extra hard to socialize him with other dogs, friendly, calm dogs.

That's all I can think of right now, but once you get him be sure to post plenty of pics! :D

Thank you so much for all of the help!
Yes, housebreaking was one of my most important worries... I have been told by many Boxer owners that Boxers are clean by nature, and that they will not eliminate in the places where they eat and sleep unless they absolutely have to. Many of these owners taught their Boxers to be housebroken in less than 2 weeks! But I think that this is probably something that may be taught by the mothers, and will not be true for my puppy.

But I am very glad to hear about the bond that you share with your puppy! I hope that I can have this same bond as well, and that I won't have a problem with bite inhibition either.

Thank you again! & I will be sure to post bunches & bunches of pictures. :D :D!

[bubbatd]

It's sad that they lost their Mom.... poor babies. Hopefully the breeder has done the best for them. Even without their Mom, the pups should stay together for at least 2 to 3 more weeks.

[RedyreRottweilers]

she says up in her first post she's getting the pup at 8 weeks of age. :D

I don't think you will find it detrimental over the long haul, esp since your wise breeder is keeping the litter together until 8 weeks.

Best of luck with your new puppy.

[Tinaweena]

that is no good about their mother.
in my experience i've seen that the pups learn the more from their littermates, and the fact that they are together is great. they will still learn bite inhibition and all that from each other.
sorry about the typing my shift key decided not to work.

[rue&maegan]

Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate the replies, I wish I had been here when they were posted so I could have been sure that you would see my thanks... I am now reassured that she will be fine and I have you all to thank for that! :D!

[Squidbert]

BTW.. your pup is B-E-A-utiful!!! :p

yes yes.. I am a geek.. :D

[yoko]

looks like you have gotten a ton of good advice :) just wanted to say you have a BEAUTIFUL PUPPY s cute!! i want more pics later