We wish you many years of happiness with your new Boxer and hope the following may help you understand him/her better.

Reasons for rehoming are many, but often the dog has not been loved as much as a Boxer needs. He may be untrained, which is not his fault and because of lack of attention and/or understanding or even interest, he may have acquired bad habits. Do remember the Boxer is not just a dog - he is a person! Boxers, more than most breeds are very dependent on human companionship. Remember that he may have been ill-treated or neglected. People think that Boxers like children, your new dog may not! He may be being rehomed because the pulling about he has endured from children became too much to bear.

A rescued dog is a very different proposition from a new puppy who will settle very quickly. Your new Boxer has been uprooted from the home he knows, not knowing why, probably taken on a strange car journey by strange people and when left with you will feel very unsettled and bewildered. You know your home, he needs to learn about it, he needs plenty of time to feel his way around. This is when he may scratch the doors or start to chew if shut in. Don`t leave him for lengthy periods, if you need to go out do it in stages, start with 5 minutes and praise him if all is well. Gradually you can increase the time, he will soon get the message that you are coming back. Don`t object if he wants to come to your bedroom at night, take his bed there so that he can be near you. A rescued dog is bound to feel insecure and confused, he will be happier if he knows you are near.

Unless you are in the confines of your own garden do not immediately let him off the lead, he needs to gain trust and confidence in you, this may take at least 3 weeks, flexi leads are a good idea at this time, but remember to get a strong one! Always remember to follow the Golden Rule, when it is time to let him off the lead call him back several times, praise him and even offer him a titbit and let him run off again, before finally putting him on the lead to go home. Always associate coming back to you as a pleasure and you should have no problems. Never, Never scold him when he comes back to you - however long you have had to wait. Please remember to get a name disc for his collar, a legal requirement. It is advisable only to have your name, address and telephone number engraved on it. Putting his name on it makes it very easy for someone to entice them away!