purchasing a boxer

Question
I am wanting to purchase a boxer and have been looking online. I have come across the breeders online who want a deposit for a dog that hasn't been born yet (strange to me) that cost $700 to $900, they said it depends on their markings, (again strange to me) all the way to the local paper with registered AKC Boxers from anywhere from $175 to $300 that have their shots,tails clipped, declawed, etc.  Why is there such a big difference in price.  Are the online breeders basically puppy mills? Is it smarter to buy one from a local person?  I just want a good quality puppy without alot of heriditary defects.  What should I do?

Answer
You know, you have asked some really good questions, and I'm very glad that you're taking the time to find the right puppy from the right person.

First of all, I would be pretty leery of anyone who asked for a deposit for a puppy that wasn't born yet. Most breeders will put you on their waiting list, and when a puppy is born that fits what you're looking for, they will contact you. Some will then ask for a small deposit to show good faith on your part that you won't back out on them. Some won't ask for a deposit until the pup reaches a certain age. All the breeders that I know will refund the deposit if something happens to the puppy before it's able to go home.

As for the markings, that is strange. Some people think that if the pup has a lot of white markings, that automatically makes them a show puppy. That's not true. A lot of people are showing plain Boxers now, and are doing quite well with them. So, the markings shouldn't 'cost extra'. The price may be different if the breeder truly thinks the puppy is show potential, markings or no. You can't tell what exactly a 6 week old puppy will turn out to be, even the most experienced of breeders. A good breeder will know his/her lines, and basically guestimates on a show potential. I know of some breeders that will actually refund some of your money if you buy a puppy that's suppose to be a show dog, and turns out to be pet quality.

As for the price, it all just depends. You may luck into a puppy that doesn't cost that much, and is actually really healthy. It's rare though. A good breeder will charge more because they have put a lot of effort into their dogs, and have spent a lot of money on health tests. Sometimes it's best to pay that little bit extra for a dog that comes from good lines, and who's ancestors have had their health tests done. When you go to buy a puppy, ask what kind of health tests have it's parents had. There's no reason to ask $900, let alone $500 for a puppy that has no health testing behind it. My personal health tests on my dogs are: Holter testing. Boxers are known for heart problems that can cause a dog to die at a very young age, and cost the buyer a lot of money and heartache. I have their hips tested, eyes, thyroid. I also continue the holter testing throughout their life to see if there's any late onset heart problems. This is also why I wait until the dogs are atleast 2 years old to breed them. Most tests require the dog to be fully grown to get a correct reading. So, be prepared to pay a little extra for a puppy that comes from parents that have had these tests. Some breeders do different tests also. Make sure you ask about these, and ask to see the results. Any breeder that actually did these tests won't care a bit to provide you with them. There may also be a price difference between pet quality and show potential.

There are some good breeders online. You just have to weed them out. Find the type of Boxer that you like, and check out the breeders that have those type of Boxers. Ask your vet if he knows of any good Boxer breeders. Check out your local dog club. There are some really good web sites out there that can point you to some good breeders. If you're interested, let me know. I'll give them to you. The best thing you can do, is to be patient, and talk to a lot of people before you make your choice. You want to be prepared and buy a sound, healthy Boxer. Not one that may have a serious defect of some kind, and will keep you at the vet office. Keep in mind, that even with the best of care, sometimes you may run into a problem with a puppy from a good breeder. We do all of the health testing, take really good care of mom and puppies. But sometimes something crops up that we're not expecting. That's why you want to find a breeder that will work with you, and be there for you and your puppy. Most good, ethical breeders will offer a health guarantee. That's my best advice. Just keep asking around, talk to people. Make sure the breeder is willing to help you, and to take care of any problems that may pop up. Talk to the breeders before you go look at any puppies. It's easy to fall in love, and make a hasty decision. Make sure you're completely comfortable with any conditions that the breeder may ask of you. Don't be afraid to walk away if something just doesn't seem right to you. I hope I answered all of your questions. If I can be of anymore help, please let me know. Good luck, and remember to have patience!