We have two female Boxer dogs. Leah who spoils us, and her daughter Lady, who is a goober.
Leah has been a calm Boxer dog since the day we got her as a puppy. She always walked next to us and never pulled on a leash. We didn’t even train her, that is just her personality.
She was an amazing Momma Dog. She did NOT want to leave her puppies even to go outside to the bathroom the first couple of days. Even though the door was only a few feet away. We had to carry her outside.
She was obsessive caring for her puppies, cleaning and licking them until she rubbed the sking and pigment off her lips. (see below)
Although she was protective and wouldn’t let her buddy “Brody” even within eyesight Leah always let us pick up her puppies.
She always kept an eye on us and if we lifted a pup too far off ground she would gently put her paw on our hand and press our hand down as if to say “Be careful with my puppy”
Not all Dogs Know How to Be Mothers
Leah instinctively knew to lay on both sides to give her pups equal access to all nipples and nurse evenly. She also knew when to start sitting up and when to stand to nurse to strengthen her pup’s legs.
Although Leah stopped sleeping in the nursery during the night at about 2 1/2 weeks of age, right around the time they started nibbling on soft food. She couldn’t wait to get to her puppies first thing in the morning.
It was about then that Leah would start spending time alone with us away from her puppies. Up until then, nothing could tear her away.
Leah genuinely enjoyed being a Mom and actively engaged in puppy play and socialization. She would lay and let her puppies climb over, tease and play tug games and keep away and reprimand them if they were being too mean to each other.
Starting about 5-6 weeks Leah spent more time away from her pups than with them. I think really mainly because at this time they were 8-10 lbs their combined weight outweighed hers and being a dog Mom was tiring.
I would bring Leah out to her pups every 3-4 hours for at least an hour to nurse, play, interact, relax, and rest together. It has been proven that keeping a Mother dog together with her pups until at least 8 weeks of age helps develop healthy behaviors and habits for the future.
Leah had four litters and they are located in many states across the country. Some of our pups are in New York, Virginia, Colorado, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Iowa and of course Nebraska.
Leah’s Litter of Boxer Puppies
Want to learn more about Leah’s different litters of Boxer puppies and see her adorable babies? Check them out below.