The first 24 hours
Set up a crate in a quiet room, offer water and a small meal, and keep the first day calm. A new puppy is tired and unsure. Expect crying at night. A towel from the litter and a warm bottle under a blanket can help. Skip visitors until the second day.
Weeks 8 to 12
Your puppy learns where to sleep, where to potty and who is family. Take the puppy out after sleeping, eating and playing. Feed measured meals on a schedule so potty times become predictable. Book a vet visit in the first few days for an exam and a vaccination plan.
Months 3 to 6
Teething begins, energy rises and the puppy tests rules. Offer chew toys, keep walks short and start basic cues like sit and come. Put time into the window when the puppy is most open to new people and places. Our Boxer puppy socialization guide shows how.
Months 6 to 12
Adolescence arrives. Expect jumping, selective hearing and big feelings. Stay consistent. Boxers mature slowly and often act like puppies for two or three years. See Boxer temperament and training for how to guide that energy.
Food and growth
Feed a food made for large breed puppies in measured meals and weigh your puppy regularly. The full plan is in the Boxer puppy feeding guide. To see what size to expect at each age, use the Boxer size and growth chart.
Exercise without overdoing it
Young joints are still growing. Choose short walks and free play over long runs and jumping. Add distance slowly after the first year, and avoid hard exercise right after meals.
Health care calendar
Your vet will set the vaccine and deworming schedule. Also ask about heartworm and flea prevention, dental care and when to neuter or spay. Learn the common breed conditions in our Boxer health guide.
Before the puppy arrives
Buy a crate, gates, bowls, a harness and chew toys. A full checklist is in getting your home ready for a Boxer puppy.
Find your puppy
When you are ready, look at the available Boxer puppies.
Written by Lauren Loftis Moore, who has bred Boxers for 38 years.
Quick answers
How often should a Boxer puppy eat?
Younger puppies usually eat three or four small meals a day, and older puppies move to two.
Can a Boxer puppy be left alone?
Only for short periods. Boxers need company, and long isolation leads to chewing and anxiety.