CPV, short for Canine ParvoVirus is a contagious virus that is spread between dogs. The way this is transferred to another dog is if they have any kind of contact with their feces whether it be direct or indirect. You will find this more common in younger dogs or puppies.

There are two different kinds of CPV. The first being intestinal and the second being cardiac. The intestinal CPV causes weight loss, lack of appetite and vomiting. The cardiac CPV effects the heart and can be fatal. It’s important that you start with Parvo shots and all the others as a young puppy to prevent these things from ever being a problem.

Your dog or puppy could actually contract the disease just by smelling another infected dogs feces. It can also live in soil and it’s not easy to get rid of. If you suspect your puppy or dog has this virus, take them into the vet so they can examine them and be properly diagnosed.

Boxer dogs, like many other dog breeds require a daily exercise routine to keep them healthy and happy. The Boxer is a working dog breed that originated in Germany. They now make wonderful companions and great protectors of their loved ones.

These dogs like to be involved with whatever you are doing and they need the proper amount of exercise to keep them balanced. We all know that if your dog is lacking exercise, they may become destructive in the home and it could also lead to dog obesity which leads to more serious health issues. Boxer dogs won’t make good apartment dogs, they need a yard to run around and play in. If you do have a yard for them to play in, they still need to get out and be walked everyday.

Boxers enjoy pretty much any kind of activity you are willing to do with them. They love to swim, play fetch and run. It’s a really good idea to start socializing them with people and other dogs on your walks. This way, you shouldn’t have to worry about aggression towards humans or other animals.

Experiencing a dog fight is never a pleasant experience, especially when it’s your own dogs.  I’ve been living with two big dogs for quite some time now and I feel it’s very important to know what to do in this situation and of course what not to do. You could end up getting seriously hurt if you don’t take the right precautions.  When your dog is in fight or survival  mode, they can’t look at your as their loving family member, they may see you as the aggressor.

First off, stepping in between a fight with your dogs and pulling them by their collar will not do anyone any good.  This will only make them more angry. Some people think that throwing water on them will break up the fight no problem and I haven’t heard of that working for anyone.  The most effective way to do this is to have two people pick up each dog by the hind legs, lift up and turn them away from each other and yourself.  If you have them up by their hind legs and turning them in a circle, it’s nearly impossible for them to turn around and attack you.  When you lift them up like this, they have to basically fight with only two legs and their focus gets directed to their balance and trying to stay up.  I have done this a few times and it hasn’t failed me once and no one has been seriously hurt.  Some people use breaking sticks on their dogs but I have heard that you can’t use these sticks on any other dog breed than Pitbull Terriers but I’m not sure if that’s actually true.

If you take your dogs to the dog park or have large dog breeds at home that have the potential to get into a fight you should definitely do some research and prepare your self for such events.  If your Boxer dogs are aggressive then maybe you should find someone in your area that specializes in aggressive dogs.  Either way, you will be glad you took action to educate yourself on this if the time comes that you have to act smart and quick.

There are so many choices when it comes to dog food today.  Once you learn how to read the label, it’s a breeze to pick your dogs food.  It’s very important that they get a good nutritional diet everyday and it varies with different dog breeds.  The food you feed your Boxer will begin to change as they grow.  Always make sure that the first ingredient on the label is a source of actual meat and not a meat by-product.

Dog obesity is a problem for many dogs and a lot of that may be caused by free feeding your pets.  You are responsible for their food intake and overall health so measuring their food and having a steady schedule for feeding time is key.  The dog food always has the proper measurements for your dogs weight and age on the back.  I suggest you read that and follow it to keep your boxer from gaining weight.  As far as treats go, of course your dog loves them and there is nothing wrong with giving them to him or her but don’t over do it.

It may take a few tries to get your dog a food that really agrees with them.  It’s never a good idea to switch from one food to another with out easing into it though so be mindful of that.  Their digestive system gets used to one food and to switch out so abruptly can cause some stomach upset for them.  Just be sure to pay attention to how much you are feeding them, what you are feeding them and that they are getting the right amount of exercise and you should have one happy healthy boxer!

There are so many flea treatments out there today, it may be hard for one to choose.  Especially since we want only what’s best for our Boxers.  Some use flea collars which I have never tried because I don’t believe they could be good for your pet.  They are filled with chemicals and can get deep into the skin around the neck and cause irritations for your dog.

For a quick fix until you get them their long lasting flea meds, a flea shampoo for dogs can soothe and calm the itching temporarily.  You can also give your dog a flea dip but there will be quite a bit of residue left behind on your Boxers skin and I don’t see how that could be healthy.  You will need to consult your vet on the age puppies are able to start receiving flea treatments.  It could cause problems for your puppy if you give it to them too young.

In my experience the spot-on treatments have worked best.  I prefer either Frontline or Advantage.  They really take care of the flea problem and my Boxers don’t seem to mind the application process one bit as it’s quick and painless.

If you are wondering if your Boxer can eat bananas, why yes they can!  They can also have them as puppies too.  Bananas are filled with potassium, vitamins and minerals that are good for your Boxer dog.  You do need to be careful when giving your dog any type of human food when it comes to the quantity.  It doesn’t matter if it’s a small dog breed or large dog breed it can still cause the same problems if given too much of something. They are not meant to eat our food so if you give them too much of anything it may potentially cause some digestive problems or upset stomach.

I freeze banana slices all the time and give them little bites here and there.  Some people also wonder if they can fee them the dried bananas you buy at the store.  I would say no since those do have added sugar and preservatives in them.  I don’t see how that could be any good for your Boxers.  Just stick to the natural ones and they will be very happy with that.

There are many things out there that your dog can’t eat but watermelon is not one of them.  If you remove the seeds, this can actually make a tasty little treat for them.  Watermelon doesn’t offer your dog any nutritional benefits but it’s not going to harm them either.  Use your best judgment of course when it comes to the amount you give them.  Every once in a while is just fine.  I’m sure you have noticed how much your dog loves fruit (including Golden Retrievers) so there is nothing wrong with him/her indulging, at least it’s not candy.

There are pros and cons to having insurance for your pet.  When considering pet insurance,  you really need to do some research and compare plans and prices.  You need to check what the insurance covers, the deductible and co-pays for vet visits.  It can become pretty expensive so you need to make sure you are getting your money’s worth for your pet.

If you go with a basic plan they usually cover accidents such as foreign body ingestion, toxicities, lacerations and more.  Other plans that you pay more monthly for cover accidents, illnesses and hereditary problems but not all companies are the same.  Some insurance plans cover only certain dog breeds, annual check-ups and immunizations but others don’t.  This is why you have to find the perfect plan that targets your pets needs.  It’s a good idea to find an insurance company that doesn’t limit you to a specific network of providers, this way you can go where you please and don’t have to worry about transferring insurance companies or veterinarians.

Just like searching for the best insurance for yourself you want to find a plan that has small deductibles and co-pay costs for your dogs or cats.  Maybe you feel that your pet is very healthy and is caught up on everything so you don’t need to pay for pet insurance, not everyone feels the same.  It’s up to you as the pet owner to find what is best for your pet but I suggest everyone doing preventative care for their animals which will save you a lot of money in the long run and keep your pet healthy.

This has to be one of the coolest things I have ever seen.  Dogs surfing, doesn’t get much better than that!  This is a competition that is held at Imperial Beach south of San Diego, CA.

I am amazed by the form and strength that these dogs have.  The judges look for the dogs confidence level and how long they can ride out the wave.  I think all of them did a great job and they all look so cute doing it.  At one point in the competition, two dogs ended up side by side, one fell off and the other took over the board and rode the wave into shore.  It was pretty slick.

The dogs in the competition have a life vest on at all times and there are people in the water in case anything were to go wrong.

Check out this cute duo.  They are in it together and lovin’ every minute of it.  Who ever thought you would see dogs doing a tandem ride on a surfboard.

This event is held for a charity to raise money for dog shelters.  This year the money raised went to the cynological department police department.

They can get up to 60 to 70 lbs. and have a very muscular build.  The breed has a few different coat colors which are fawn, mahogany, brindle, white and black.

The Boxer breed is a very good-natured family dog.  They are great with children and would make a great addition to your family.