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If you are in the market for a medium-sized dog breed that is full of energy and loves to bounce around, then the Boxer may be for you!
However, before diving right in to picking out your favorite dog blanky, toys, and other accessories for your new furry friend, let’s take a look at how much Boxer puppies really are.
Owning a Boxer is a lifetime investment for them, as they are relatively expensive breeds to purchase and will need specialized supplemental and supportive care throughout their lives to ensure they are as healthy as can be!
On average, Boxer puppies range from just under $1,000 to over $3,500!
IN REAL LIFE: We have two friends who love Boxers. One got his Boxer from a breeder and paid $2,000 for his lil’ Boxer puppy. The other decided to get a rescue Boxer. His Boxer was about 3 years old but the cost (adoption fee) for his rescue Boxer was $135.
Plus, along with the initial cost of buying the puppy, you will need to consider the other costs of bringing a puppy home, training them, and maintaining their health.
Let’s take a closer look at how much you can expect to pay for a Boxer puppy of your own below!
What Is A Boxer?
Boxers are medium-breed dogs. Their distant ancestors were the Assyrian empire’s war dogs 2,000 years ago! More recently, in the 1800s, their ancestors were German in origin. They were known as Bullenbeisser, or bull biters!
These large, tough dogs were bred as hunting companions for big game hunters. They would chase down large animals like boars and bears and aid their human noblemen in a successful hunt.
However, the noble lifestyle did not last forever, and the bull biters were without a purpose until they were crossbred with a smaller mastiff breed. What resulted from that is our modern-day Boxer.
Boxers are beautiful, versatile, high-energy dogs that can perform a multitude of roles, including herding, service positions, war dogs, and police dogs. They are also great with children. It is no wonder that they are sought-after breeds by so many people!
Factors That Affect The Cost Of Boxer Puppies
When purchasing a purebred Boxer, there are a number of factors you need to consider which will impact their initial cost.
It is recommended that you go through the process of buying a purebred dog through a registered breeder because, like most other purebred dogs, Boxers are prone to numerous genetic defects that will cost you a lot of money in the long run.
Let’s take a quick look at the seven main factors that will affect the price of your Boxer puppy:
| Factor Affecting Price | Lower Price Range | Higher Price Range |
| Reputation of the breeder |
|
Reputable breeder with AKC registration and local club recognition |
| The dog’s documentation | No documents | Documents |
| The dog’s lineage | Normal pedigree | Champion pedigree |
| The state of the dog’s health | Known health issues | No known health issues in lineage |
| The dog’s age | Eight weeks old | Eight months old |
| The dogs appearance | Deviations from the standard | Adheres to the standard |
| The contractual agreement between you and the breeder |
|
No restrictions on the Boxer puppy |
Read on to see why these factors affect the price of Boxer puppies.
1. Reputation Of The Breeder
Breeders spend a lot of time and money to build up their reputation as trustworthy Boxer breeders. All reputable Boxer breeders will be registered with the American Kennel Club and a local Boxer club such as the American Boxer Club.
The more renowned a breeder is, the more they are able to charge for their dogs. However, some puppy mills and backyard breeders will shoot up their prices to appear to be reputable breeders.
Therefore, you should go through a trusted association to find a reputable breeder. Do not be fooled by good advertising.
Ask your breeder questions about the Boxer puppy’s pedigree, ask to see the living conditions of their dogs, and check with the local authority if they are registered breeders.
2. Does The Boxer Puppy Have Papers?
The individual Boxer puppy you want to purchase must have its own papers that document its registration with the American Kennel Club. These papers cost money and will increase the price of your Boxer puppy slightly.
This documentation also records the breeder’s information, all health information, the kennel numbers, and a range of other information you will need to keep up with your Boxer puppy’s care or if you wish to enter it into competitions in the future.
These papers will also record three to four generations of your Boxer puppy’s pedigree. This is important because pedigree changes the price of the Boxer puppy; I will discuss this next!
3. Who Are The Boxer Puppy’s Parents?
Pedigree is important when it comes to determining what your Boxer puppy will look like, its temperament, and the chance of it developing genetic issues in the future as it grows up.
Determining who the dam and sire of your Boxer puppy are is important in determining price.
If your Boxer puppy has a champion sire or dam, then the price of the puppy will increase significantly.
Champion pedigree Boxer puppies will typically cost between $2,500 and $3,500 each.
Champion heritage drives the price of the Boxer puppy up because the buyer is almost guaranteed to get a perfect specimen of what a Boxer should be and has a better chance at winning competitions with their Boxer puppy when it grows up.
4. The Boxer Puppy’s Health
Boxers, like most purebred dogs, are prone to several genetic conditions. The breed, unfortunately, suffers from hip dysplasia, cardiovascular myopathy, severe arthritis, degenerative myelopathy, several cancers, and aortic valve disease.
A reputable breeder will have screened your Boxer puppy for all of these health risks and will document any health problems in the Boxer puppy’s pedigree too.
The American Kennel Club recommends that all of these tests, including thyroid screening, elbow evaluations, and certain DNA tests are all done to produce a long-term prognosis so effective preventative care can be carried out from day one.
If a Boxer puppy has any health concerns, then their price will decrease, and they will often be sold for a couple of hundred dollars or so depending on the specific health issues they have.
5. The Boxer Puppy’s Age
Many people try to get their puppies as young as possible. As medium-sized dogs, Boxers can leave their mothers safely at eight weeks. As young puppies, they will have had little to no training, and they will have been fed mostly on their mother’s milk.
This means there has been consistent but minimal care from the breeder’s side, which means the puppies will be cheaper in the grand scheme of things.
Many people who want to compete with their boxers will wait until the Boxer puppy is six to eight months old before purchasing them. During this time, the breeder will invest in behavioral training.
When the Boxer puppy is six to eight months old, the breeder will also be able to give you a better idea of their temperament and their adult markings and ultimate size. As a result, these puppies will be much more expensive than the younger ones.
6. The Boxer Puppy’s Standard Appearance
The breed standard plays a huge role in what price the Boxer puppy will be. The Boxer puppy’s physical appearance is detailed in the American Kennel Club’s guidelines.
Boxers will stand at 23 to 25 inches tall if they are male and 21.5 to 23.5 inches tall if they are female when they are fully grown. They have tall, regal-looking shoulders that slope down gently to a smaller set of hips.
The Boxer’s head is quite square without a very pronounced snout. Their heads are quite square and are characterized by their wrinkles that make them appear confused but curious!
Boxers that meet the breed standard are a fawn or brindle color with white markings on their chests, bellies, inner legs, and faces. However, the white markings may not be more than a third of their entire body.
If your Boxer puppy meets the breed standard, then their price will increase because they can be used for competitions.
However, if they do not meet the breed standard, then their price will be decreased, as this is seen as undesirable from a competition standpoint.
7. The Contractual Agreement Between You And The Breeder
Breeders may ask you to sign one of two agreements with them.
The first agreement will prevent you from further breeding your Boxer puppy. This may be because the breeder does not want to be responsible for the future generations of the dog’s offspring or they do not believe the dog should be bred any further.
The second agreement will prevent you from entering your Boxer puppy into any competitions. This may be because the breeder is actively using their own dogs in competitions and does not want any additional ‘competition’ from their dog’s offspring.
Both contacts will decrease the price of your Boxer puppy, as they place restrictions on what you can and cannot do with your puppy as it grows up.
Other Costs You Need To Consider…
The price of your Boxer puppy is not the only thing you need to consider! There are many other costs associated with owning a Boxer!
From food to vet costs to toys and more, let’s take a look at what else you can expect to purchase when bringing a new Boxer puppy home.
One-Time Bring Home Costs
There are a number of things you will need to purchase before you even pick up your Boxer puppy to make them feel more comfortable and happy in their new home!
Fortunately, a lot of these items only need to be purchased once or twice, like food bowls and crates, for example.
Here is a list of some of the vital things you need:
See my puppy checklist for a deeper look into what you need to bring your puppy home.
Monthly Recurring Costs
Training and puppy school is essential for the first couple of weeks for Boxer puppies. Boxers are high-energy dogs that need careful training in order to help them redirect their energy.
An untrained Boxer can often become destructive or unbearable simply because they have a lot of energy.
Chew toys will be a monthly expense as Boxers tend to go through them at a phenomenal speed!
However, buying chew toys on a regular basis will still be cheaper than repairing and replacing furniture and other items that get destroyed if your Boxer gets bored and has nothing to chew on.
Food will be a big cost. Boxers have large appetites that grow as they do. They should be fed a balanced diet that supplements their joints and protects them against degenerative diseases.
Be sure to keep these recurring costs in mind and keep track of how often you need to buy things like food, training, and toys.
Yearly Recurring Costs
Your Boxer will need a yearly check-up from the vet to ensure they are in good health. In addition to their check-up, your Boxer will need their yearly vaccinations to be kept up to date.
These yearly costs can be pricey, but keeping track of them weeks or even months in advance can help you prepare for them. If possible, keep a folder or journal to track your dog’s vaccinations and vet visits.
Unseen Costs
As I mentioned earlier, Boxers are prone to a variety of health issues. Not all of them are always screened for or you may not know the genetic history of your Boxer puppy if it is a rescue.
Therefore, unexpected vet visits and chronic medications may be necessary for your dog depending on their genetics and health issues.
Additionally, large, high-energy dogs like Boxers can be destructive to furniture, gardens, and items left laying around. Replacing or repairing these things that take damage will cost a pretty penny every now and then.
FAQs About The Real Cost Of Boxer Puppies
What are puppy mills or backyard breeders?
Puppy mills and backyard breeders are people who breed dogs and cats for the money and do not take into consideration the health or wellbeing of the animals that they sell.
It is not recommended to buy animals from these kinds of breeders, as there is no guarantee you’ll get a healthy animal. What’s more, supporting puppy mills only allows them to continue their unethical practices.
Is it safe to adopt a rescue Boxer?
It is safe to adopt a rescue Boxer! Take your Boxer for a series of screening tests so you can offer preventative care if you need to.
It can take a lot of time and effort to find purebred dogs like Boxers from rescues or shelters because purebred dogs are in very high demand, but it’s always worth a try!
We rescued our first dog, Linus from the shelter and we have never regretted it. The initial cost of a rescue can be much less expensive than going through a breeder. Here are some numbers from one of our local animal shelters:
| Type of Dog | Adoption Fee |
|---|---|
| Puppy (up to 5 months) | $270 |
| Dogs (5+ months) | $135 |
| Senior Dog | $70 |
| Special Needs Dog | $70 |
These prices may at first appear high (we live an a fairly expensive area) but it includes the following:
- Spay/neuter.
- General veterinary exam.
- Vaccinations appropriate to age.
- Flea treatment.
- Basic de-worming.
- Microchip with lifetime registration.
- Sample bag of Science Diet (dog or cat) or bag of hay (rabbit).
- Free vet check at participating veterinarian
Rolling Over On How Much Boxer Puppies Cost…
Figuring out how much Boxer puppies cost is important before actually diving in and purchasing one. Caring for your Boxer will require a long-term investment into their health, training, and overall wellbeing.
To recap, these are the main factors that can affect the price of Boxer puppies:
- Reputation of the breeder
- The dog’s documentation
- The dog’s lineage
- The dog’s health
- The dog’s age
- The dog’s appearance/adherence to breed standard
- The contractual agreement(s) between you and the breeder
Good luck on your journey to finding a Boxer puppy of your own!
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