I am a new breeder & would like some experienced input. My female boxer just whelped her first litter. She had 8 total. The first born is the runt of litter. The runt is a female & is doing well. If I choose to keep this runt; Will she be of good breeding stock at age 2 years ? I also have heard that the runt is usually very intelligent; Is this true ?

Here is some information on properly breeding your dog.

Breeding Your Dog (http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeding.html)

The fact that you're here asking these questions shows me that you didn't do your homework before hand. Did you have your dogs tested before breeding to see what traits they'd pass on to their offspring?

Please read the link and until you have followed everything that is advised in order to responsibly breed your dogs, do not breed further.

What you are doing is considered backyard breeding and is a growing concern in this country.

Anyone can breed a dog, it takes a professional to breed them responsibly.

Altenweg,
Your comment a little harsh. The term backyard breeder is used to freely. I love my pets & consider myself very responsible. All of today's responsible breeders were once new breeders, as well.

I had a runt.. she was very smart and lived a very long life.

Altenweg,
Your comment a little harsh. The term backyard breeder is used to freely. I love my pets & consider myself very responsible. All of todays responsible breeders were once new breeders, as well.

Yes, but they did their research before they started breeding, that's the difference.

You cannot just wake up one day and decide to become a breeder, you have to do your homework, invest your time and money to make sure that you are doing the best you absoutely can for the dogs in your care.

I'm sorry I was harsh, but if you see what I do every day because of people who just decide to breed their dogs, maybe then you'll understand why.

I could post pictures that would haunt you for the rest of your life, trust me, no one wants those images in their head, but they're in mine. Why? Because I feel it's my responsibility to know what goes on so that I can help put a stop to it.

New breeder, fine, but the fact that you have to ask such a simple question, well, that show's me that you aren't a breeder at all.

Please, do your homework, only the dogs will suffer if you don't.

Why do you want to be a backyard breeder, when there are so many boxer specific shelters, and there are so many puppies getting killed every single day!? Probably 30 or 40 in the time it took me just to write this! It really doesn't sound like you have done enough research to be breeding, as mentioned above. If you love your dogs, love them all! They deserve your love too.

Your dog has had a litter. Get her spayed now! Do you know of the health problems (cancer and many more) when you keep on breeding them? If you don't know any of the answers to these questions, you shouldn't be breeding period! Watch this video, and see if you feel good about bringing more dogs into this world, without extensive knowledge on the breed.

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/puppymills-backyard-breeders-285842.html