Boxer Dog Breed Information – All You Need To Know

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It can be difficult to be everything to everyone, but the Boxer dog is able to do this successfully! Bold affectionate friendly and athletic, the Boxer’s a great pet for nearly any family.

Modern boxers can be traced back to Germany in the late 1800s. The Boxer’s roots however run farther back in history than that. Boxers are thought by many to be relatives of an ancient German breed from the Middle Ages. They were used by the nobility for hunting large game like bison, wild boars and even bears.

Over time, the Boxer began to be used for other types of work, like herding, guarding, police work and general companionship. They remain one of America’s most popular breeds today.

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BOXER BREED CHARACTERISTICS

The versatile Boxer dog has a number of distinctive characteristics and traits. Let’s take a look at some.

Appearance

Looking at a Boxer is looking at an athlete. They’re a medium-sized breed. Males generally weigh around 70 pounds and stand 22 to 25 inches tall. Females tend to be a bit smaller, around 60 pounds and standing 21 and 23 inches tall.

Boxers have a short coat with sleek fur. They may be two colors: fawn, which is a light tan to medium brown coloration with black accents on legs and face, or brindle. Brindle is a tiger-like striping pattern of black fur mixed with lighter brown. Many boxers also have white markings on their stomachs, feet, and sometimes faces.

They’re also noted for their short pushed in muscle and prominent eyes. The skin around the face tends to wrinkle on top of the forehead and the sides of the jowls. Their ears are placed high on top of their heads. The ears may be natural and flopped, or cropped and standing up in triangles.

Temperament and Personality

Boxers are curious playful and generally friendly dogs. They can be quite silly and provide fantastic entertainment for their owners. At the same time boxers are very protective and take care of their families well.

They love children and can be excellent playmates for older kids might be too much for toddlers or babies. They’re active play make accidentally knock a little one down. Boxers also mix well with other pets including cats and small animals. Like any dog they’re most successful if they’re introduced early.

Many people say the boxers can be clowns. When they’re playing, which is definitely their favorite pastime, they will run, jump, turn in circles, and even paw at things just like a cat! It’s impossible to not smile when you’re watching the boxer play!

Boxes are said to be house dogs despite their size and their high-energy levels. They do not tolerate being alone for extended periods of time and they also don’t do well being left outdoors. They do best when indoors (after enough vigorous exercise) being near their owners, and snuggling whenever possible!

Boxers can be vigilant watchdogs, paying good attention to what’s going around them and their families. They will bark freely to alert, but they don’t tend to be aggressive dogs.

Despite all the silliness, Boxers are also excellent while at work. With their history as military and police dogs, Boxers can be easily trained to be watchdogs and working guards. They also perform well in search and rescue and tracking, and many excel at the dog obedience and agility competitions.

CARING FOR YOUR BOXER

Taking care of a Boxer dog is much like taking care of any other large breed, but with a few special considerations. We’ll make note of a few here.

Nutrition

To keep the box are healthy and fit it’s important to get high quality dog food that’s tailored to your dog size, age, and individual health concerns. Be sure to work with your veterinarian to determine what these exact needs are.

Establishing a predictable feeding routine early for your Boxer will help with their overall health. Most Boxer dogs need 2-3 cups of food a day. It’s easiest to scoop and measure their food, and feed twice a day rather than leaving the whole day’s allotment out all at one time.

As with any dog, access to plentiful fresh water at all times is vital to a Boxer’s well being!

Exercise

Boxer dogs need a lot of activity. Owners should be prepared to spend a significant amount of time exercising and playing with their boxer everyday just putting your boxer out in the backyard play on his own will not be sufficient.

Happy and successful boxers are taken on walks, runs, and bike rides. Get your exercise routine started well with a good collar or harness. Because of their origins as a hunting dog, they love to chase and jump. This makes excellent at games like fetch, Frisbee and flyball. An automatic fetch machine just might be the best purchase you make for your Boxer!

Training

The most successful boxers begin their training early. It takes time and patience to help them channel their energy intelligence and power! An untrained Boxer can easily become a problem dog. Many become frustrated and destructive, and because of their size and energy levels they tend to jump on people and even cause injury.

Puppy classes and lots of time spent out in public places with people and other animals will help the Boxer puppy learn. Consistency and positivity combined with a firm trainer we’ll get great results. Boxers can learn to do just about anything!

Health

Boxers are known to be strong and healthy. As we mentioned before, Boxers are definitely indoor dogs. They do not tolerate extremes of temperature. In fact some owners say they’re a 70° dog! Their short muzzles make cooling their air difficult leaving them vulnerable to heat. Their short, fine coats and general lack of body fat can make them very uncomfortable in cold weather.

Protecting them in weather can be a matter of both keeping them indoors as much as possible and keeping them safe while outdoors. A cooling pad might help a Boxer dog regulate their temperature on a hot day. And in inclement weather, a stylish doggy coat will keep them cozy!

But like any breed they are prone to common health conditions. Wow reputable breeders will screen for these conditions important the owners are aware of them and have their dogs evaluated the vet if they have any suspicions.

Some common concerns for boxers include joint issues like hip and elbow dysplasia, heart conditions like cardiomyopathy and structural malformations, and many types of cancer like brain tumors, mast cell tumors, and lymphoma. Some Boxer dogs are also prone to deafness. The gene for deafness in Boxers is linked with the white spotting fur gene, so the more white fur a dog has the greater the risk of deafness. This is the reason white Boxers should not be bred, and are not a recognized color within the breed standard.