Boxer

Boxer: BREED BOX Country: Germany Size: 55-70lb(25-32kg), 21-25in(53-63in) Temperament: Playful, Energetic, Affectionate Grooming: Occassional brush Recognition: FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC, KC(UK), NZKC

Intelligent and athletic, the Boxer has become a family favorite in recent decades. Today the Boxer is one of the most popular dogs in many countries around the world. Trim and alert, these dogs are also very affectionate. They can be both patient and protective and are known for being good with children.

Breed History

The Boxer is said to be the descendant of the ancient fighting dog of the high valleys of Tibet. This dog has many modern descendants. The Boxer is related to nearly all dogs of Bulldog breeding through their common Molosser heritage. The Boxer was developed in Germany from dogs which had been used in Europe since at least the 16th century for stag and boar hunting. Seen in Flemish tapestries, these dogs resembled the Spanish Alano from Andalusia and Estramadura and the Matin de Terceira or the Perro do Presa from the Azores. These dogs were probably the ancestor of the Boxer or they all trace back to a common ancestor.

The Boxer is also similar to the Bouldogue du Mida which is mostly found in France. This dog is related to the Dogue de Bordeaux which resembles the old Tibetan Mastiff. All of these European breeds are likely related to the Boxer.

The Boxer was bred from these and similar dogs but breeders were careful to breed a trim, athletic dog that many find very pleasing. There is also some evidence that the Boxer included terrier bloodlines and the English Bulldog in his background.

At one time the Boxer was used for dogfighting and bullbaiting, like all of the dogs of these bloodlines, but that was many decades ago and the dogs are no longer suitable for this purpose.

The American Kennel Club first registered the Boxer in 1904. The dogs began to be popular in the U.S. in the 1940s.

Because of his intelligence and trainability, the Boxer was one of the first breeds in Germany selected for police work. They have also been used as guide dogs for the blind and as couriers during wartime.

Appearance

In appearance the Boxer retains something of his Molosser ancestry. He is a medium-large breed with a powerful, athletic frame. He has a squared head with a pugnacious face and squared jowls. He gives the impression of being a squared dog, about the same in length as he is tall. He has a strong, upright neck. His legs are clean, the front legs straight and the rear legs well-angled. The Boxer has a brachycephalic head, meaning that his muzzle is shortened. His ears are cropped and erect. The dog’s tail is docked. Boxers have an undershot bite.

The coat is short, smooth and appears tight-fitting over his body.

In color the dog’s body may be fawn or brindle. White markings are allowed and a white splash is frequently seen on the chest and legs.

In The Home

In the home the Boxer is a playful, loving companion. They make a good watch dog and guard dog since they are naturally protective, however they are not aggressive dogs. They are playful, patient and forgiving with children.

With strangers the Boxer will keep his distance. They are curious but they do not fawn over people they don’t know. Boxers are very courageous. They do respond with friendliness when appropriate.

The Boxer is very intelligent and easily trained. They offer loyal affection to their family and they are very easy to get along with. They generally get along well with other pets, though they may have male-male issues or female-female issues with other household dogs. Boxers are often mentioned as being very clean dogs and they are somewhat fastidious in their grooming habits, almost like cats.

Boxers do require plenty of regular exercise. If they don’t get enough exercise they can go a little nuts indoors, especially if they become bored. They may dig, chew on things or start licking themselves excessively. They do best if they have some obedience training. Since they are very intelligent they enjoy learning and they are very good at classes and learning things in a structured way. They do very well with clicker training and positive reinforcement.

Like many breeds, Boxers requires good socialization from the time they are puppies so they can build confidence and learn to interact with other dogs and animals and with unfamiliar people.

The Boxer does indeed “box” by striking out with his front paws. This may or may not be where the breed’s name originated.

Care

With their short coat, the Boxer is easily groomed. You do need to brush a Boxer regularly to removed dead hair so it won’t shed. You should also clean a Boxer’s ears regularly to prevent ear infections and trim his nails regularly.

Like other dogs, Boxers are prone to certain health conditions. You should talk to a breeder about possible health problems before getting a dog. Ask if they have done any health testing of their dogs to identify any problems. It is possible to avoid some health problems with proper health testing.

Boxes can be prone to some forms of cancer, to the heart problems Aortic Stenosis and Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, to hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy and to epilepsy. Bloat, intestinal problems and allergies can also occur in the breed. Entropion can also occur, which is a problem with the eyelid. Of course, not all dogs will experience these problems but these are issues that may occur in the breed.

Boxers are also said to be very sensitive to the commonly-used veterinary sedative acepromazine.

Because Boxers do have a brachycephalic head (short-muzzled) owners need to be very careful with them in heat and high humidity. You will need to be careful if you plan to fly with them on an airplane, too.

Where to Find a Boxer

Boxers are a very popular breed so finding a Boxer breeder isn’t usually too difficult. In the United States the AKC parent breed club for the Boxer is the American Boxer Club. They can provide you with information about breeders, puppies, activities with Boxers and other Boxer information.

You can also check online for Boxer rescue information in your area. There are numerous Boxer rescue organizations. These groups try to remove Boxers from animal shelters and from bad situations as quickly as possible to find them new homes. They will be happy to help you if you’re searching for a rescued Boxer.

You can also check your local shelter to see if there is a Boxer. It’s probably rare that a local rescue has a purebred Boxer but it can happen. Check with them, let them know your interest and you may find one.

• Ideal Owner: Boxers are great with family dogs. Children under 10 though may find the Boxer a little too boisterous.
• Color Coat: Fawn, Brindle
• Life Expectancy: 9 years

Boxer Pictures

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Boxer Reviews

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