| Training | |
| Sensitivity to strangers | |
| Affection for family | |
| Suitable for first-time owners | |
| Ease of grooming | |
| Energy level |
Contents
“The Boxer lives to play”: It may sound like an overstatement, but this dog will always be a playmate for the whole family.
If we had to choose only one adjective to describe this breed, we would have to say “playful”. It will be for life. It will never get tired of playing. This makes the Boxer a great playmate for children, especially as an adult, since it will be able to control his energy and enthusiasm. In addition, it gains a stronger sense of protection for the little ones.
Yet the Boxer has other traits. This breed is a combination of a guard dog and a companion dog. It would defend its owners and family to death if necessary. It is also a dog that is always asking for affection and pampering.
It is a calm, intelligent, curious, friendly, and affectionate dog with nerves of steel. It may be a little cautious with strangers, but you will discover all the joy that the Boxer dog has to offer if you manage to overcome that distrust.
If it is trained from puppyhood, it will be friendly with other dogs as long as they are friendly, too. Remember that the Boxer is also a guard dog, so it knows very well how to fight.
The Boxer is a big-sized dog. Looking into his dark, intelligent, and curious eyes will be more than enough to make you smile and fall in love with it. It is not a dog that has great needs other than the great amount of daily pampering it demands. It lives very well in an apartment; in fact, it is even better this way for him: Both the contact and bond with its family would become increasingly stronger.
The Boxer dog is not difficult to train, but we need to find the right way to do so. It does not need to be forced by using aggressive methods, but you rather need to show sensitivity and playfulness.
Boxer: Origins
The Boxer originated in Monaco in the middle of the 19th century by crossing the Bullembeisser Mastiff and the Bulldog. In 1877, some breeders described it in the pages of the newspaper Der Hund und seine Jadg: It is an imposing, strong and serious dog that stands about 22 inches (55 cm) at shoulder and represents the most intelligent dog of the Dogo breed.
The Boxer dog was officially recognized around 1896, but its origins are actually more remote. Like all molossers, the Boxer also descends from the Tibetan molosser, an extinct dog that existed at the time of Phoenicians who were the first to bring it to Europe.
The official origin of this dog breed took place in the mid-19th century. It descended from a group of dogs from Munich, and thanks to a high-level breeding work, it resulted in a dog that combines courage and combativeness. It is a guard dog that can be sociable and docile when it is a companion dog.
The first Boxer dog registered in pedigree records was a dog named Flocki, in 1895. The standard began to be drafted in 1905 and was finished in 1920. The popularity of this breed grew fast and occurred almost simultaneously in many countries. The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa are some of the countries have loved the Boxer for many years.
Boxer: Physical Characteristics
The Boxer is a large dog with a square build and powerful bones. Its musculature is powerful and strongly developed. Its gait is supple, full of strength and nobility. Its head gives it a unique appearance.
It has a short, broad, and high muzzle with hanging lips dug by furrows. The head is large, and it has a wider diameter than that of any other dog breed. The eyes are slightly oblique and barely covered by the skin of the forehead. It has wrinkles on the forehead and cheeks. The ears are not short. The back is straight.
The Boxer head’s attractive trait is based on the harmonious relationship between the muzzle and the skull. The muzzle is characterized by resembling a dark mask. The muzzle is broad and black, slightly raised with broad nostrils.
- The eyes are medium-sized, dark, and have an expression that reveals energy and intelligence.
- The ears descend along the cheeks, giving the Boxer a softer appearance.
- Its chest is deep and well-developed.
- The hips are short and strong.
- Its tail is usually bent.
The Boxer has a short, shiny, and soft coat. It is possible to find it in the following colors:
- Fawn or brindle (it can have different shades),
- With dark stripes on a fawn background. Sometimes it has white spots,
- White.
As for the size, male Boxers typically stand 22-25 inches tall at the shoulder (57-63 cm) and weigh more than 66 lb (30 kg). Female Boxers typically stand 21-23 inches tall at the shoulder (53-59 cm) and weigh about 55 lb (25 kg).
Boxer: Temperament
It is always playing, playing, and playing. Among all breeds, the Boxer dog is one of the most playful ones. It is the reason why it can be included among the safest breeds to be with children. Boxers are very versatile dogs.
Only when they are puppies, they can cause some “problems” with children. As adults, they learn to control themselves without losing the incredible desire to live and play.
They are a little distrustful with strangers, but in general, they are so curious that if a member of the family introduces the person, they end up spreading all their joy.
The Boxer is a loving, confident, very loyal dog. It is a dog that loves to be with its family. It is very attached to its members, especially to its owner. This breed needs a lot of affection and attention. It enjoys being taken for a walk by its owner. The bond it has with its owner is one of the main characteristics of the Boxer dog.
It should be noted that it has the character of a guard dog. This makes it a brave dog with a highly developed sense of protection towards its family and home.
It is a dog with nerves of steel, balanced, calm, and self-confident. This breed is suitable for working with police forces or for taking care of people with disabilities. It is also a highly intuitive dog that senses people’s moods around it.
Boxer: Training and Relationship with other Dogs
The Boxer dog is willing to defend its owner even at the cost of its own life. He also knows how to be a wonderful and safe playmate at the same time.
This breed is not a stubborn one, and it is easy to train, especially if the training is done in an entertaining way that will exploit its lively and playful nature. You should keep in mind that it is easy to train only if you find the right way to do so as it is a special dog.
It is often said that this breed may not be as friendly with other dogs. Its relationship with other dogs depends on how it was trained. If it is socialized with other dogs from puppyhood, it will willingly play with all dogs, even as an adult. If the other dog is wary or grumpy, things will change.
The Boxer dog knows how to fight back. However, sometimes it is our Boxer that provokes the other dogs’ attitude, since it is not exactly a delicate dog when it plays (except with children, as we said), and maybe the other dogs do not understand the Boxer’s way of playing.
Boxer: Health and Life Expectancy
The Boxer dog, like all molossers, is not a longevous breed. The most serious diseases affecting this canine breed are heart and respiratory diseases, kidney failure, and tumors. It is also one of the dog breeds affected by degenerative myelopathy.
The Boxer can easily live in the backyard as long as it has a shelter or kennel that protects it from weather conditions. However, it prefers to live in a house close to its family.
It should never be left in small or hot places. This means that if the dog is left in the backyard, it should also have a place to protect itself from the sun. If you live in an apartment, you must take your dog for a walk at least twice a day.
Boxer: Puppies For Sale, and Price
Currently, a Boxer puppy price ranges from 900 to 1500 dollars, about 800-1300 English pounds. The price is rarely higher. It would be best if you always were sure to visit certified breeders: The puppy may cost a little more, but it will certainly have been bred and selected for good temperament, health, and physical characteristics.
The high price depends on the fact that the breeder invests both time and money to select the breeding parents: the studs and the breeding females. The puppies will inherit the characteristics of their parents.
Now that we have clarified all the most important aspects, you can go in search of your new 4-legged friend, who is surely waiting for you.
Boxer: Video
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