Boxer Breed Description

An Owner's Basenji Description
Rocky has been a part of this family for quite a few years now and I have become accustomed to him being just one of us. He's big, strong and makes an excellent playmate, now that the kids are older and a bit stronger themselves. He used to knock them down, accidentally of course.

Rocky has been an extremely patient dog, especially with the kids. He won't tolerate mistreatment but he seems to understand when they are just being kids. He has proved himself to be very loyal and always tries to please.

Rocky has a tendency to become lazy if not motivated and since he loves to eat, it's crucial that we make him exercise. Sometimes the exercise is in the form of walks and other times it's from playing a game of fetch, but after he's out there and playing hard, he often doesn't know when to quit. Because of his size, it takes a pretty firm hand to handle him on a leash. Obedience training as a puppy would have made instilling those behaviors easier; it's much more difficult now that's he's a mature dog. I regret that I didn't listen to the breeder's advice on that score.

Rocky is stocky, well built and has made an excellent watch dog over our home and property. Above all, though, he is a loyal companion and a family dog we truly enjoy.

 

Introduction

The Boxer's primary ancestor, the Old Bullenbeisser (now extinct), was used in Germany and the Netherlands to hunt boar and deer Today, although the size of these boisterous and self confident dogs varies from country to country, their personality remains the same - active, positive, strong and fun loving. These dogs are ideal family dogs and excellent house protectors but lambs with children. Their sleek coat requires little grooming and comes in colors of fawn or brindle with white markings. They weigh 55 to 70 lbs. and stand 21-25" at the shoulders.

Overview

Dignified yet very playful, a Boxer is a dog that is able to inspire great loyalty from people who have had a chance to own them. It originates from Germany, but the breed's history can be traced back to Tibet in the 16th and 17th centuries. They are easy to care for and maintain and love being in the company of people. They can be wary of strangers and can get very defensive as well. The Boxer is always a lively and energetic dog; often active, they should be kept busy to avoid problems.

Characteristics

The Boxer's head is very distinctive and is its unique feature. They are usually fawn or brindle colored although they are sometimes all white bodied. Many of them feature white patches all over their bodies. The adult Boxer will weigh between 55 to 70 lbs while their heights vary by their sex. Male Boxers can be 22 to 25 inches tall whereas the females can be 21 to 23 inches tall. Boxers used to be a "cropped and docked" breed, but this technique has been banned by animal right groups and the general public in many European countries.

Temperament

Temperament is of paramount importance in the Boxer. With people and children it is fundamentally playful, but the Boxer can also be patient and tolerant. It is usually deliberate and worried of strangers and may exhibit curiosity. It is also fearless and riotous when threatened. However, these dogs respond to friendly overtures. The Boxer has great hearing and does quite well as a guard dog. It’s always very alert and exhibits great strength and vigor, although dignified and self assured. It is a desirable companion: very intelligent, loyal and easy to train. However, if it exhibits evidence of shyness and not being alert or dignified, it should be controlled.

Care

The Boxer has a very smooth, glossy, and short haired coat that is very easy to groom. A firm bristle brush should be used to brush the coat regularly and bathing should be also included when necessary to ensure tidiness. It is recommended to avoid unnecessary bathing for this kind of breed. This is because it is always a very clean dog and likes to groom itself by licking itself. The dogs shed hair averagely which does not cause a nuisance.

Training

By nature the boxer is generally a passionate dog and very powerful too. The owner needs to therefore learn and understand how to train it, so they can harness its courage, loyalty, and reliability. The boxers make exceptional watch dogs because they do not back down from anything. They also make great family dogs as they get along very well with children. They will always need a lot of exercise and should always be taken on walks.

Health

There are four genetic conditions that could severely affect the boxer breed: hyperthyroidism, boxer cardiomyopathy, corneal dystrophy, and aortic or the sub-aortic stenosis (AS, SAS). Apart from this infection that the boxer is generally prone to, it is definitely a strong and powerful dog.

Colors

The under-colour should be tan or brindle (a mixture of brown with a sort of marbling), though the tan colour may actually occur anywhere along a continuum of brown-ish colours.

Living Area

Boxers happily adapt to home life, though keeping them in an apartment is not advised. They are rather large for a mid-sized dog and seem to simply take up more than their fair share of space. Since Boxers also tend to be rather active, they are often running around the house.

Recognized By

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR

Pets4You offers listings of Boxer breeders with puppies for sale.