Boxer Dog

Boxers are medium to large dogs. They have short coats that are either fawn, white, or brindled in color. Some Boxers also have white markings on their coat. Their jaws are quite strong, which helps them hold on to prey.

Boxers were bred in Germany from Old English Bulldogs and Bullenbeissers (which are now extinct). The Bullenbeissers and Old English Bulldogs helped give the Boxer the distinct appearance we see today. In 1894, Friedrich Robert, Elard Konig, and R. Hopner founded the first Boxer Club in Germany.

Boxers are an intelligent breed that can be trained relatively easily. Historically, they have been used as military dogs, police dogs, and service dogs.

The Boxer is a very active and energetic dog breed. However, when they are given enough exercise, they can also be very gentle and loving, making them a great addition to a family. They were registered as a breed by the American Kennel Club in 1904. According to the American Kennel Club, Boxers were the seventh most popular dog breed in 2013.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Boxer

History and Origins

The Boxer’s history can be traced back to the war dogs of the Assyrian empire 2,500 years ago. However, the modern version of the Boxer originated in Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. German dog fanciers selectively bred down a heavier German breed, known as the Bullenbeisser (“bull biter”), to create the Boxer we know today.

During the medieval period, German noblemen used the Bullenbeisser to help them hunt large animals like bears, bison, and wild boar on their estates. However, with the changing political climate in Germany during the early 1800s, these estates were broken up, and the hunts stopped. By 1865, the Bullenbeisser was no longer needed.

Through careful breeding with a smaller mastiff-type breed from England, the Boxer dog was brought back to life in the late 1800s. This new version of the dog was more refined and sleek than its predecessor. The name “Boxer” comes from its habit of playfully punching with its front paws, like a boxer in a ring.

Throughout the years, Boxers have been employed in a variety of roles, including those of a police dog, athlete, cattle herder, war soldier (in both WWI and WWII), protector, guard dog, and guide dog for the visually impaired. The American Kennel Club recorded its first Boxer in 1904, although their popularity in the USA really began to take off in the 1950s following the success of a Westminster-winning Boxer named Bang Away, who became a national celebrity. Since then, Boxers have regularly been listed in the top 10 most beloved breeds in America.

Size and Weight

Boxers are medium- to large-sized breeds. Males are larger than females and typically weigh between 65 and 80 pounds and are 23 to 25 inches tall. Females weigh between 50 and 65 pounds and are 21.5 to 23.5 inches tall. At two months of age, a Boxer puppy will weigh somewhere around 20 pounds. By the time a puppy is six months old, they generally weigh between 38 and 48 pounds. Boxers won’t be fully grown until they are at least 18 months old, but some dogs may not finish growing until they are 24 months old.

Common Health Issues

If you plan on bringing a Boxer home, there are a few common health concerns you should be aware of. One problem to be aware of is degenerative myelopathy. This is a condition that causes problems with a dog’s nervous system and spinal cord. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this condition, and it will eventually lead to either full or partial paralysis of a Boxer’s lower limbs. If you notice that your dog is having difficulty walking or other symptoms, be sure to schedule an appointment with their vet right away.

Cardiomyopathy is another condition that Boxers may suffer from. Boxers are more at risk for this disorder than other dog breeds because of their genes. Boxers with Cardiomyopathy will have an irregular heartbeat and may faint. Their hearts are not able to effectively pump blood to all the different parts of their body. You may begin to notice symptoms of this disease when your dog is about two years old.

As large dogs, Boxers may also suffer from bloat. Bloat is a gastric disorder that causes the dog’s gastrointestinal system to swell. This prevents them from being able to digest their food and can be very serious if not treated immediately. Bloat often occurs after a dog eats a large meal and then is very active, so you should feed your dog smaller meals and hold off on exercising right after they have eaten.

Temperament

Boxers have a very fun-loving temperament. They are intelligent dogs who exhibit both playful and gentle traits. These characteristics make the Boxer a great family dog, especially for families with older children.

Boxers are very active and do require a good amount of exercise, but when their activity needs are met, they aren’t very likely to engage in destructive behaviors or get into too much trouble. Boxers also exhibit protective traits and try to watch out for the members of their families.

How to Take Care of a Boxer

Boxers are a very unique dog breed and, as such, will require a unique care plan. You’ll want to keep the temperament, nutritional needs, common health concerns, and other factors in mind when you plan for how you’ll care for your new Boxer.

The Best Dog Food

When selecting food for your Boxer, it is important to choose a high-quality option that will meet their nutritional needs. You will want to be sure to portion out their food and give them the correct amount each day. Boxers should not be left to eat freely since they will overeat. Because of this, you will also want to break up their food each day into two or three servings. The right amount of food for your Boxer will vary based on his weight, age, activity level, and health concerns. You can always consult your veterinarian if you’re not sure how much they should be eating.

Your Boxer puppy will need to eat frequent, smaller meals throughout the day. This will prevent him from overeating or suffering from bloat. Young puppies should be given a mix of puppy food and water at least four times a day. As they get older, you should reduce the amount of water in the mixture so that eventually, they are eating straight puppy food (by the time they are about 7 weeks old). At eight weeks, Boxer puppies should be completely weaned from their mother and should eat about two cups of food each day. Since Boxer puppies are so active and are growing so quickly, they may eat up to twice as much as an adult boxer will.

Maintenance and Grooming

Boxers are much easier to maintain and groom than many other dog breeds. They have a short coat that doesn’t shed too much. You should try to brush your dog using a hound glove or curry brush a few times a week to keep him looking good.

It will also be important to brush his teeth regularly to keep tartar from building up. Brushing once a day is ideal. You will also want to trim your Boxer’s nails about once a month to keep them from getting too long and making it uncomfortable for him to walk.

Training

Since Boxers are such an energetic breed, it will be important to begin training them from a young age. Look for opportunities to socialize your new dog and sign them up for puppy obedience training classes shortly after bringing them home. In general, Boxers can be relatively easy to train. They are very intelligent and can do well with herding, agility, and other canine sports.

However, Boxers may become bored with repetition. They are also not very accepting of other dogs of the same sex. These two characteristics could make it a little more challenging to train your dog.

Exercise

It will be important to make sure that your Boxer gets plenty of exercise every day. They like to run and jump and may try to chase small animals, so it will be important to keep your Boxer on a leash if you go for a walk. In addition to taking your Boxer for walks, letting him run around in a fenced-in yard is another good way to give him the exercise he needs.

Puppies

If you are going to be bringing home a Boxer puppy, be sure to puppy-proof your home before doing so. This will prevent an accidental injury for your new pup and can help make sure that something that is special to you doesn’t get destroyed. If your Boxer puppy hasn’t been potty-trained, you’ll want to get started with that right away. Be sure to set up a consistent schedule for your dog and look for signs that they are about to go so you can take them outside.

Boxer puppies will need to eat more frequently than adult Boxers, so be sure to plan for this and make sure you will be able to accommodate this schedule. Since they’ll be eating more frequently, you’ll want to be sure to get your Boxer out to use the bathroom more frequently as well.

Some other important things to keep in mind when caring for a Boxer puppy include getting them to the veterinarian for a check-up and vaccinations once you bring them home, making sure you have purchased all the necessary supplies and food you’ll need for your new dog, and finding plenty of time to play with them and meet their activity needs.

With Children

Boxers are very patient and loving dogs. They can make a great addition to a family with young children. However, because they are so energetic and like to leap, they may inadvertently injure a small child (or an older adult), so they are best suited for homes where the children are a little older. Regardless of the age of the child, it is always a good idea to supervise children around Boxers and other dogs to prevent any accidental injuries.

Dogs similar to the Boxer

Bulldogs, Dogo Argentinos, and American Staffordshire Terriers are three breeds that are similar to the Boxer.

• Bulldog: Bulldogs and boxers are both medium- to large-breed dogs. Boxers are typically a few pounds heavier, with an average weight of 65 pounds for males. The average weight of a male Bulldog is only 54 pounds. Boxers and Bulldogs often have similar coloring. They can both be white, brindle, or fawn-colored. A key difference between these breeds is that Boxers are much more playful than Bulldogs.
• Dogo Argentino: The Dogo Argentino is a larger dog than the Boxer. They have an average weight of 93.5 pounds, while boxers only have an average weight of 65 pounds. Both breeds have short coats that are easy to groom. They both can make a good watchdog as well.
• American Staffordshire Terrier: American Staffordshire Terriers and Boxers are both relatively intelligent dogs who enjoy playing. American Staffordshire Terriers weigh about the same amount as a Boxer, but they are a few inches shorter. The average height of a male boxer is 23.5 inches, while a male Staffordshire Terrier only has an average height of 18 inches.

Famous Boxers

As a very popular dog breed, there are plenty of boxers who have famous owners. Here are a few:

• Buckley and Brennan are Justin Timberlake’s Boxers.
• Rocky used to be Kim Kardashian’s Boxer before she broke up with Reggie Bush.
• Harvey, Baby, and George were Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall’s Boxers.
• Roxy and Bear are Jennifer Lopez’s Boxers.