Origin: Germany
Height: 21.5 - 23.5 inches
at the shoulder for females and 22 -25 inches
high at the shoulder for males
Weight: 55-70 pounds
Exercise Needs: High
Grooming Needs: Low
Life Expectancy: 12-14
years average
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Can be
headstrong and stubborn
Common Misspellings: Boxxer, Boxxers
Alternate Names: German
Boxer, Brindle Boxer
A beautiful dog that developed in the country
of Germany, the Boxer is a descendant of Tibetan
fighting dogs, known as the Molossus. Recognized
for their incredible courage, strength and
stamina, these magnificent dogs are believed to
have created such dog breeds as the Spanish
Alano of Andalusia and the Matin de Tercira from
the Azores, two dogs which are debated to either
be either ancestors of the modern day Boxer or,
perhaps, a very closely-related line. Others
claim that the Brabant Bullenbeisser is, in
fact, the ancestor of the Boxer; created for the
purpose of hunting game and holding on to the
prey until the huntsman would arrive. Seeking
dogs that had the desired upturned nose and wide
muzzle to perform this task, this helped to set
the wheels in motion to create the Boxer’s
uniquely beautiful profile. Adding in the blood
of the Bulldog and various terriers, the end
result would be an uncommonly strong and
courageous dog, loved for his loyalty as well as
his beauty and intelligence.
While many believe that the breed’s name came
from his uncanny tendency to stand on his hind
legs and use his front legs much like a boxing
human, the truth of the matter is that it is
highly unlikely that the German dog would have
been named as such. More likely, is that his
name is a corruption of the name “Boxl,” a name
meaning either “short trousers” or “underwear,”
but also acknowledged as a nick-name of the
Bullenbeisser dog breed. A string of Munich
dogs, known as Bierboxer, also developed around
the same time as the Boxer - the product of
crossing the Bullenbeisser with a variety of
different dogs.
While he was allowed to develop and gained
little recognition for many years, the Boxer
made his mark during World War I. Brought in for
military work, this magnificent breed served as
an important deliverer of messengers, a pack
carrier, guard, and a vicious attack dog.
Following World War II, he would eventually
catch the eye of the rest of the world when the
returning soldiers would bring these unique dogs
home with them and introduced first Europe and
then the United States to this incredible breed.
Few will debate with the fact that the Boxer
appears to be a breed that "has it all."
Proud and strong in stance and build, they are
one of the most recognizable breeds of dog in
the world and for good reason - the Boxer
possesses a body that is easily intimidating and
features that can either be fierce or
heart-wrenching. He can be both
awe-inspiring and comical, and he is almost
always loving and loyal.
Squarely built, the Boxer possesses a
muscular and balanced body, set well upon legs
that are all at once long, straight, and
powerful. His Bulldog ancestry is
noticeable in this noble breed's stance, depth
of chest, and his beautifully dished profile and
upturned nose. Wrinkles that appear on the
Boxer's forehead when his ears are perked, help
to add to this dog's uniquely expressive
features, as well as helping him to escape
nearly any form of scolding during those
adorable puppy years.
Boxers can be found in two colors - fawn and
brindle, though the varieties of these two
colors are so widely ranged that the
possibilities seem almost endless. While
most Boxers have uniquely black masks and white
markings, it is not uncommon for them to have no
white at all. One thing to be avoided,
however, are white Boxers or those dogs where
white covers more than 2/3 of their bodies - not
only is this a serious fault according to the
breed standard, but there is a higher risk of
genetic disorders and deafness in the piebald or
extreme white gene. Because of this, white
Boxers were often euthanized at birth though, in
recent years, most breeders offer them to
pet-only homes, once they have been spayed or
neutered. While not all white Boxers have
health problems, it's estimated that at least
18% of all white Boxers have hearing loss in one
or both ears and Boxer rescue organizations
report nearly double that amount.
The Boxer is a very friendly and intelligent
dog that thrives on companionship. It is
often recommended that, if you have a busy
lifestyle and have to be gone during the day,
your Boxer will do best with another canine for
companionship. While they aren't picky who
keeps them company, they do want someone to pal
around with! Failure to provide your Boxer
with ample company can result in behavioral
problems and destructive behavior.
Boxer puppies are ideal for socialization
with other pets and children and, if properly
done, will usually grow into dogs that are
well-adjusted, loyal to the family and tolerant
of their smaller human friends. They love
to play and are very energetic dogs, making them
well-suited playmates for children that will
play endless games of fetch and tug-o-war.
While they may tend to be a bit aggressive and
territorial towards other dogs, early
socialization can help to alleviate this
problem.
The Boxer is a busy and energetic dog that
needs a good amount of exercise. Failure
to provide him with adequate opportunity to
stretch his legs can often result in destructive
behaviorisms that can vary from chewing shoes,
tearing up furniture, or annoying habits such as
excessive barking or jumping up. To give
your Boxer puppy proper exercise, it's
recommended that you provide him adequate access
to either a fenced in back yard or, at the very
least, several long daily walks a day and a trip
or two to the dog park each week.
Boxers excel in activities such as agility
training and frisbee catching. If you have
an overly active dog, such things may help to
burn off excess energy, as well as providing
both you and your beautiful Boxer quality
bonding time and fresh air.
Boxers require little special treatment when
it comes to grooming. A bi-weekly or
monthly bath will suit your Boxer puppy well,
and a simple brushing with a stiff bristled
brush will help to remove any dead hair or
dander, as well as giving his coat a glossy
sheen. This can be done once a week, which
gives you and your dog essential hands-on time
and will help you to observe him for any sign of
potential problems.
The ears of the Boxer should be monitored for
any sign of redness or foul odor. Being
that they are a fold-ear breed, careful
examination should be done on a weekly basis and
the outer edges of the ear can be cleaned and
maintained with a cotton swab or Q-tip. It
is essential that you do not put the swab down
into your dog's ear canal, however, for doing so
can not only cause him great discomfort, but can
also affect his hearing.
Nails should be neatly trimmed on a regular
basis and your dog's teeth should be observed
regularly for any sign of dental problems.
The Boxer can be a very easy individual to
train, provided they believe that they need that
training that you're trying to give them.
Notoriously stubborn and keenly intelligent,
these dogs seem to have a will of their own and
react adversely to a strong hand.
Persistence is essential when dealing with the
Boxer (if you break routine and let him get away
with something, rest assured that he will make
the most of the opportunity). Positive
reinforcement and regular routines are essential
to the training of a Boxer dog and many owners
report great success with clicker training these
magnificent dogs.
Obedience training is essential for your
Boxer, not only to teach him basic commands, but
also to promote good socialization with other
people and animals. Taking the time to teach
your dog properly will not only make things
easier for you, as his handler, but also easier
for him as it will help him to better understand
what, exactly, it is that you want. Boxers
are, above all else, dogs that thrive on
companionship and praise. Treat him well
and there's nothing your Boxer puppy wouldn't do
for you.
Like any breed of dog, the Boxer is subject
to a variety of health concerns. Your best bet
is, when deciding to choose a new Boxer puppy,
check around with several breeders and ask about
the various health issues that can affect these
beautiful little dogs. A reputable breeder
should be well-versed in the health concerns and
should be able to give you more details, as well
as showing you the sire and dam of your
potential puppy. Some of the health problems
that can affect Boxers include:
- Cancer
- Aortic Stenosis
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular
Cardiomyopathy (otherwise known as "Boxer
Cardiomyopathy")
- Bloat
- Hypothyroidism
- Hip dysplasia
- Breathing problems during extreme heat
or humidity
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When properly socialized, the Boxer is a
wonderful companion for both the single dog
parent and for the loving family. They do
well with cats and other pets, as well as making
good first pets for families with children.
An energetic and loving dog, the Boxer is easily
adaptable and loves to play.
One downfall of the Boxer, however, is this
incredible energy. If they do not receive
the proper exercise they need, they can often
turn to destructive behaviorisms or develop
annoying habits in order to keep themselves
amused. Similarly, Boxers also have a high
desire for companionship and do not do well if
left alone for extended periods of time - if you
have to work a lot of hours, it's highly
advisable that you either consider a playmate
for your Boxer, prepare to hire him a sitter, or
consider a pet that requires less time and
energy. If, however, you're prepared to
make this generous time and emotional
commitment, you may find that the Boxer is the
perfect dog for you!
There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Boxer dog breed. We've compiled a list of Boxer
information sites to assist you in quickly locating quality
information about the Boxer dog breed, while avoiding the "garbage"
sites that are nothing more than poor attempts to capitalize on the
popularity of dog breeds in general. If you know of a Boxer
information site that offers unique, quality information and photos
of the Boxer breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief
description so that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our
list below.
Boxers are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at Boxer
pictures, you can usually gain more insight into what these dogs and
puppies are like as a breed, and this can help you decide if you
really want to become a Boxer owner. The following sites below offer
pictures of Boxer dogs, Boxer puppy photos, funny Boxer photos and
more. Enjoy!
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A beautiful Brindle and white Boxer
puppy |
Now that you have decided that the Boxer is the right breed for
you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible Boxer
breeder from which to buy a healthy, well-socialized puppy. Not all
breeders are alike; there are good breeders - and bad breeders.
Don't be in a hurry to buy the first Boxer puppy you find at the
cheapest price available! To buy a puppy from a responsible Boxer
breeder, you may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional
money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste
from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll
likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and
heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy
with health and behavioral problems that will likely need special
care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even
euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring
Boxer breeder who home-raises their puppies with love, screens their
breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health guarantee and
post sale support, and who genuinely loves the Boxer breed and is in
it for the love of the breed, rather than profit, and you can be
fairly well assured of getting a healthy, happy, long lived and
affectionate family companion that will provide you and your family
with many years of joy, laughter and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Boxer puppies
to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now online
that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy mills and
backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of these
resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the breeders
whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Boxer clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn even more
about the Boxer dog breed, help you locate a responsible Boxer
breeder, or help you find a Boxer dog or puppy in need of a second
chance for a loving, forever home. We've compiled the following list
of Boxer clubs and Boxer rescues web sites for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your Boxer puppy can be a daunting task!
There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot of
thought and research to find just the right name for your Boxer.
Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a few days or
weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you decide on just
the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of humor? A serious
side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side? A strange love of
cantaloupe? By observing your new Boxer puppy over the first days or
weeks, you should at least have a clue about what type of name you
want to give. There are a ton of dog names and pet names web sites
on the internet. Some are wonderful information resources, while
others, unfortunately, are just "garbage" sites set up with the sole
purpose of cashing in on visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Boxer puppy. These sites offer inventive, unique,
original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
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