The bouncy Boxer – a dog with a sense of humour. He loves to play and clown around. Just don’t mess with his family!

 

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Boxer history: What were Boxers originally bred for?

While only formally developed in the late 19th century, it is generally accept that today’s lovable Boxer owes its creation to the Bullenbeisser, a now extinct hunting dog, bred to strategically tackle and hold game while their human hunting partner made their way over. By breeding Bullenbeissers with a more compact, active mastiff, a smaller Bullenbeissers began to emerge.

Over time, these smaller Bullenbeissers found themselves as family and guard dogs, protecting the homes of their owners. It didn’t take long for dog fanciers to fall for the intelligence and trainability of these loyal canines, because the breed was soon stabilised. By 1904 an official breed standard was written.

Boxers served as military dogs in the early 20th century, carrying messages and packs, and even acting as attack and guard dogs when the situation called for it. After the end of World War II, Boxer popularity skyrocketed, with many soldiers bringing their loyal canines home from the battlefield.

 

Appearance

Boxers are a well-muscled, medium-sized, square breed of working dog with a short back, powerful limbs and smooth, tight coat.

Boxers are brachycephalic which means that their faces are shorter, muzzles are flatter, and their skulls are more compressed than most other breeds of dog.

If you’d like to view the full-length AKC breed standard for the Boxer, click here.

 

Boxer Temperament

The Boxer temperament is iconic. They are well-known for being fun-loving, self-assured, playful, empathetic and expressive. They can be slow to mature, and remain upbeat well into their golden years.

Boxers are an intelligent breed, but can be slower to train if they are not sufficiently motivated. Generally considered to be sensitive dogs, fair, force-free methods of training such as positive reinforcement are heavily advised.

Boxers make excellent family dogs, showing tremendous patience and tolerance for children. Young Boxers can be boisterous, and may accidentally knock over young toddlers however. Supervision around children is always recommended, regardless of breed. Boxers are naturally protective of their loved ones, and need no special training to excel as guardians.

They also make great watchdogs, thanks to their naturally alert dispositions. Hostility towards non-threatening strangers should not be present however. Boxers generally get along well with other pets, including the family cat, but it’s not uncommon for them to exhibit aggression towards other dogs, particularly those of the same sex.

Owners of all breeds are urged to socialise and expose their pups to a number of people, sounds, children, animals, surfaces and other scenarios while they’re young, curious and impressionable. Ensure their experiences are safe and positive, to prevent negative associations later on.

 

Energy and exercise needs

Boxers are an energetic breed, known to play hard. They love being on the move, and require vigorous daily exercise. A brisk walk of an hour or more per day is recommended for adults, as well as plenty of play and mental stimulation in between. More may be needed for younger adults, as they’re known to be hyper. Hard exercise should be avoided in very young boxers until they have finished growing.

Without enough physical and mental exercise, Boxers find their own ways to amuse themselves, usually taking it out on your garden and household furniture.

Due to their brachycephalic skulls, Boxers can have trouble breathing and regulating body temperature in particularly hot or cold weather. Boxers are especially susceptible to heatstroke.

 

Coat

Boxers come in two recognised colours – fawn and brindle, both of which may be present with or without white markings.

Predominantly white Boxers do exist, however they are not considered acceptable in many national kennel clubs’ breed standards, including the AKC. There is no such thing as a black Boxer however. Boxers that appear black are merely exhibiting an extensive brindle pattern.

The coat itself is short and smooth, and skin is taut over an athletic frame.

Boxers are moderate shedders.

Grooming needs

The Boxer’s smooth coat is low maintenance, requiring little grooming outside of a weekly rub-down with a bristle or rubber brush to remove dead hair and skin cells.

Avoid bathing too often with harsh shampoos. Opt for gentle, dog-specific shampoos instead, to preserve natural protective oils on the skin. Wipe down with a cloth as needed to easily remove dirt.

Regularly inspect and care for ears, nails and teeth as needed, as well as the wrinkles on their face for signs of build-up or infection.

 

Health

Sadly, Boxers are not an especially healthy breed overall. They are commonly plagued by a number of conditions, including:

• Allergies – both environmental and diet-related.
• Aortic Stenosis – a heritable heart defect that can cause fainting and sudden death.
• Cancer. Lymphoma and brain tumours are particularly common in Boxers. Boxers with exaggerated white areas are also prone to sunburn, as well as skin cancer.
• Cardiomyopathy. This causes an unsteady heartbeat which can result in fainting and sudden death.
• Corneal Dystrophy. A heritable disease of the eye, which affects the cornea.
• Deafness. This is especially prevalent in white Boxers, with roughly 1 in 5 white Boxers being born deaf in one or both ears.
• Hip Dysplasia
• Bloat, or Gastric Dilatation-volvulus (GDV). This deadly condition can appear suddenly, particularly in large, deep-chested dog breeds. To prevent bloat, feed your dog 2+ times per day, as opposed to than one large serving and avoid physical activity for at least an hour after each meal.

Many diseases faced by Boxers are inherited, and therefore avoidable. By choosing a breeder who conducts relevant screenings and health clearances, and only breeds physically and temperamentally sound Boxers, you are dramatically improving your chances of having a strong, happy, healthy Boxer of your own.

Life expectancy

On average, Boxers live 9-12 years. However, if well-bred and cared for, it’s not unheard of for Boxers to live up to 15 years old.

 

What is it like to live with a Boxer?

Boxers commonly demonstrate a number of quirky traits, including wheezing, snoring, flatulence and slobber, as well as an assortment of snorts, grumbles and grunts.

Do not underestimate the exercise requirements of a Boxer. They can require upwards of one to two hours of physical activity daily even into their golden years. With regular exercise, they can still be active and busy in the house, making them a great friend for children and teens, though perhaps a bit too exuberant for young toddlers.

Same-sex aggression is not uncommon in the breed, particularly amongst females though this can be highly dependent on breeding lines.

Take care is especially cool or warm weather. Boxers have only a single coat and are prone to overheating due to their brachycephalic skull. Keep them in the shade when outdoors in summer and avoid activity during peak heat. 

Overall, many Boxer owners believe the breed to be delightful companions who are easy to keep when properly managed and trained.

 

Types of Boxers

German Boxers, American Boxers and English/UK Boxers

All of the above mentioned Boxers fall under the Boxer breed. However, some breed standards have emphasis on different points of the Boxer’s physical appearance. As a result, there are minor differences in how a Boxer from each bloodline may appear.

English Boxers often have richer hues in their coats, as well as finer bone structure. Their appearance is considered to be more elegant.

German Boxers tend to have heavier bone structure than both American and English Boxers.

The American Boxer tends to have tighter skin and wider muzzles.

Bloodlines from all three countries can be found in any given Boxer, depending on the breeder’s goals. Anecdotally, owners claim that German and English Boxers have more drive and focus than their goofier, American counterpart. However, this is largely hearsay, and you can expect all three to have typical Boxer traits.

 

 

Why are Boxers called Boxers?

There are a number theories as to where the Boxer originally got its name from, as there doesn’t appear to be one clear answer. The most prevailing ones are mentioned below.

The first suggestion comes from the word ‘boxl’, originally used to refer to the handy butcher’s dog, an ancestor of today’s Boxer, who would fearlessly bite into out-of-control livestock and drive them back into the slaughterhouse.

The second, and perhaps more relatable, theory connects the breed’s name with their natural tendency to paw and ‘box’ while they play and investigate novel objects.

 

Interesting Boxer facts

• Their unique face served a functional purpose in their days of hunting game. As the boxer would firmly hold onto the catch with their powerful jaws, the squashed muzzle allowed them to breathe while waiting for the hunter to arrive. The grooves below their eyes acted as canals to channel flowing blood, keeping their vision clear.
• 1 in 5 Boxers are born white, and up to 20% are born deaf in one or both ears.
• Boxers are 1 of 31 registered brachycephalic breeds. Other common examples include Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs.
• Boxers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the U.S! Coming ahead of Siberian Huskies, Doberman Pinschers and the mighty Great Dane.
• Boxers have an underbite, technically referred to as an undershot jaw.
• The Boxer was one of the first dog breeds used for police work in Germany.

 

Buying Boxers from breeders

If you’d like to get a purebred Boxer as a puppy, be sure to look only at reputable breeders who care for the welfare of their puppies. You can determine whether a breeder is reputable by observing whether they go through the effort of health testing their breeding stock for hereditary conditions like those above, and only breed dogs who are physically healthy, and emotionally sound. They should also be involved in particular avenues with their dogs – be it conformation, IPO, obedience, or any other dog sport that showcases their dogs’ temperament and suitability for work and breeding.

Often puppies from reputable breeders cost more money upfront due to the breeder’s high expenses. However, poorly bred dogs from breeders who do not conduct health screening can have hidden costs in the form of silent (at the time of purchase) conditions that should never have been allowed to be passed on. This can be heartbreaking, and terribly expensive to deal with as an owner, on top of causing unnecessary suffering and a shortened lifespan for the dog.

 

Boxer Rescue

As one of the more popular breeds around, Boxers are not hard to find in rescues and shelters. If you would like to adopt a Boxer in need of a new home, search for Boxer rescue organisations in your area. Alternatively, you could take a look on pet-rehoming websites like Petfinder.

 

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References and recommended reading:

• McFadden, B. (1989). The new boxer. New York, NY: Howell Book House.
• Boxer Dog Information Center. Breed types. Retrieved from http://www.allboxerinfo.com/
• AKC. The most popular breeds in America. Retrieved from http://www.akc.org/
• The American Boxer Club. History of the Boxer breed. Retrieved from http://www.americanboxerclub.org/
• The American Boxer Club. Recommendations for health screening of boxers in breeding programs. Retrieved from http://www.americanboxerclub.org/