Boxers are medium sized dogs of German origin, bred from the Bullenbeiser and the English bulldog. The Boxers belong to the Molosser group of dogs. This loving and faithful dog is very comfortable in the family it belongs to but is very wary of strangers. Honesty and loyalty, two major factors that depict a dog, hold true for the Boxer. These dogs were first displayed at a dog show in 1895 in Munich, after which they truly grew in popularity. Even recently, they have been called the sixth most popular dogs in the United States of America. These dogs have short broad skulls, strong jaws and powerful teeth. Boxers are well known for their strong bite and the ability to hang onto their prey.

Description

These are extremely loyal dogs that have a short broad skull, making them brachycephalic in nature. Moreover, they have a square muzzle with a strong and powerful jaw and strong teeth. Boxers have a compact body, with the head being in complete proportion with the rest of the body. The muzzle of the Boxer is short and blunt with a large nose and open nostrils. Ears are high and are either cropped or non-cropped while the eyes are dark brown in color. When the ears are not cropped, they fall forward, are close to the head and are very thin. However, when they are cropped, the ears stand straight up on the head and taper towards the end. The lower jaw of a Boxer usually protrudes beyond the upper one and slightly curves in the upward direction.

Boxers have a strong, round and muscular neck. The front legs are straight while both front and rear legs are muscular in nature. The tail of the Boxer is usually high and docked. Boxers typically weigh anywhere between 55 and 70 pounds or 25 and 32 kilograms and are anywhere between 21 to 25 inches in height, depending on the sex of the dog. A female Boxer is shorter than a male one. Life expectancy amongst Boxers is anywhere between 11 and 14 years of age.

Coat Description

These dogs are short hair dogs and have a coat that is smooth and shiny and stays very close to the body. Common colors for a Boxer coat are brindle or fawn, which incidentally is a range including light tan, reddish tan, honey blonde. Boxers are often found with white color in their underbelly as well as on the tips of the front legs or sometimes on all four legs. These are called flash and can be found in the head or neck region of these dogs. Some Boxers have white markings that cover more than one third of their coats. However, this is not due to any disorder. Such Boxers are called White Boxers and are more susceptible to sunburn and other skin disorders.

History

Boxers were developed in Germany and are a part of the Molosser group of dogs. They are technically a cross breed between the Bulldog and the Bullenbeiser and were developed sometime in the late 1800s. It is interesting to note that Bullenbeisers were hunting dogs and were used basically because they could hunt and hold onto their prey till their masters came along. Over the years, faster dogs were developed and these were then bred with the English Bulldog to create the Boxer.

Hunting and bull baiting were the main uses of Boxers during the initial days. However, later they were known to be very useful cattle dogs, rounding up livestock and could also pull carts. Given the innate intelligence and ability of the Boxer, these dogs were used as guard dogs, messenger dogs as well as attack dogs and pack carriers in the World War.

It was in the year 1895 when the first Boxer was exhibited in a dog show in Munich. What is interesting is that the name of the dog was derived from its habit to use the front paws, akin to boxing, while standing on its rear ones. It is pertinent to note that these dogs tend to use their front paws for all activities and hence the name. It is also equally important to understand that Boxers are basically of two types, the German Boxer and the American Boxer, where the German dog is more muscular and has a head that is bigger than its American counterpart.

Temperament

Intelligent, eager to learn, playful, curious, lovable, amiable, happy are some of the adjectives that can be used to describe Boxers. These are very friendly dogs that profess absolute love and faithfulness to their owners. They are wary of strangers though, which in turn make them good watchdogs. They are such loyal companions that they bond well with the family, especially with children. If trained properly in social skills, it is easy for a Boxer to get along with other pets like other dogs or cats. Moreover, they can be taught to leave other animals and birds in a household alone, which make them useful for even a farm.

They are very active dogs and can be called boisterous by many. They often tend to jump on the person in their excitement. Very playful and often comic in their mannerisms, these are great companions to people of all ages.

Noted for its courage, this breed makes excellent guard dogs as they tend to stop an intruder in a manner similar to a Bulldog. In fact, Boxers need to be told not to jump on people, especially visitors and friends, who come to your home, during its early training period. Obedience training can be a problem with some Boxers as they tend to be headstrong in nature. So, you need to deal with it in a positive way. Remember - Boxers learn better and faster than most other breeds. Their innate intelligence and courage makes them excellent dogs to be used in the military and police work.

Health issues and concerns

Average life expectancy of a Boxer, as mentioned above, is around eleven to fourteen years of age. You can make your Boxer live life to the fullest by ensuring that it is healthy and is kept active. This breed is naturally athletic and requires constant exercise and conditioning to ensure that it maintains good health and lives longer. It is equally important to ensure that you do not overwork your dog, especially when they are young, as this could lead to serious damage to the bones. Once they get older, Boxers tend to be great joggers and do not face such problems. It is important that you indulge in such boisterous activities when the weather is cooler and less humid as Boxers tend to have problems with heat and humidity.

As a breed, Boxers are prone to diseases like cancer, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy and various heart problems. They are also prone to diet based problems like gastric disorders, allergies, bloat and the like. So, it is best to remain strict with the diet that you feed your Boxer with. If you properly exercise your Boxer, give it a good balanced diet and avoid certain sedatives, you will definitely have a healthy Boxer as your friend.

Grooming

Boxers are essentially a very clean breed and maintain themselves regularly like cats. Boxers have a short and tight coat, which is smooth and relatively easy to groom. Brushing regularly with a firm bristle brush will keep the coat of your Boxer well groomed. It is important to bathe your Boxer only when it is absolutely essential as excessive bathing removes the essential oils from the coat. It is very important to remove the dewclaws of your boxer regularly as they do not wear with exercise and movement. Nails are easy to notice and maintain as they are not black. Ears should be constantly checked for wax build up and should be cleaned immediately.

Exercise

Being very energetic dogs, Boxers require regular exercise, which involves a lot of movement. Therefore, one can safely say that these dogs are not suited for apartments but require a lot of open space in the form of a garden to move and play. Interactive games like Frisbee, fetch and the like are the best ways to exercise your dog and keep it happy. It is also necessary that you take your Boxer for long walks or jogs as it needs the exercise for good health. If you have a home with a garden, make sure that the fence is strong and the locks are sturdy before exercising with a Boxer as these dogs are known to pick locks and jump fences.

Training

Boxers, as mentioned above, are very playful and friendly dogs. So, you should have a lot of patience while training them. They can also be very stubborn in their outlook. So, it is essential to demonstrate that you are the leader and the dominant force very early in the training period. It is also equally important to be firm and consistent in your approach as these dogs tend to have their own independent thinking, which may or may not match yours.

Though Boxers are friendly dogs, they require a lot of training and interaction with people and other animals to make them friendly towards them. Aggression in Boxers can be very common, which is why it has to be nipped right at the beginning, gently yet firmly. Training your dog when it is really young will help you to have an obedient and well trained dog.