The Boxer is a beautiful,
strong, and loving pet that has quite an interesting
lineage. For instance, the Mastiff, English Bulldog,
and German Bullenbeisser are all distantly related.
While the German Bullenbeisser was originally bred
to hunt, this breed was eventually bred down to a
much smaller dog, which was called Brabanter. Then
the 19th century, this breed was crossed with the
English Bulldog, which led to what we know today as
the Boxer.
By 1894, the Boxer had captured the attention of
three Germans who decided to “clean up” the breed
somewhat for show, which occurred in 1895. Just one
year later, the Boxer Club was formed. Throughout
the latter part of the 19th century, the Boxer was
introduced to Europe and the United States. Again,
being appreciated for its strength and excellent
temperament, the American Kennel Club first
recognized this dog in 1915.
Due to brute strength and
trainability, the Boxer was used during World War I.
At this time, the dog played a number of roles to
include guard dog, pack dog, messenger, and even
guard dog. While this breed remained a popular
choice during the war, once fighting ended, the
Boxer’s reputation spread around the globe but as a
companion or show dog.
Although there is some debate as to the name of the
Boxer, most historians and early breeders believe it
came from the dog’s tendency to fight while standing
on the hind legs, almost human-like. However, other
experts believe the name was a derivative of the
German word “baxer”, which was used commonly during
the latter part of the 18th century. Regardless,
what we know today is that the Boxer is a fine
specimen of a dog, making an excellent option for
guarding, showing, or just being a family pet.
Temperament
Although the Boxer is an excellent dog, you want to
work with a reputable breeder to ensure you purchase
a strong bloodline. This particular dog is very
loving and immensely faithful to its master, along
with others within the home. The Boxer is highly
alert, fearless, intelligent, cheerful, and
friendly. Keep in mind that the nature of this breed
is to be wary of strangers so you want to make
introductions slowly. Because of this breed’s
loyalty to family, it is an excellent companion.
The Boxer is strong and protective but amazingly
gentle with children. The key however, is to
socialize the puppy young and provide appropriate
behavioral training. Remember, this dog is
physically strong so you would need to teach it not
to jump or play too rough, especially around
children. In addition, while training, you want to
make techniques fun and interesting. This breed can
be somewhat headstrong so choosing something the
Boxer would enjoy is important to success.
You will also find that the Boxer remains very
puppy-like until around age three. Because of this,
you need to be patience in raising this breed,
knowing that it will have high energy early in life.
In most cases, the Boxer is great with other dogs as
well, particularly dogs smaller than it is. While
you can certainly introduce a larger dog to a Boxer,
you want to realize that there could be a reaction
of protecting territory. Therefore, raising the
Boxer from a young pup with a larger dog is best.
Size and Color
This breed of dog is considered medium-sized but
stocky and strong. Typically, a mature Boxer would
weigh anywhere from 55 to 70 pounds. For height, the
males are between 23 and 25 inches at the withers
while females are a little smaller, usually between
21 and 23 inches. One of the first things people
notice with the Boxer is the strong, proud stance
but keep in mind, early socialization and training
will produce a gentle, loving dog.
The Boxer is also known for its square muzzle and
strong jaws. The tail is docked and depending on the
owner’s preference, the ears may or may not be
cropped. While the American Kennel Club allows
cropped ears, you would be penalized in show if the
tail were undocked. However, if you were interested
in showing your Boxer in European countries, both
cropping and docking are prohibited. In addition to
the look of strength, you would also notice the
bold, strong head of the Boxer.
As far as color, you would likely find the Boxer
with a brindle or fawn, color, which could include a
white tummy, as well as white on the front paws or
front and back paws, known as “flash”. In some
cases, the white would also move up onto the dog’s
face and/or neck. Sometimes, you will hear a breeder
advertise reverse brindle pups, which is simply
extra dark brindle. For show, the white portion on
the body cannot cover more than 20% to 25% of the
body. In fact, studies now show that does with
excessive flashing are actually more susceptible to
health issues to include skin cancer and sunburn.
Feeding and Grooming Requirements
The Boxer is not too fussy when it comes to food.
Typically, breeders would recommend you feed this
breed in the morning and then again in the evening
to keep up with the active lifestyle. Keep in mind
that sometimes, a Boxer will have a sensitive
digestive system. In this case, the best food is one
well balanced. Additionally, you might introduce
treats to your Boxer’s diet to see if it can
tolerate them.
In most cases, high quality dry food is best. While
you might add high quality soft food in with the dry
on occasion, this can lead to dental problems such
as tartar, decay, and bad breath. The Boxer
generally has no problem with obesity, again because
of high energy, but remember that while a puppy, the
breed would likely look a little on the thin side,
which is perfectly fine. As the dog matures, it will
begin to fill out.
The coat of the Boxer is short and smooth, which
means brushing once or twice a week is about all you
need to do. For this, we would recommend a rubber,
grooming mitt. Because this breed sheds very little,
it is a great choice for people with allergies,
asthma, or other respiratory illnesses. For bathing,
the Boxer is incredibly clean so once a month or
every other month should suffice.
Exercise Needs
As mentioned, the Boxer is one breed of dog that
remains very puppy-like until around age three.
Therefore, you can expect medium to high energy
levels. Playing is a normal part of this breed’s
nature but as long as you can walk the Boxer three
to four times per week, it would actually do quite
well in an apartment or home with a small or no
yard. However, having a yard for the Boxer to romp
around would be best, but again, not necessary.
For training, be patient, especially during younger
years. This breed is highly intelligent and loves to
please its master. Even so, the Boxer does have a
slight stubborn streak so you need to keep training
interesting. If the dog becomes bored, training
would become a challenge.
