The boxer dog
The Boxer has its roots in Germany. They can be traced back to the sixteenth century and to two types of mastiff dogs known as Bullenbeiszer and Barenbeiszer. These breeds were then crossed with a Native Bavarian dog and then mated with an English bulldog.
This is believed to be the beginning of the Boxer as we know today. They were originally used to hunt wild boar and deer and then they were used in dog fighting sports. Thankfully these sports were outlawed around 1850 and the boxer found a new job guarding cattle.
The Boxer is a member of the working group. They have an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years. Boxers are a medium sized dog weighing between 55 to 70 pounds. An adult male stands between 22 and 25 inches (57 and 63cm) tall at the withers while the female is slightly smaller standing between 21 to 231/2 inches (53 and 60cm) tall. The name boxer comes from this dog’s tendency to stand up on its hind legs and use its front paws like a boxer.
Their coat is short, smooth and sleek and comes in many shades of fawn, brindle and flashes of white. Fawn colours come in various shades from pale to dark deer-red. Boxers can also be white. In the past, breeders often euthanized white puppies at birth; today, most breeders place white puppies in pet homes with spay/neuter agreements. Like fair-skinned humans, white Boxers have a higher risk of sunburn and associated skin cancers than coloured Boxers.
Boxers make a good family pet as they tend to be very good with children. Like all dogs they need to be properly socialized. They are a high energy dog so they do require plenty of exercise. They respond well to positive reinforcement training such as clicker training. They tend to be more comfortable with companionship whether it be human or canine. They also tend to be over friendly.
They are natural entertainers and are seen as class clowns because of their antics. They make an excellent guard dog and have been used widely in military and police work.
Boxers generally are a very clean dog and shed moderately so they require very little grooming. They do best in moderate temperature. They chill in cold weather and have trouble cooling off in very hot weather. Boxers are prone to a number of health problems. Among their health issues are hip dysplasia, bloat, heart problems specifically aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy, digestive problems, hypothyroidism and cancerous and benign tumours.
This breed is not for everyone but what breed really is. With proper training and proper socialization the boxer can make a wonderful family pet.
