Large
12 Years
29 Kg
Working Dogs
Cheerful, Friendly, Gentle, Loving, Playful
The impressive looking Boxer is a large, muscular dog with a square head and a playful, joyful attitude with unlimited energy that originated in Germany. It has one of the longest periods of puppyhood at three years. An adult Boxer is either a fawn or a brindle with or without white markings with smooth, tight-fitting coat. It has a broad, blunt muzzle (brachycephalic) which is a distinctive feature of the breed, short back, strong legs, and well-developed muscles. It has frontally placed dark brown eyes, highly set thin ears that lay flat and close to the cheeks when at rest while falling forward with a definite crease when alert. The forehead has a slight indentation between the eyes, forming a distinct stop with the topline of the square muzzle. It has a broad black nose and an undershot bite (mandibular prognathism) but neither teeth nor tongue shows when the mouth is closed. The upper lip is padded which fills out the frontal space created by the undershot. The topline is slightly sloping when the dog is at full attention. The docked tail is set high and carried upward. The rest of the profile shows a dog with long, straight forelegs, curved and broad thighs, well-angulated hind legs with clearly defined hock joints. All feet are well-cushioned with thick pads. A male Boxer is between 56 – 64 cm and weighs between 25 - 32 kg. A female Boxer can be between 53 – 61 cm in height and can weigh between 25 – 32 kg.
IntelligenceAll dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
Exercise NeedsAll dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
Dogs HealthThere are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
Child FriendlyThere are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
ApartmentThere are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
SheddingAll dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
Grooming NeedsAll dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
BarkingBarking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
AloneMajority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
TrainabilityThere are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
Energy LevelsAll dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Dog friendlyBefore you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Boxer was developed in Germany in the late 19th century and is a descendant of the now extinct Bullenbeisser - a dog with Mastiff lineage, and the Bulldog. Originally, the Bullenbeisser was bred to hunt for large game but a subsequent need for a faster breed eventually lead to the development of a smaller Bullenbeisser in Brabant, Belgium which gave rise to the Brabanter Bullenbeisser, known to be the direct ancestor of the Boxer. The early genealogy of the Boxer can be traced through the efforts of a Munich resident named George Alt who mated a brindle-colored Bullenbeisser named Flora with a local dog of unknown origin named “Boxer”. In that litter was a mixed Bullenbeisser fawn-and-white male which was named “Lechner’s Box” who was bred to his dam Flora which produced a female named Alt’s Schecken and was registered as a Modern Bullenbeiser (Bierboxer). Schecken was bred to a Bulldog named Dr. Toneissen’s Tom which produced a male named Mühlbauer's Flocki and a female named Blanka von Angertor. Flocki became the first Boxer to be entered into the German Stud Book after winning at a dog show in Munich that had a special class specific for Boxers. Blanka was bred with Piccolo von Angertor and in the litter was a white female named Meta von der Passage, considered to be the mother of the modern-day Boxer.
The Boxer is a loving, gentle breed that loves being cuddled and highly affectionate and loyal with the family. It is a mix of an intelligent, alert, courageous but sociable breed. It is often suspicious of strangers but will not show aggression if it perceives the stranger is not a threat to its own safety or to the family. It is a very loving breed, sometimes even recognising itself as a lapdog who will try to lie as close to the owner’s lap as possible. This happy and energetic breed also has a clownish behaviour and will often get the owner’s attention with its antics. This breed has a canny ability to twist and dance into a semi-circle when excited as well as letting out a unique sound called a “woo-woo”. It also has a remarkable attitude of pawing at his toys or food bowls similar to what a cat does. When the Boxer gets excited, it can start jumping, twisting and even doing somersaults to get the owner’s attention.
The highly intelligent Boxer is quite easy to train and ranks high in trainability. It is an excellent watchdog which will restrain an intruder similar to a Mastiff. It excels in obedience, agility and schutzhund.
The short coat makes the Boxer an easy to groom breed that requires very little grooming time. Brushing the coat with a firm bristle brush is sufficient. Bathe only when necessary because a Boxer is a clean dog that grooms itself like a cat.
The Boxer is generally a healthy breed but is not without health issues. It is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, von Willebrand’s disease, tumours, aortic stenosis/sub-aortic stenosis, Boxer Arrythmic Cardiomyopathy (BAC), and corneal dystrophy. It does not do well in extreme cold because of its short coat nor in hot weather conditions because its short nose does not cool hot air as efficient as other breeds with long muzzle. An ideal diet should be a premium Boxer dog food made of high-quality animal-based protein to help the breed build strong, lean muscles. Food rich in L-carnitine and natural taurine is also a good diet. The average lifespan of the Boxer is between 9 to 15 years.
The Boxer has a very high energy level that requires a tremendous amount of exercise. It can adapt well to an apartment living as well as to a rural setting especially if it’s given the right amount of mental and physical stimulation. If not properly exercised, this breed has a potential to gain weight very rapidly. Long brisk, daily walking coupled with a game of fetch will keep this breed occupied.
The Boxer is an incredibly kid-friendly dog with well-known patience and gentleness even with small children. It is also particularly good with other dogs and animals.
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