Boxer Dog

Considered a German breed, the Boxer Dog was developed from an old breed known as the Brabanter Bullenbeisser from Belgium, which was used to hunt wild boar. Around 1830, the Brabanter was crossed with an early version of the English Bulldog, and it was this stock that was refined into the Boxer Dog we know and love today.

Today's Boxer Dog is a very square built, medium sized breed that stands anywhere from 21 to 25 inches high, and weighs roughly 60 pounds. Boxers have soulful brown eyes and their jaws should be very square with an undershot bite. Acceptable colors are Fawn or Brindle, with some white markings permissible as long as they contribute less than one third of the overall color. White Boxers are not recognized by the AKC at this time, but may be in the future.

Although the Boxer is born with large floppy ear flaps, and a long thin tail, most breeders in the USA will have the ears trimmed and taped to stand erect, and have the tail docked short. This practice of altering these dogs began in Germany, and it's purpose was to give the wild boars less dog flesh to tear during the hunt.

Somewhere along the line, Boxers got a reputation for being guard dogs, perhaps because they do look as though they could be a little menacing if they had a mind to. However, aside from being a little stand-offish with strangers, these dogs are quite affectionate, loving to clown around with their families. They also tend to believe that they were bred to be lap dogs, even well after they hit the sixty pound mark.

Boxers are also very energetic, so be prepared to give them plenty of exercise and play time. If you don't let them work off the extra steam in positive ways, Boxers will come up with their own entertainment, and chances are you will not be pleased! Unless you are ready for a whole lot of dog, think carefully before you choose a Boxer.

Boxers actually do quite well in a family setting, being surprisingly gentle with children. However, each dog is an individual, so be sure to provide proper training and supervision to make sure both your Boxer and your children understand the rules.

Training is a must with this breed. They are so energetic and robust that you simply have to teach them to obey commands to be able to control them. Obedience training should be commenced seriously at six months of age, the minimum age acceptable for training classes. Until then you can work on getting them used to the leash.

Boxers are very clean pets and only shed moderately. A nice brush with a bristle brush should remove what little dirt you may find, and distribute the coat oils to give your pet a glossy sheen. Boxers rarely need bathing, but you can wash their feet if they've been prancing through the mud.

Most Boxers tend to wear their nails down naturally with exercise, so just check them once in a while and give a little clip if needed.

Health concerns for this breed include:

• Canine Hip Dysplasia
• Cardiomyopathy
• Epilepsy
• Flatulence (More of a nuisance than a problem!)

• American Boxer Club
• Boxer Buddies Rescue, Inc.
• Boxer World
• The British Boxer Club

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