Boxer Dogs– Tough Guys on the Outside, Babies on the Inside!
Boxers are a sleek, powerful, and compact dog that comes in many different colors. Their coats are close-fitting, and their coloring can be brindle, fawn, white with different red shades, and different white markings and patterns.
The ears of the boxer may be – but needn’t necessarily be – cropped. It’s head should be well proportioned with its body, making it unwrinkled and lean. The lower jaw of the boxer should extend out beyond the upper jaw and have an upward curve. When the mouth is closed, neither tongue nor teeth should be exposed. The nose is sizable and black, with opened nostrils. The boxer’s eyes are dark and calm. The neck should be muscular and strong, with a round shape and without a dewlap (neck waddle). The boxer’s body is solid and square. The front legs should be straight and parallel to one another. The tails of boxers are typically – though not always – docked, depending on the appearance and purpose of the dog. No matter if the tail is docked or not, it should be carried high.
The personality, or temperament, of the boxer, is quite happy, playful, and high-spirited, as well as curious and interested. With their sharp intelligence and willingness to learn, there is also an equal characteristic of stubbornness and sneakiness, so boxers should be carefully watched. As loyal and affectionate dogs, boxers are great family dogs. They get along very well with both children and other family pets as long as they are introduced properly.
Boxers originally got their name because of the way the breed naturally uses its front paws to do so many different things – including a punch-like fighting style. Pawing is an important part of a boxer’s method of communication as well as its ability to accomplish different tasks. The ancestry of the boxer is of two different German mastiff-like breeds: the Barenbeiszer and the Bullenbeiszer. These dogs were originally used for bull baiting, hunting, and for pulling carts. They later became cattle dogs as well as circus and theatre dogs due to their ease in trainability. Though the breed was originally quite aggressive, it has become a very loving and warm family companion.
The average lifespan for Boxers is eleven to fourteen years, with health concerns that include sub-aortic stenosis, cardiomyopathy, and hip dysplasia. They can even be at risk for epilepsy. After the age of eight, it is not at all uncommon for the breed to grow tumors – more so than other breeds. They also have a tendency toward skin allergies.
Boxers are quite easy to train due to their high intelligence and willingness to please. The main issue with boxers is their love for jumping. This requires a dominant owner who will consistently work to remedy the issue.
