Boxer Dog Breed Information

Have you ever considered adopting a Boxer to add as a new member to your family, but weren’t sure if the Boxer dog breed was right for you? This information will provide you with the ins and outs of owning, caring for and enjoying a Boxer!

General Characteristics

Boxers are a part of the American Kennel Club (AKC) working class and a very popular dog breed. Bred to chase wild game, Boxers love to run and jump. Be prepared, you’ll spend a great deal of time working on jumping and self-control exercises in their younger years. Lots of exercise and games like fetch will help burn some of their excess energy.

Have you noticed Boxers using their paws a lot kind of like a person taking jabs in a boxing ring? That’s how Boxer dogs earned their name. They use their front feet all the time. Take advantage and teach a cute trick like shake or wave. Everyone gets a kick out of it—pun intended.

Temperament

Don’t let excess energy worry you. Boxers are very patient. They’re truly wonderful family dogs. In my opinion, the Boxer dog breed is wonderful with children. They love to run and jump, and playing with kids in the yard is a great day in a Boxer’s world.

Boxers are wicked smart and easily trainable, but can be stubborn. Using something they love like food or their favorite fetch toy to train will help keep their attention. They generally don’t like repetitive things, so keeping dog training fun and their environment enriched.

Size

Boxers are medium to large-sized dogs and range from about 45 to 75 pounds. Male Boxers can be as tall as 25 inches where females tend to be a little smaller. However, in my house, it’s the opposite. My female Boxer is the big one and my male is smaller than average. The most common Boxer colors are fawn (called flashy fawn) and brindle with white markings.

You’ve probably noticed white (albino) Boxers as well. This is a recessive gene. White Boxers tend to be partly or completely deaf or blind, are very sensitive to the sun, and usually have many missing teeth. I don’t recommend them.

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Grooming

Boxers have short and smooth lying coats, so their dog grooming needs are minimal. A nice thorough bath every couple of weeks usually does the job. It’s also a good idea to brush with a short-bristled brush in between baths to keep their coats nice and healthy.

Ears

Depending on your Boxer, he may have cropped or floppy ears. This is a personal preference, as they’re born with floppy ears, but are commonly cropped. Regardless of ear shape, it’s always important to keep their ears nice and clean.

Nails

Boxers tend to have powerful paws with strong nails. Keeping nails trimmed is a must. You definitely don’t want your Boxer sporting long nails since they love to box, right?

Teeth

Don’t forget to brush their teeth daily. Due to their pushed in muzzles, their teeth are closer together than most dogs so tartar builds up quicker.

Nutrition and Health

Boxers generally have a 10 to 12-year life span with great care. Feeding a highly nutritious diet from puppyhood to adulthood will help extend their life expectancy. It’s always a good idea to discuss your Boxer dog breed’s individual dietary needs with your veterinarian.

Every dog breed has its set of health issues. Boxers may have health issues, such as cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), hip or elbow dysplasia, bloat, and hypothyroidism. However, Boxers tend to be pretty healthy dogs.

Dog Training and Exercise

Some Boxers may have lots of energy. This can be both beneficial and counterproductive when training Boxers, which is why exercise is so important with this dog breed. Have you ever heard the saying, “A tired dog is a good dog”? Well this is true. These dogs require both mental and physical stimulation. If you provide your Boxer with daily exercise, dog training will be much easier. These dogs are very eager to learn and play. However, they can be a little stubborn at times.

Finding what your Boxer enjoys will be key factor during dog training sessions. Keep your Boxer motivated by providing mental and physical stimulation.

As someone who shares her home with this wonderful dog breed, Boxers are awesome family dogs for a semi-active family. If you’re interested in receiving more information about the Boxer dog breed, check out AKC’s boxer breed standard and American Boxer Rescue.

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