What You Need to Know About Boxers

Being the 10th most popular dog breed in America, the Boxer comes with surprises and with a lot of information you should know about the breed before deciding to take one home with you.

Here you can find out more about their ancestry, skills, and features so be sure to stay around if you want to see what you need to know about boxers.

General Appearance

The Boxer has a well-proportioned and muscular body if you’ve seen one. It is a medium-sized breed and it’s fit to be a working dog, a companion for the road, and a guardian for your home and family.

Also, if you’ve watched dog internet videos that had Boxers in them, you already know that this breed has a very expressive face – which can get really funny during those shenanigans that occur while chasing – or being chased by – him through the house.

Temperament

Naturally, before you decide that this is the breed you want, you have to get informed about the temperament the Boxer has. First, it is a very courageous dog, which makes him or her very good as a watchdog.

Loyalty and care are two of the other characteristics that make this pet great with children as it is unlikely to cause any harm. It is also a very intelligent breed, so you won’t have any trouble in training the pooch as you wish.

Health

In terms of health, you should know that the Boxer is usually a very healthy breed. While common health issues such as bloating, cardiomyopathy, and hypothyroidism can occur, they are safe from most of the diseases dogs can get.

Of course, as with any dog breed, you must make sure that you choose the right puppy food for Boxers as their diet affects the way they grow and develop. You might also want to talk with your veterinarian about the proper diet of your dog.

They Are Also a Herding Breed

In 2012, the American Kennel Club officially added Boxers as eligible for herding titles. This breed, even though a member of the working group breeds, will definitely have no problem in herding, as in 2010 one Boxer handled the stock with such attention and calm that it left Border Collie handlers speechless.

German Origins

The Boxer comes from a line of dogs that were originally called Molossers and which came from Greece’s Epirus region. Reaching more and more inside the land and the English people, the Molossers were bred and turned in Great Danes and Mastiffs. However, this was not the end of the Molossers line.

The Germans instead used the Bullenbeisser, a dog that resembled the original Molossers, that eventually turned into what we now know as the Boxer.

Furthermore, Boxers are seen as cousins of the Bulldog and the Pitbull – the bully breeds – but the Germans have, once more, taken up the challenge and added Terrier blood to the Boxers. This resulted in a great hunting dog.

Also the First Police Dog of Germany

In Germany, Boxers were developed for workability, intelligence, and courage. And the breed is indeed just like that. As mentioned, the Boxer dog makes a great guard dog, and also doesn’t step back when being put face to face with danger.

Furthermore, it was one of the first breeds that the German Police used for training – according to the American Kennel Club.

They are Little Attention Seekers

If you already own a Boxer, you already know that it will follow you wherever you go. And if you add to this the funny expressions the animal is capable of, he or she instantly turns into one of the funniest breeds out there that just can’t escape your hands without a little bit of cuddling involved.

It’s like they function based on the amount of affection they get. Also, because of the high energy levels that this dog has, it will rarely get tired and rest – but that won’t happen until he or she has played with every member of your family. The breed is especially good with children because of its ability to protect and care for them.

Puppies until the end

Because of their well-proportioned and muscular body, you might probably expect Boxers to be a stiff breed – one that could say no to a walk or to the playtime. However, that’s not the case with Boxers.

Even though they might throw you some menacing looks, they mean absolutely no harm. They will always play with you as they did in the very first days after you brought it home. A thing they love the most is to come to sit on your lap – or even lie on you after they’ve managed to pin you down – and scout the surrounding area for any trouble that might occur.

While very playful, they don’t forget the things that make them the breed they are. Those are vigilance and courage. They will inspect every suspicious thing around the house and neighborhood and be sure to alert you if something has caught their eye.

Boxers and Humans: Very Much Alike

It was mentioned that they like to scout – your house and your neighborhood. But they don’t do that while on the move — well, at least most of the times. What they do is the same thing you do when hearing something suspicious outside. That is, heading to the curtain, keeping their body behind it and just peeking over outside to analyze the situation.

There have been plenty of instances where Boxers would be randomly spotted on balconies and at windows, staring at people and kind of looking like they were judging every single move they did.

They are also very perceptive when it comes to hearing or seeing new stuff. A famous trait – even viral – of the Boxer is the curious head tilt they are capable of. It clearly shows the interest and the full curiosity they have in a certain thing.

From characteristics to history and all the way to the funniest things they are capable of, these have been some of the things that you need to know about Boxers.