Dog Breeds for Familes Series: The Boxer

There are many breeds of dogs for families to choose from when they are looking for a pet. And though some people might not guess it when they look at them, Boxers are great family dogs. Boxers are now the sixth most popular dog in America.

History

Boxers, also known as German Boxer and Deutscher, were actually developed from the Bullenbeisser dog, which is now extinct. It is part of the Molosser dog group. Coming from Germany, the dog was originally bred for hunting bears, deer, and wild boar. The ancestors of the Boxers were also known to round up cattle, and even pull cars. Since they learned tricks very easily, some of these dogs were also in the circus and even the theater. It is thought that the name Boxer might come from the dog's habit of standing on its hind legs and "boxing" with its front paws as it plays.

Boxers were introduced in the early 1900s to the United States. They worked as pack-carriers, attack and guard dogs, and messenger dogs during World War I. After World War II, soldiers who were returning home brought back Boxers which introduced this breed to other Americans.

Size and Color

The Boxer is very muscular and strong. Male Boxers weigh between sixty-five and seventy-five pounds and female Boxers weigh around fifty to sixty pounds. They usually are about twenty-two to twenty-five inches high if they are male and twenty-one to twenty-three and a half inches if they are female.

Boxers have short-hair that is smooth and shiny. To be considered a Boxer, these dogs should be either fawn or brindle with a white underbelly and with white on all four feet or at lease the front two. There are also white boxers. About twenty to twenty five percent of all Boxers are born white. These dogs are actually really brindle or fawn but they just have a lot of white markings that are over the base color of their coat.

Personality

Boxers are a very happy, playful, and curious dog. They love to play and can sometimes get into a little mischief. Boxers are a very active dog and need a lot of exercise. They are also extremely intelligent dogs and they love to learn. Though sometimes they can be a little headstrong, proper obedience training can take care of that habit. Boxers get along very well with children. That is actually a trait they are known very well for. This makes the Boxer a great choice for the family pet if the family has small children.

The nature of the Boxer is not to be aggressive, but they do need to be socialized to make sure they will get along with children, other dogs, and other people as they grow older. Boxers get along with most other dogs and even other pets in the house. They especially love to have both dog and human friends.

Boxers can also be a good guard dog or watchdog. They will definitely alert their family of any visitors. Boxers like to jump up on things and have a lot of energy so they need to be taught not to jump up on people or be too boisterous.

Health

Boxers have a lifespan of about ten to twelve years. Unfortunately like any dog, Boxers do have specific health problems that their breed tends to suffer from. Boxers can develop heart conditions, hypothyroidism, degenerative myelopathy, and some cancers. Gastric dilation, intestinal problems, and allergies are a few other ailments that Boxers have been known to suffer from.

To help the Boxer stay healthy, owners must take the time to exercise the dog. Boxers love to be running or jogging companions. They can play for hours with children in the park as well.

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