Boxers are rather animated and playful dogs that many people love for their distinctive appearance. It’s said that boxers are descendants of extinct bullenbeisser breeds that were crossed with Bulldog, Mastiff, and maybe even Great Dane.
Boxers were originally used as mastiff hunting dogs and hailed from Germany in the 19th century.
Even though their breed name sounds decently intimidating, Boxers are lovers and not fighters. While they were briefly used for fighting many years ago, that’s not entirely their strong suit.
Boxers need to feel loved in return, through kisses and hugs, and are happiest when they are part of a family with children. Because of their kind, compassionate, and caring demeanor, Boxers make incredible service dogs. They are especially wonderful as guide dogs for people who are blind or suffer from seizures as they are very alert and watchful.
Depending on your preference, Boxers come in a variety of different colours like white, brown, black, and brindle.
Those who own a Boxer tend to stick with the breed as it’s easy to fall in love with their energetic and playful demeanor. However, like other breeds, there are health issues and exercise requirements that need to be considered.
Boxers are very high-energy, friendly towards people and other animals, devoted, loyal, brave, and animated. They are also fearless, which is why it’s important to keep a close eye on your Boxer when out on hikes or around bodies of water. Boxers are extremely intelligent and love to be intellectually stimulated through treat toys and puzzles, especially as they are from the working group. Their loving and affectionate nature makes them a great furry companion.
Despite their enormous size, Boxers are huge cuddlers and love to be held like a baby. If you aren’t a huge fan of snuggling your dog, then a Boxer might not be the best choice. Breeds like Basenjis, Bloodhounds, Chow Chows, and Salukis don’t require as much physical contact and affection as Boxers.
Boxers are extremely smart and love to work on tricks with their owners. But even though Boxers are willing to learn, they become bored quite easily. This means that during training, owners need to get a little creative so that their Boxer doesn’t become too stubborn.
Since Boxers are gentle, loyal, and very affectionate, they make great family dogs. They are careful toward children and can become quite protective (in a nonaggressive way) of their human family unit. As they become so protective of their family members, it’s important that they are well socialised as puppies.
Their ideal home is an active family with a large yard so that it can run and play fetch. Boxers require 2 to 4 hours of exercise each day, so it’s best to have someone working from home or to hire a dog walker to visit throughout the day. If a Boxer is not adequately exercised or intellectually stimulated, it can become destructive in the home as an outlet for its pent-up energy. Boxers thrive in homes where someone is typically present and able to engage with them as they tend to act up when they are bored. Once a Boxer feels at-home and comfortable with their human counterparts, they will appear content, relaxed, and joyful.
When it comes to grooming, the Boxer breed is quite low maintenance. Since they shed, they don’t require frequent haircuts. Similar to cats, Boxers spend time grooming themselves. If you’re wanting to minimise the amount that your Boxer sheds, brush them with a grooming bristle brush or mitt every few days. They really only require a trip to the groomers when they get smelly and need a good shampoo.
Hypothyroidism is a disorder of the thyroid gland which is believed to be a cause of issues including epilepsy, hair loss, obesity, lethargy and skin conditions.
This is a disorder that can be quite easily treated through a dog’s diet and medication.
Hip Dysplasia is an inherited condition that means the thighbone doesn’t fit snuggly in the hip joint.
The symptoms are generally pain and lameness which will vary in severity and can be present in one or both rear legs.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for the disorder to lead to hip replacement.
Make sure you ask any breeder if the puppy’s parents have been tested and cleared for Hip Dysplasia. If they have not, or the issue is present in one or both, find another breeder.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that is often, but not always, inherited.
The condition causes mild or severe seizures which may show themselves as unusual behaviour such as running frantically as if being chased, staggering, hiding, or even by falling down, limbs rigid, and losing consciousness.
Although seizures are frightening and saddening to watch, the long-term prognosis for sufferers is generally very good.
If you suspect your dog has epilepsy, take your dog to the vet for proper diagnosis and treatment as there could be other reasons for seizures.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a progressive disease that affects the spinal cord, specifically the part that communicates between the brain the hind legs.
Dogs who suffer from DM cannot move their hind legs properly and the disease progresses to the point when the dog can no longer walk at all.
Unfortunately, there is usually no treatment and affected dogs are often put to sleep, however this isn’t always the case. In very rare cases, the condition is down to a lack of Vitamin-12 and Vitamin-E. In these cases, with supplements, the condition may be stabilised.
Bloat doesn’t sound too serious, but if it’s left untreated it can be deadly for your dog. Large, deep-chested dogs are more commonly affected than smaller breeds.
Bloat causes the stomach to swell with gas and then twist. The dog can’t belch or vomit to release the gas, blood flow to the heart is impeded, blood pressure drops, and the dog goes into shock.
To avoid bloat, split their feeds into multiple smaller meals through the day instead of one large portion. You must also avoid exercise for at least half an hour to an hour after eating. Another cause can be drinking too much water rapidly, so keep a watchful eye on that as well.
Symptoms of Gastric Dilation Volvulus are a swollen abdomen, excessive drooling, dry retching, lethargy and a rapid heart rate.
Without immediate medical attention, bloat can be fatal, so if you notice any of these symptoms, take your dog to the vet immediately.
Dogs suffer from allergies in much the same way that humans do with the three main types being food, contact, and inhalant.
As the saying goes – prevention is better than a cure.
Treatment for food allergies is as simple as eliminating certain foods from their diets.
Contact allergies can be anything from shampoos, to flea powders, and other chemicals. If you notice your pet has had a reaction, try a new product with different ingredients.
Inhalant allergies are caused by airborne allergens such as pollen and dust. This is a difficult one to avoid, but you can try to do so with vet recommended medications and environmental changes.