Boxer Breed Focus
The Boxer is a distinctive and muscular dog that originated in Germany during the 19th century. The bred was developed by crossing the English Bulldog with the now extinct Bullenbeisser, an extremely powerful dog used for hunting wild boar. Although it is now one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States, the Boxer took some time to achieve this position. Introduced to in US in the early 1900s, it remained quite an obscure breed here until after the Second World War.
The initial impression of the Boxer is one of power. These powerfully-built dogs have a droopy facial expression with an undershot jaw, giving them a fearsome appearance. They are short haired and usually fawn and white in color, although Brindle is also quite common.
Standing 25 inches at the withers and weighing as much as 70 pounds the Boxer, has a strong barrel chest and a very strong, squarish jaw. It looks very much like the middle-weight pugilist that its name suggests.Traditionally, the tail was docked, and the ears were sometimes cropped. However, these practices have been made illegal in many countries and have fallen out of favor in others.
Despite their tough guy looks, Boxers are generally sweet-natured, friendly, and playful. They are particularly gentle with children and fiercely protective of their owners. They are however, cautious around strangers and ready to defend their human family against any threat. These characteristics make the Boxer an excellent guard dog.
Training a Boxer can be a bit of a challenge. It’s not that they lack intelligence, but rather that the can be quite stubborn when the mood takes them. The are however eager to please, so with patience, and a method based on reward and positive reinforcement, you will succeed.
Unfortunately, this breed is prone to a number of inherited diseases, that can include, skin tumors, heart murmurs, digestive problems, hypothyroidism, progressive axonopathy, hip dysplasia and cornea ulcers. The Boxer lives 10 to 12 years on average.
Grooming a Boxer is an easy task. All it takes is a good brush down, once or twice per week to keep the coat in peak condition.
In addition you’ll want to brush and clean the teeth weekly with a special canine toothpaste. You will also want to keep the nails clipped. Many dog owners don’t like doing this, so you can ask your vet or a professional dog groomer to do it for you.
If you’re thinking of adopting a Boxer you’ll need to be prepared to meet the dog’s exercise needs. These are energetic dogs, who need at least a long walk every day. You should also involve your Boxer in games, as they are quite playful dogs.
This is an excellent, all-round family pet – loyal, affectionate, playful and protective. It is no surprise that the breed’s popularity continues to grow, year on year.
If you’re stuck for puppy names, for your Boxer, I’d recommend that you check out Puppy Names HQ, an online database that has thousands of excellent dog names including a huge list of cool dog names.
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