This entry was posted on 2014-07-01 by Schalk.

The Boxer originated in Germany in the 1800s and is related to the bulldog. They were originally bred to serve as hunting companions. This breed is medium in size, with a square, short muzzle and short hair. As the boxer is very strong and agile they were the ideal dog for chasing down and grasping on to large pray until the hunter was able to reach it. The boxer is classified as a working dog. In both past and present this breed has worked with police K9 units, military as a messenger and pack carrier, guard and attack dogs and as guides for the blind. This breed is an ideal pet as it's intelligent; devoted to those it’s attached to and has the ability to be calm around those who are small or disabled.

Personality and Temperament

This breed is ideal for an active family as its curious, outgoing, high-spirited and dedicated. It is very good at following commands and is responsive to the needs of its owner/family. The boxer usually does well with other pets and dogs, but may tend to be aggressive towards dogs of the same gender or strange dogs. Otherwise, there shouldn’t be any other evidence of aggression when introducing them to strangers. At the boxers worst, it would probably just act differently around new people. When the boxer is more familiar with someone, they may get overly excited and will have to be well trained from a young age not to jump on people.
This breed is intelligent, highly social and has a very playful attitude so playing is something that should be encouraged. These characteristics also make them a great companion for exercise and for keeping the family inspired.

Traits:

•    Other names: German Boxer, Deutscher Boxer
•    Weight: Male: 30–32 kg, Female: 25–27 kg
•    Height: Male: 57–63 cm, Female: 53–60 cm
•    Coat: Short, shiny, smooth, close-lying
•    Colour: Fawn or brindle, black mask, with or without white markings, and white
•    Litter size: Average 6–8 puppies
•    Life span: Average 8–10 years

Physical Characteristics

The boxer has a squarely proportioned body that is tightly muscular. This breed is very well known for its blunt and broad muzzle and an undershot jaw (the lower jaw is longer then the upper jaw). The boxer is classified as brachycephalic and isn’t as extreme as the bulldog. (The under bite is not as pronounced and the muzzle is not as short). When the boxer’s mouth is closed the teeth and tongue are not visible.

When the boxer stands up straight its chest is puffed as if with pride. They have equal muscle size throughout their bodies (not one muscle is overly muscular). As they have a wide gait they can cover a large amount of ground. The coat, which is shiny and short, comes in several shades of fawn, which span from browns, to shades of tan/yellow, to reds. Another colouring that is seen as acceptable is brindle, where any shade of fawn is stripped by black. Additional markings are known as “flash” they are white and can be seen on the paws, chest or face. These white markings can be in just one of the areas or all of them.

The boxer may appear to always be watching for something as they constantly have an alert expression on their face, even when asleep. The strong jaw and hefty appearance make this dog a very good watchdog. This breed really stands apart from other breeds with its unusual combination of strength, agility and stylish elegance.

Care

As the boxer’s coat is short, a brush and a good wash now and again will keep your boxer looking good. Daily mental and physical exercise is a must, this breed loves to run. The best exercise for this breed would be a long walk or a good jog. This dog can’t live outside and it doesn’t do well in hot weather. Equal time spent indoors and outdoors will be the ideal environment for this breed. Some boxers may snore.

Health

The average life span of a Boxer is 8-10 years and they suffer from minor aliments like gastric torsion, hypothyroidism, corneal erosion and colitis. The diseases they may suffer from are Boxer cardiomyopathy, canine hip dysplasia (CHD) and subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS). There have been cases where brain tumors and degenerative myelopathy have also been seen to affect this breed. Some white boxers can be deaf. There are three types of tests available to diagnose these health problems hip, thyroid and cardiac.

History & Background

The present day boxer was derived from the Danziger Bullenbeiser and Brabenter Bullenbeiser, which are two extinct central European breeds. Bullenbeiser were used to help hunters catch large game, deer, small bear and wild boar. The dog would hang on the prey and by time for the hunter to come a kill the animal. In several European countries the popular sport at the time was bull baiting. Germans favored the large mastiff-like dogs and the English favored the bulldog. Both these dogs were strong and agile with a powerful broad jaw and recessed nose.

German hunters in and around the 1830s, decided to create a new breed by mixing Bulldogs and terriers for tenacity and Bullenbeisers with mastiff-like dogs for size. They created a crossbreed that was an agile and hardy dog with a streamline body and a strong grip. When bull baiting became illegal via British law, Germans mainly used the dogs in the slaughter yards to take charge of the cattle.

The first Boxer club, Deutscher Boxer Club, was established in 1896, after a Boxer was entered into an exhibition the previous year. The name Boxer was thought to have originated from the German word, Boxl as they used to give them this nickname at the slaughterhouses. This was among one of the first breeds to function as a police or military dog in Germany, later the dog was seen more as being a show dog, utility dog and a family pet by 1900. In 1904 the American Kennel club identified the breed. Only in the 1940’s did the breed actually gain in popularity. This breed has become one of the most popular companions in the United States, it is currently ranked 6th as the most popular breed in the U.S.

Nutrition

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