Dog's Help

The boxer is an active, athletic, medium-sized breed of dog which is usually suitable for big apartments and house with average or big-sized yards. The breed was originally developed in Germany where it was conceived as a cross between the English bulldog and the now extinct Bullenbeisser breed.

Boxers are characterized by their heads, an inheritance acquired from the English bulldog. It has a compact body and there has to be a specific proportion to be maintained between the head and the body in a well bred boxer. Moreover, the front legs are straight and parallel in a well bred boxer.

Their neck is round, strong, and muscular. What is missing is the dewlap. The jaw of a boxer is characterized by the lower jaw protruding more than the upper one. Further, once the jaws are closed one cannot see the teeth as well as the tongue of a properly bred boxer. Also, the tail is carried high.

In terms of height, adult male Boxers can be between 22 and 25 inches (57 and 63 cm) tall at the withers. On the other hand, adult females can be between 21 to 23½ inches (53 and 60 cm). In terms of weight, an adult Boxer can weigh between 55 and 70 lbs (25 and 32 kg).

The energetic, playful temperament of the breed makes it ideal for homes. If they are trained properly then they can get along with anybody and everybody, and that includes other pets of the house. This makes their presence quite appealing as most dogs do not like competition when it comes to grabbing the attention and care of their owners. However, female boxers do fight but their fight is more about establishing their dominance over other animals. Otherwise, they are quite playful.

Boxers have their own share of health problems. Some ailments that occur frequently in them are sub-aortic thyroid, stenosis, cardiomyopathy and other heart problems. Once they attain the age of eight years they are more likely to acquire tumors. On some occasions, boxers can also become prone to hip dysplasia and even epilepsy. They are also prone to allergies of the skin.

Boxers are a highly active breed. Hence, we need to control their activities or else they can damage household items. They need to be taught to control their energy, and especially not to jump at people, something which they extremely enjoy. Also, their training should be started at a very young age. The handler should also make it a point to be firm and consistent in his/her training. Even after the training has been accomplished, control would be required to keep the dog in line. Hence, as an owner you will have to be a little dominating.