All About Boxers

The Boxer is actually a mix of several breeds, including the Bulldog, Great Dane and Brabant Bullenbeisser, which is now extinct.

The breed was developed in Germany in the 1800's, and was originally used for hunting. Since the boxer is fast, hardy and powerful, it's ideal for hauling down large prey and getting in and out of sticky situations.

Later, those same physical traits led to the Boxer being used as a guard dog. After all, not only is the Boxer powerful, but it's also intelligent and loyal, making it perfect for guarding houses and families.

Today the Boxer is one of the most successful dogs on the planet. They can be found in thousands of homes, entertaining and loving thousands of families. In fact, they are one of the most popular breeds in America, probably because of their even temperament and majestic beauty.

The Boxer dog usually stands between 21' and 25' tall, with males being slightly larger than their female counterparts. They usually weigh anywhere from 60-80 pounds, and have thick necks and a large chest. The nose of the Boxer looks slightly pushed in, which some people find slightly comical. However, the jaw is square and extremely strong, making the Boxer ideal for catching and holding onto prey.

Because the nose is pushed in, the Boxer tends to have a slight overbite. Their colouring varies, but they're usually different shades of brindle, fawn or white. Their muzzles are usually black, but in some instances they can be white instead. Their eyes are surrounded by a black outline, which combined with a black muzzle can make them look like they're wearing a mask of sorts.

The boxer dog is a short haired dog, with a shiny coat that enhances its proud bearing. They're proud dogs, and their gait often portrays confidence, free of fear. Their twinkling eyes betray their intelligence, and their faces are capable of showing emotions, such as happiness, sadness, excitement and curiosity.

They truly are a handsome breed of dog, and even more so when cared for by a loving master.

Boxers are exuberant animals, full of energy and yes, mischief at times. They're intelligent animals, and they love children, making them ideal family animals.

Along with their intelligence comes a stubborn streak, making obedience training a good idea. I know my mom (who now has a purebred Boxer by the name of Jesse) put her dog through obedience training and it worked wonders.

While the boxer is a friendly dog, they do make very good guard dogs. They're generally protective of the family, and are sometimes stand-offish with strangers until they get to know them. However, they're not overly aggressive, and should be socialized at an early age to prevent them from becoming mean or shy.

Boxer dogs are loyal and often fearless. They love to run, romp, play and have fun. They make ideal companions for both individuals and families. You really couldn't ask for a better dog. The Boxer is everything most people look for in a dog - loyal, intelligent, energetic, cute and good with kids.

The Boxer, like many large purebred dogs are susceptible to a myriad of health problems. Probably the biggest health problem the Boxer faces is cancer, although most Boxer dogs live to be within 8-10 years of age.

Aortic Stenosis is a defect of the heart valve, which shows up sometimes in the larger breeds of dog, including Great Danes and Newfoundland dogs. In most cases, there is no outward sign that there is a problem. Other times, the vet may detect a slight irregularity in the heartbeat.

As the condition worsens, the dog may experience other outward signs of a problem, such as shortness of breath and coughing. In some cases, the dog's heart may fail, causing death.

Another health problem that the Boxer may face is bloat or gastric Torsion, which is basically a twisting of the stomach, which causes the gasses to be trapped, causing death. The symptoms can include pacing, unable to get comfortable, whining or other outward shows of being in pain, vomiting, drooling and swelling of the abdominal area.

The third health problem that Boxers may face is corneal ulcers. This disease usually only affects Boxers who are in the twilight of their lives, but it can be rather painful. Basically, it's an abnormality that affects the eyes, causing ulcers in the cornea. In some cases it can be cleared up, but usually it reoccurs in the future.

The Boxer isn't a breed that lives a terribly long time. Although they aren't the shortest lived of dogs, they are susceptible to quite a few health problems. However, this just means that you have to love them even more. Like anything, you never know when the end is going to come.

I do know from personal experience, that the Boxer is well worth it. I loved mine to death and beyond. Even now, while I write this, I'm getting misty eyed over Burr. He was a wonderful dog, although he wasn't a purebred and I was able to enjoy his love for longer than I would have if he had been the average purebred Boxer.

One thing about the boxer breed is that they're very energetic. If you don't exercise them on a regular basis, especially when they're younger, you may face digging and chewing problems.

Typically, Boxer pups are headstrong and stubborn. They have to be shown who the master is, and that's you. This is why most Boxer owners will tell you that it's best if you take it to a professional trainer. It will help you in the long run. With a dog as strong as the Boxer, you don't want to let it rule your house.

If properly trained and loved, the Boxer usually matures by the time it's two to three years old. This means that the Boxer in question comes into its own. You now own a mature, confident, well-adjusted Boxer that is a true asset to your family. From now until your boxer is about six years old is the golden years of your Boxers life. In every way that counts, your Boxer is in the prime of its life, so enjoy!

After six years old, your boxer will be hitting its senior years. As your Boxer ages, much like a human, you'll notice its energy levels dropping, and this is the stage that you have to be the most vigilant. The older your Boxer becomes, the more susceptible it will become to the health problems mentioned above.

Boxers thrive with attention and love. They're a very family oriented dog, so it's important that you make a point of spending quality time with your dog. They should be socialized properly, walked daily and loved every day of their lives. After all, they'll be loyal to you for the duration of their lives, so it's only fair that you return the favour.

I know this portion of the lens is going to be difficult to write. Burr was a wonderful dog. He weighed about 100 pounds in his prime, and looked much like a purebred boxer. The only difference was that he was a bit larger than the average Boxer and his nose wasn't as pushed in. However, his temperament and energy belonged to the Boxer breed. I'd have to say that while he wasn't a purebred, he had the soul of a Boxer.

I'd like to share a few stories here in honour of his memory. I may add some more stories later, but here's a sampling.

I used to wrestle with Burr constantly. When I was a preteen, I enjoyed watching wrestling on TV, and I made up names to go along with the moves, such as 'DD Burr'. He would always go along with the moves, and we had some great times wrestling in our living room.

One day I went outside while Burr was out there. He was two years old at the time. Fit, fast, smart and strong, Burr saw his opportunity for some revenge. I was wearing a jean jacket at the time, and Burr decided to take the wrestle to me. I was standing there unsuspecting when Burr made his move.

He closed and knocked me down. Playfully, he nipped and hauled on the sleeve of my jean jacket while I howled in surprise. No matter what I did, Burr wouldn't let me up. We must have wrestled out back for a half an hour, with Burr having the upper hand most of the time. Being outside, he definitely had the advantage over his slow, human adversary.

Of course, Burr never hurt me, but he did rip the sleeves of my jean jacket up!

The Sigh

Burr had a strange habit that belonged uniquely to him. If he was sleeping and someone in the immediate family (me, my sister or parents) touched his side, he would sighin contentment.

The funny thing was that even if he were rendered senseless by drugs, he would still sigh. He wouldn't do it for anyone else, even if they were a close friend of the family.

Only family.

The Nip and Run

I used to pick on my little sister. I mean, what good older brother doesn't?

One day, I had my best friend over to the house and we began a pillow fight. My parents owned a very large pillow, and my sister walked in at the wrong moment. Mike, my friend, decided to wallop my sister with it. Of course, she ran upstairs crying, and I chased her up to see if she was okay, leaving Mike downstairs with Burr.

Big mistake...sorta.

As I was checking on my sister, Burr decided to take matters into his own paws. I heard Mike screaming, and ran downstairs only to be met by the sight of Burr standing beneath Mike, nipping at his...nether regions.

You might think Burr was a barbarian, but the funny thing was that he never touched Mike's flesh. However, he was wearing track pants at the time, and the ball area was shredded. He was howling, and Burr wasn't making a sound, except the gnashing of his teeth.

Mike was unharmed, but let's just say that he respected the family a bit more after that!