The boxer dog (Deutscher Boxer), also known as "German boxer" or simply "boxer" is one of the dog breeds of Molossian type most popular in the world and is born from the cross between a Brabant bullenbeisser and a Bulldog, currently extinct breeds. We must know that the boxer breed first appeared in Munich (Germany) in a kennel known as "Von Dom" and that later the boxer dog was used during World War II as a messenger war dog, delivering communication cables, and as ambulance dog, transporting bodies of wounded soldiers.
This dog breed stands out for its multiple qualities, therefore, in this new breed file on our site we will explain everything you need to know about the boxer dog: origins, characteristics, character, education, he alth and care. But also, at the end of the sheet you will find videos and photos so you can learn to recognize him. You'll fall in love!
Origin of the boxer dog
Boxers are direct descendants of the bulldog and the Little Brabant or " bullenbeisser ", a breed developed by hunters. The bullenbeisser was mainly used for big game hunting , helping hunters to corner and hold down prey. The best specimens were used for breeding and, apart from selecting them for their ability in this task, they also sought to enhance certain morphological traits, such as the wide snout, the upturned nose, or the strong bite, qualities that helped them perform better. his homeworks.[1] The breed was developed in Germany , thanks to Friedrich Robert, Elard König and R. Höpner, founders of the first "Deutscher Boxer Club" in 1895. [2]
The American Kennel Club (ACK) was the first international canine federation to recognize the Boxer in 1904 [3], later was recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1948 [4] and finally by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 1955 [1]
The breed was largely ignored until World War II, when the Boxer was used as a war dog to perform various functions, including They collect bodies and send messages. Likewise, the breed was also introduced to German official bodies[4] Later, the Boxer breed gained popularity and was especially in demand in the United States. Today boxers are excellent companion dogs
To finish, we could not fail to mention the origin of the name, which has generated various hypotheses among fans and lovers of the race. According to the UKC, the term "boxer" is of British origin and is due to the breed's predisposition to use its front legs, just like boxers[4]The truth is that, indeed, the boxer is a dog that uses these two extremities on a regular basis. However, another hypothesis indicates that the term derives from the word "boxl" in German, which was used to colloquially designate the bullenbeisser.
Boxer Characteristics
The boxer dog is medium to large in size and is recognized by various canine federations. It stands out mainly for its robust appearance, developed muscles and characteristic movements. It has a strong and heavy head, along with a powerful jaw, with great jaw pressure. The snout is small and usually shows a black mask that covers the face.
Years ago, we used to see the Boxer breed with cropped tails and ears, fortunately, this practice is prohibited in most countries and usually generates rejection by the population. Let us remember that tail and ear docking in dogs causes pain (it is a mutilation), the possible appearance of behavioral problems and even impairs socialization with other dogs and animals. The neck of the boxer dog is strong, round and muscular. The broad chest gives it a great presence. They usually have very short, shiny and soft hair.
The size of the boxer dog is between 57 and 63 cm. at the withers in males and between 53 and 59 cm. at the withers in females, while the average weight of the male boxer exceeds 30 kilograms and that of females is around 25 kilograms. The colors of the Boxer dog range from brown to black to brindle. Some specimens with spots usually appear, we can also be surprised by a white boxer or albino boxer, and although they exist, they are not accepted by the International Cinological Federation (FCI), by the American Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club.
Boxer Dog Character
Boxer dogs stand out for their faithful, alert, active and friendly nature They are especially sensitive and kind dogs when well socialized, in addition, they can become especially protective and patient with the children, whom they love and care for. However, it should be noted that it is a breed with great physical strength, so games with the little ones should always be supervised. We are talking about a curious and affectionate dog, which creates a very special bondwith its guardians, from which it does not separate, since we are talking about a breed that is especially attached and accommodating.
The Boxer breed can fit into many different types of families, whether or not they include children, as long as they have an active lifestyle and enthusiastic, that they can offer this dog the doses of stimulation, exercise and activity that it requires. In addition, he should not spend a lot of time alone, since we are talking about a close and affectionate dog, which can become destructive in the face of boredom and loneliness. For this reason, we do not advise leaving him alone for more than 6 hours a day.
Boxer dog care
There are several cares for boxer dogs that we must take into account when providing a good quality of life for this dog. Although it is not a long-haired dog that requires daily brushing to remove knots and tangles, we should pay attention to the care of the Boxer's hair, because apart from removing dirt and hair dead with a rubber glove, we must clean it daily babas y legañasIt also requires a regular body hygiene routine, so we advise you to bathe it approximately every two months, paying special attention to bathing your Boxer puppy, which should be especially positive and delicate.
The boxer dog requires a minimum of three daily walks, in which he can sniff, socialize and relieve himself in complete comfort. In addition, we must guarantee him small sessions of physical exercise, so that he can continue to develop his muscles and channel stress. It is a dog that is especially playful, for this reason, we can buy frisbees, balls and other accessories that it likes. Daily activity will help maintain his weight, which should also be monitored with a proper diet, to avoid being overweight or anorexia.
In addition, it will be essential to stimulate him mentally and physically so that he is happy and has adequate emotional well-being, in addition, we will observe that he responds wonderfully to the attention given to him. The properly socialized Boxer tends to get along easily with other pets and loves to investigate the scent of plants and various objects. He can live perfectly in an apartment as well as in a big house, as long as he is provided with the necessary walks and exercise according to each individual. To finish with the care section, we suggest you visit our article about how much it costs to maintain a Boxer.
Boxer education
The Boxer breed is ranked 48th on Stanley Coren's Smartest Dogs list, referring to him as a dog of average intelligence in working and obedience. Even so, thanks to the deep bond that it creates with its guardians, the Boxer is a dog that usually responds very positively to basic education, training and canine skills, as long as positive reinforcement is used.
The training of the boxer dog should begin early, when it is still a puppy, socializing it with all kinds of people, animals and environments, thus guaranteeing a character balanced in his adult stage and at the same time avoiding the appearance of fears and other unwanted behaviors. Once the socialization period is over, around three months of life, we will begin to teach him the basic orders of obedience, essential for a correct understanding with people and to be able to exercise some control over the dog. Later, when the boxer dog has fully assimilated basic obedience, we can initiate him in canine skills or in learning various tricks, with the aim of keeping his mind stimulated and enrich your day to day.
The most common behavior problems in the breed are destructiveness, aggressiveness and reactivity, generally caused by lack of companionship, stimulation or socialization at their earliest ages. In any of these situations, we recommend visiting a dog trainer.
Boxer He alth
Statistics indicate that the Boxer breed shows a certain predisposition to suffer from different hereditary diseases[5]being the most common and relevant the following:
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
- Corneal dystrophy
- Subaortic stenosis
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Degenerative myelopathy
In addition, because they belong to those considered to be brachycephalic dog breeds, the boxer dog should not perform extreme exercise or be exposed to extreme heat, since in both cases it is susceptible to heat stroke, an emergency serious veterinary that can put the life of the dog at risk. For all these reasons, it is essential to carry out regular veterinary visits, every 6 or 12 months at most, as well as to strictly follow the vaccination schedule and the periodic deworming In general, the life expectancy of boxer dogs is around 10 and age 13.
Curiosities
- The first specimen of the breed registered in the LOE (Spanish Stud Book) was "Prinz", a Catalan dog.
- The boxer dog is not considered a potentially dangerous breed in Spain, although in some specific communities it is.
