If you want a dog that is a sensitive and gentle with your children, but a strong source of protection from criminals, you may want to consider a Boxer. The Boxer gets its name from its habit of using its front legs to box when it is fighting. These powerful dogs were originally used as hunting dogs, although they quickly became popular as police and military dogs in Europe. As people began to discover how devoted and loving the Boxer was to its family, this dog breed turned into a companion dog, as well.

       The Boxer didn't become popular in the United States until soldiers returning from fighting in World War II brought some of these dogs home with them. 

      Boxers are considered to be medium sized dogs, but have the strength of a big dog. A young, healthy Boxer is all muscle and energy and weighs in at fifty to eighty pounds. These dogs have a broad chest, a wide skull and a face similar to that of a Bulldog. Their big brown eyes are very expressive. 

    Boxers should be fawn or brindle with black mask like markings on their face. A dog with white markings is considered to be flashy. However, if a Boxer has more than one third of its body covered in white or is completely white, can not be considered show dog as it does not fit the standard. In many cases white Boxers are deaf.   

     The Boxer is not the right breed for you if you live in an apartment or very small home.  Boxer’s have lots of energy and need lots of exercise. They must have a yard that is securely fenced and must be high enough to prevent them from escaping as Boxers can easily jump a fence.   

     Boxers can get along well with other dogs but may not be the right situation for a small dog or a cat.  If you do have other dogs, the Boxer must be neutered at six months of age to keep aggression toward other dogs under control. Boxers are great with children, but an energetic young Boxer may be too much for a toddler to deal with.  In a family with a toddler they should always be supervised by an adult. The toddler may easily be knocked over by an enthusiastic young Boxer which may cause unintended injury to the child.  A young ,healthy and excited Boxer can knock over an adult. 

      Obedience training is a “must” to curb the energy of this powerful breed. This training socializes the puppy (teaches him/her to play nicely with other dogs), teaches you methods to control the puppy and gives you the opportunity to ask questions from a professional that has actually seen how your puppy behaves. They may help you with any corrections needed to manage the Boxer. Puppy class is a  necessity for this powerful breed. These dogs are intelligent and eager to please and should learn basic obedience commands quickly.

     You may want to consider advanced obedience and agility training for your Boxer, as well.  Boxer’s once trained make are patient and well behaved. 

     Boxers require very little grooming. Simply brush through your dog's sleek coat once a week to remove loose hair . You should also clean your dog's teeth and check his nails to see if they need to be trimmed.  

       Boxers eat a lot and should be feed with  dog food formulated for large dogs, as Boxers are prone to hip dysplasia. Boxers have relatively few other serious health problems. You may want to check for any history of heart or thyroid disease that may be inherited before buying a puppy.

      Boxers have been utilized as police dogs and as guide dogs for the blind. They make excellent family dogs but are also great guard dogs and as a needed companion.

Country Of Origin: Germany     It was bred for hunting.

Basic Characteristics :
 Color: Fawn and brindle    Eyes:  Brown
 Coat: Short and Smooth
 Size: 23” to 35”