Boxer: Your Complete Guide
If you’ve ended up here, chances are you want to learn more about the boxer dog breed, not the sport of boxing. While they share a name with boxing athletes, the boxer dog breed has nothing to do with fighting or the world of boxing. In fact, you’ll find that most boxers are peaceful dogs who would rather hang around the house with you than engage in hand-to-hand combat.
That said, these medium-sized dogs do have an imposing appearance, fierce bark, and ferocious loyalty to their owners. This can make it hard to tell if a boxer is the right dog for you.
Whether you own a boxer and want to learn more about them, or if you plan on adopting a boxer in the near future, you’re in the right place. We take you through what this dog breed is, where they came from, and anything else you should know before taking one home with you.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about boxers.
Quick Look at the Boxer
Below is a quick look at the boxer breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 21-25 inches, 40-70 pounds |
| Coat Type | Short, straight, coarse |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding | |
| Temperament | Loyal, alert, protective, energetic |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence |  |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 10-12 years |
What Is the History of Boxers?
Boxers have been around since the 1800s. They’re a mastiff-type dog that was developed in Germany to help with hunting and tracking. They came from the Bullenbeisser breed, which is now extinct, which was mixed with the English mastiff from Britain. The Bullenbeisser was popular in Germany for centuries because they were excellent at hunting bears, boar, and even deer. They were tasked with holding the animals down until someone could arrive and capture them.
While the Bullenbeisser was a popular breed, a few Germans wanted to stabilize a mix between the Bullenbeisser and English mastiff in 1894. These breeders were Elard König, Friedrich Robert, and R. Höpner. These breeders put the boxer dog breed on display at a dog show, and the dog caught the eye of many people. Just one year later, they founded the boxer club. From this point on, the boxer breed became popular throughout Europe and the United States. In fact, the American Kennel Club recognized the dog in 1904.
Throughout the 1900s, boxers saw extensive use in World War I and World War II as guard dogs, attack dogs, and pack carriers. While the breed was around for a long time during these wars, they didn’t become popular as household pets until after the world wars. Most of their popularity can be attributed to soldiers bringing them home, and they rose in popularity as guard dogs.
What Do Boxers Look Like?
Boxers look like many other mastiff breeds, but with a few exceptions. You’ll find that boxers tend to have a scrunched-up face with floppy ears and loose jowls that extend past their mouth a little bit. Their eyes tend to be black or brown, and they’re quite large compared to the rest of their facial features.
When it comes to the color of their coats, many boxers are a combination of brown and white. However, the brown part of their coat may have stripes or splotches of black. The shade of brown can be closer to the fawn side or closer to the dark brown side, so it depends on the dog.
When it comes to the boxer’s size, most boxers are medium-sized dogs. They have long legs, and you can see muscle definition through their short coats. Therefore, while they’re on the lankier side, most boxers are strong and look athletic.
What Size Is a Boxer?
Boxers are medium-sized dogs. Male boxers stand at around 22-25 inches, and their female counterparts are around 21-24 inches. When it comes to how much they weigh, males are slightly larger than females. Male boxers weigh 60-70 pounds, and female boxers weigh 55-64 pounds.
What Is a Boxer’s Coat Type and Length?
Boxers are short-haired dogs that have a straight coat that hugs their body. Their hair is coarse to the touch, so you’ll find that it may feel rough or harsh to pet them. This coat acts as a protective layer and can become scraggly if you let it grow out too long. Therefore, it’s important to keep up with your boxer’s grooming needs and properly care for their coats.
What Is a Boxer’s Temperament?
Boxers have an energetic and enthusiastic temperament. While they have an affectionate side, you’ll also find that they love to play, wrestle, and accompany you on long walks or runs. Boxers are also known for being loyal, friendly, and kind to all members of the family, regardless of their age. This makes them great for most families who have the time to let boxers expend their near-limitless energy reserves.
Are Boxers Good With Kids?
Boxers are great with kids. They have a ton of energy, so if one of your children is high-energy and you can’t seem to tire them out, adopting a boxer might be your ticket to a good night’s sleep. In fact, boxers work well with younger children and teenagers because they can tire each other out.
That said, you should still watch your children when they interact with a boxer. While they’re good with children, that doesn’t mean they can’t hurt them by accident. Thankfully, the chances of that happening are low.
Are Boxers Good With Other Animals?
Boxers have a slight prey drive, so if you want them to be good with other animals, it’s important to train them from a young age. We recommend socialization training, which exposes your boxer to other dogs. You can do this through daycare, boarding, or bringing your boxer to a dog park. Once boxers are socialized and feel like members of the family, you won’t have to worry about them being a problem with other animals.
Are Boxers Aggressive?
Boxers are not aggressive dogs. They don’t actively show signs of aggression, and in most cases, they won’t act aggressively unless there is a good reason. This can be anything from feeling threatened to a stranger approaching your home. Boxers may also have behaviors that can be mistaken for aggression, like growling when playing or jumping around. Aggressive tendencies can also be worked on through dedication to training and positive reinforcement. Therefore, aggression isn’t something you usually have to worry about with boxers.
Do Boxers Bark?
Boxers bark, and it is a loud and imposing bark. If you live in any type of shared housing, this bark might be enough to make your neighbors or the landlord angry. Thankfully, boxers don’t bark excessively and you can work on reducing their barking through training programs targeted at stopping barking.
Are Boxers Affectionate?
Boxers are affectionate dogs but not the most affectionate. They love to hang around with the family, and they will stay close to you. However, they’re not always the biggest cuddlers, and they may display their affection through acts of loyalty instead. For example, they may sit by your front door to protect your home or jump in between you and strangers. While not traditional affection, this is their way of showing you a little affection.
Are Boxers Intelligent?
Boxers are smart and clever dogs. They’re smart enough to be trained to work alongside police and military units, so they’re a notch above your average canine when it comes to intelligence. Boxers are also curious and love to learn new things, which is why you may find them exploring your home or backyard. We recommend dog-proofing your home as well to avoid them escaping. Thankfully, many boxers are smart enough to find their way back, even if they do get away.
Are Boxers Energetic?
Boxers are high-energy dogs. This applies to boxers as puppies and also boxers in adulthood. At times, it may even seem like they have limitless energy. For this reason, you have to commit a few hours each day to playing with a boxer to bring their energy levels down. Otherwise, boxers will keep you up all night and want to play too often.
That said, if you have children, this can be a great way for you to tire out your dog and your children because they can match the energy levels of adolescents and teenagers.
Are Boxers Easy to Train?
Boxers are easy dogs to train, but you have to focus on using positive reinforcement and earning their respect during training. We recommend starting with something like obedience training to develop the foundation of their training. From there, you can start to move to more complex training routines that include off-leash training, agility training, and much more.
Boxers are also smart enough to handle most work applications, and they can even function as service dogs. Therefore, you shouldn’t have any issues training a boxer once you get the hang of it. In fact, they need mental stimulation, so we always recommend training a boxer once they’re around six months old.
Are Boxers Good Watchdogs?
Boxers are some of the best watchdogs that you can find. When trained properly, boxers are alert, efficient, and loud enough to scare away intruders and strangers. Boxers are also loyal dogs and have no problem charging into danger to save their companions. Their combination of trainability, loyalty, and dedication to keeping their families safe makes them excellent watchdogs.
Are Boxers Good Service Dogs?
Boxers make great service dogs due to their trainability, intelligence, and ability to remember dozens of commands. They can be trained to help people with physical and mental disabilities, so there aren’t many limitations on what a boxer can and can’t be trained to do. Plus, boxers have a strong enough body and enough height to open doors, pull wheelchairs, and guide people through crowds if they have anxiety.
Boxers can also be emotional support dogs and therapy dogs. As an emotional support dog, they can bond with one person and treat loneliness, depression, and other mental health disorders. As therapy dogs, boxers can comfort groups of people in nursing homes, schools, and hospital settings.
Overall, due to their trainability and loyalty, boxers are moldable and function well as any type of working dog.
How to Care for a Boxer?
Caring for a boxer isn’t that hard, but you have to watch their health and keep up with their grooming needs. For their health, you’ll want to feed them a healthy diet, get them plenty of exercise, and take them to the vet at least once per year. When it comes to maintaining their coat, brush them a few times per week, check their nails, and inspect their ears and skin for any signs of affection.
Do You Need to Groom a Boxer?
Boxers need to be groomed by you and a professional. If you’re not a professional, you should brush them a few times per week, brush their teeth, and make sure their nails are trimmed; an active lifestyle can help with their nails. That said, their short coats don’t require excessive care, so their grooming needs are minimal.
Still, we recommend taking them to a professional for a bath every two to three months. You can also bathe them at home if you use a mild shampoo; check with your vet to see what will work best for your boxer.
Do Boxers Shed?
Boxers don’t shed that much, especially compared to other breeds. Furthermore, because they have short coats, you’ll barely notice any hair accumulating around your home. However, you will notice boxers shedding during seasonal changes, so brush them frequently during this period to prevent hair buildup. Unfortunately, boxers aren’t hypoallergenic dogs.
What Health Problems Do Boxers Have?
Boxers don’t have a lot of health issues, but there are some health conditions you have to keep an eye on. One of the most common problems boxers face is hip dysplasia, which develops early in life. This condition occurs when the hip joint doesn’t develop properly, impacting their health and activity levels. If you’re caring for a boxer with hip dysplasia, make sure you consult with a vet for the best course of action.
Degenerative Myelopathy is another condition that impacts boxers. This condition impacts the spinal cord and causes muscle weakness, stability issues, and a lack of coordination. Unfortunately, it’s similar to Lou Gehrig’s disease, and treatment can only slow down the condition’s progression.
Obesity, bloat, and hearing loss are other conditions your boxers may struggle with as they get older. Some foods may irritate their stomach, especially as they get older. You’ll see the bloat and notice a reduction in energy, so speak with your vet if it persists, even with a dietary change. For obesity and hearing loss, you have to manage their food intake and work with a vet to see if there are any hearing aids you can use for your boxer.
How Long Do Boxers Live?
Boxers can live long and healthy lives if you care for them properly. Helping them eat right, managing their exercise, and taking trips to the vet can help them live for 10-12 years. That said, this is only the average, so don’t be shocked if your canine companion wants to stick around longer.
What Should a Boxer Eat?
It’s important for boxers to eat a diet that consists of high-quality food. It should be balanced and include carbohydrates for energy, protein for muscle growth, and fat for energy reserves and maintaining weight. Since they’re medium-sized dogs, look for kibble and wet food that’s formulated for dogs of this size. You can also feed them a home-cooked diet if you include chicken, beef, fish, and organ meats. While a raw diet is also possible for a boxer, consult with a vet before going this route.
Is a Boxer the Right Dog for Me?
Boxers are known for being great work dogs, so it’s important for their caretakers to have something for them to do, or they can grow anxious. They make great service dogs, guard dogs, and herding dogs, and they can even work well as seeing-eye dogs. In fact, many boxers were first used as police dogs.
While boxers are great for working, they’re also loyal companions and adapt well to family life. They can play with kids and other animals, and they can even keep your family safe. If you have a way to keep them stimulated, these dogs can be great for anyone, but they are likely not the best match for first-time dog owners. Having a small apartment with limited outdoor accessibility can also be a problem for boxers, so keep that in mind before adopting.