This noble working dog is a good guard dog and family pet. They have great characters, and are fun to be around!
Thought to be descended from an 19th Century German hunting dog called a Bullenbeisser crossed with Bulldogs, Mastiff’s and maybe Terriers, the Boxer is a dog of clean lines, short, sleek coat and a wonderfully expressive face. They need lots of exercise every day as they are a large, muscular, energetic breed that loves company and things to do.
They arrived in UK in the 1930’s and are a fearless, loyal, loving, playful, intelligent and busy breed, that’s popular worldwide. They have been used as police dogs and assistance dogs in the past and their intelligence means they need to be well trained and be given lots of time and attention from their family. They are natural guard dogs, good with children but can become over-protective if not socialised fully when young.
They are great companions but can be destructive if left alone to get bored. They have a shortened muzzle so aren’t great at coping with hot temperatures and some snort, snore and drool.
Pet profile
A loyal, energetic fun-living dog with an expressive face and great guarding instincts.
- Size: large sized 56 – 61 cm tall (22 – 24 inches at the shoulder)
- Weight: 22 - 36 KG (50 – 80 Ibs)
- Life expectancy: about 8 - 10 years
Exercise and nutrition
Boxers need lots of time, attention and training from an early age, which can be a challenge as they are boisterous when young. They need about 1-2 hours exercise a day, every day, once they reach adulthood. They are energetic and curious so when left alone will need to have toys to engage their brain or they can become bored and destructive.
They love to play, joining every game with maximum energy! They can be comical, making them great family pets for busy families with lots of time to give.
Boxers can have quite sensitive stomachs and so need a high-quality food fed according to manufacturer’s instructions and their life stage. Many can’t tolerate food containing grain so finding a good quality feed is essential. As a large breed they can be prone to bloat so it’s best not to feed them just before or after a strenuous walk. Any change to your Boxer’s diet should be done gradually to avoid tummy upsets.
Common health problems and illnesses
Buying your Boxer puppy from a reputable, licenced breeder who screens their breeding dogs for health problems is the best way to ensure your puppy is healthy.
Most responsibly bred Boxers are healthy, but parent dogs should have their hip scores assessed. Under the Kennel Club/British Veterinary Association Scheme your dog’s hips will be x-rayed by a vet and the results reviewed by a panel of experts. A certificate will be issued to certify the dog’s hip scores. Each of the breeding dog’s hips will be given a score out of 53. The combined score of good breeding dogs should be on or below the breed average. The combined hip score breed average for Boxers in UK is 12.
Boxer breeding dogs should also have their heart’s tested for signs of aortic stenosis or cadiomyopathy. These are hereditary diseases you can read more about below. To ensure your Boxer has the best health care if they have an accident, fall ill or develop one of the conditions discussed in this section, take out dog insurance while your puppy is young, before they develop any problems.
This hereditary heart condition is caused by an obstruction below the aortic valve. This causes an obstruction to blood flow into the aorta and the rest of the body. This is a serious condition that can result in sudden death. Dogs with this condition may have a heart murmur and the Breed association recommends the screening of all breeding dogs to try and reduce the incidence of this condition in the breed. If you are concerned your dog might have a heart murmur you can ask your vet to assess your dog for this condition and they can refer you to have your dog screened by an approved cardiologist.
If you are buying a Boxer puppy ask your breeder if they have had their breeding dogs screened by an approved cardiologist and what the scores were from Grade 0 to Grade 2. Dogs must generally be over a year old before they can be screened which is why it’s best to buy a puppy from a breeder who has screened the parents.
If you think your dog might be suffering from a heart condition, please consult your vet as soon as possible.
This genetically inherited condition results in a weakening of the heart muscles that means the dog’s heart cannot pump blood around the body effectively. This can result in an irregular heartbeat, intermittent fainting, heart failure or sudden death. There is a genetic test available to see if breeding dogs carry the gene for this condition but it’s effectiveness may be limited as it may not screen for all gene mutations involved in causing the condition.
An ECG of a Boxer’s heart can be used to diagnose this disease which generally gets worse as the dog gets older. Symptoms can vary depending on which part of the heart is affected. Some dogs experience no visible symptoms while others with more advanced disease can suffer collapse, fainting, weakness, a racing heart, breathing problems from fluid in the lungs or pleural cavity and coughing, and collapse. If you think your dog might be suffering from a heart condition, please consult your vet as soon as possible.
Cancer is reported to be the number 1 health issue in Boxers. As with all human cancers, early detection is important so ensuring you are informed about what to watch out for as a Boxer owner is important.
Boxers are prone to developing Brain tumours and mast cell tumours. Brain tumours are more prevalent after the age of 8. Mast cells and mast cell tumours occur in the skin, digestive tract and respiratory tract. They can be benign or malignant, and benign tumours can become malignant over time.
Typical symptoms of possible mast cell cancers are new bumps and lumps in the skin, or mole’s that change shape and size, so check your dog’s body regularly for new lumps. If your Boxer has lots of white patches of hair use sunscreen on sunny days to protect their skin.
If your dog has cancer you might see unexplained rapid weight loss, an increase or decrease in bowel movements, or decreased energy levels. They might have cold-like symptoms such as sneezing or coughing. A brain tumour could mean the dog has difficulty walking, facial paralysis or impaired sight. If you think your Boxer is suffering in anyway consult your vet as soon as possible. As with human cancers there are treatments available and many dogs respond well if their cancer is caught early enough.
This condition is not usually life threatening but it can affect quality of life. This condition causes the dog’s thyroid gland that controls metabolism, to malfunction. Boxer’s usually develop a form of this condition that shows itself once they reach adulthood (typically 4-6 years old) and it can progress quite differently in different dogs.
Symptoms include weakness, increased sleepiness, increased appetite, weight gain even if not fed more food, sensitivity to cold and their coat might become dull, greasy or dry. Some dogs have hair loss, a darkening of their skin, itchy skin or sores and some develop inflamed ears.
There are treatments to replace the missing thyroid hormones so if you think your Boxer might be suffering this complaint consult your vet for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Fun facts
- Famous couples who were stars of stage and screen have loved Boxers including Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, and Carole Lombard and Clark Gable.
- Although more recently descended from Bullenbeisser dogs in Germany, they can trace their origins back to the ancient Assyrians as long ago as 2000 BC.
- Boxers only arrived in USA after WWI and weren’t established there until 1930’s.
- Boxer’s are the ninth most popular breed worldwide!
- A Boxer called Brandy that lived in Michigan USA holds the record for the longest dog tongue ever at 17 inches!
