Boxer​ - Working Group

Boxer

Breed Group: Working Group

Size Group: Large Dog Breeds

Origin: Germany

Height: 23”-25” (male) 21.5”-23.5” (female)

Weight: 65-80 lbs (male) 50-65 lbs (female)

Color: Brindle, Fawn with potential for White markings and/or Black mask

Lifespan10-12 years

Temperament: Loyal, active, alert, loving

 

Overview

Boxers expressive eyes and attentive nature convey true human emotion. These pups are incredibly devoted to their humans and have the uncanny ability to differentiate between friend or foe. This sense makes them incredible guard dogs for their people. Not that anyone in their right mind would go up against these muscled and agile warriors. They are skilled narcotic detectors, search and rescue dogs, police dogs, military dogs, companions to shut ins, service dogs, and even seizure alert dogs for those with epilepsy. Boxers have a well-tempered personality, exhibiting calm and stoicism when necessary, but never losing that puppy sweet playfulness.

Boxers make wonderful family pets. They need lots of playtime and will become your children’s forever friend. These pups are people oriented and train easily. They do not require much grooming. They are the perfect fit for active families with lots of love to give.

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Fun Facts

The dog that holds the record for longest tongue was a Boxer named Brandy. Her tongue was a ridiculous 43cm (just under 17 inches) long!

Health

Boxers are susceptible to extreme climates. Be mindful of temperatures when you are outdoors with your pup for extended periods of time. Overall, they are relatively healthy pets. Some health concerns to be aware of include hip dysplasia, aortic stenosis, cardiomyopathy, thyroid deficiency, degenerative myelopathy, corneal opacities, elbow dysplasia, cancer, Wobbler’s syndrome, von Willebrand’s disease, colitis, and bloat.

While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.

Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.

Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.

Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.

Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:

  1. Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
  2. Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
  3. Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
  4. Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
  5. At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.

Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.

Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.

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Grooming

Boxers need to be brushed with a rubber curry brush once a week to remove any dead hair and redistribute naturally occurring skin oils. Use a circular motion with the brush to stimulate the hair and skin. During season shedding periods in the spring and fall, expect to increase brushing to help contain the hair loss. You will only need to bathe your pup every couple of months or if he gets dirty. Boxers tend to drool a lot, use a towel daily to help keep their face clean. Trim your pup’s nails once a month. Keep your pup’s eyes and ears clean and clear of debris. Brush your pup’s teeth several times per week.

Cost

$1,000 – $2,000

Exercise

Be mindful that you pup does not do well in extreme temperatures. Beyond the fact that their coat does not cool or warm them significantly, they also have a difficult time breathing in harsh climates. Boxers need at least an hour of day in exercise. When you are out, always keep your pup leashed or in a securely fenced in area. Boxers have a high prey drive and can get away from you faster than you can remember your recall command. Brisk walks, jogging, and any game you can think of to play with him.

Nutrition

Your full-sized Boxer will eat around 2.5 cups of food per day over 2 meals. This breed is prone to bloat which is an immediately life-threatening condition where the stomach overfills and flips in the torso. You can help avoid this situation by monitoring the rate at which your pup eats. The exact amount of food your dog will need will vary depending on age and activity level.

 

We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.

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Training

As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other pups is essential. Firm and constant training will help your pup thrive. Boxers are very human focused and should take to training happily. They will bore if the training is too repetitive, so keep it fresh. Training Boxers is incredibly important, as without proper training and socialization this breed tends to become completely unruly and mischievous. This breed likes to jump up on people. This behavior should be eliminated early. Never permit “cute puppy” behavior that you would not tolerate in a full-grown dog. These pups will thrive in positive reinforcement training.

Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!

Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.

Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.

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Supplements

A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.

Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.

Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.

Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.

Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.

As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.

Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.

Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.

Have You Tried CBD For You Dog's Health?

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Annual Vet Bills: $1,500+

Be Prepared for the unexpected.