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Boxer
The Boxer is a stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog that was developed in Germany, bred from the English Bulldog and the now extinct Bullenbeisser. The coat is smooth and fawn or brindled, with or without white markings. Boxers have broad, short skulls and a square muzzle with an underbite and very strong jaws making for a powerful bite ideal for hanging on to large prey.
The Boxer comes in light tan or yellow, reddish tan, mahogany or stag/deer red, and dark honey-blonde and brindle, often with a white underbelly and white on the front or all four feet. These white markings, called flash, often extend onto the neck or face, and dogs that have these markings are known as "flashy". Brindle Boxers are striped. Boxers with white markings covering more than one-third of their coat - conventionally called "white" Boxers - are neither albino nor rare; approximately 20-25% of all Boxers born are white.
Boxers are known particularly for their solitary nature, which can lead them to not being trustful of strangers and other dogs. They get along well with children and the individuals with whom they're habituated, and trusting of, but can be quite suspicious or uncomfortable surrounded by any animals or humans they don't know.
Boxers are active dogs and require adequate exercise to prevent boredom-associated behaviors such as chewing or digging. Boxers have earned a slight reputation of being "headstrong," which can be related to inappropriate obedience training. Owing to their intelligence and working breed characteristics, training based on corrections often has limited usefulness. Boxers tend to respond better to positive reinforcement techniques such as clicker training which allows the dog an opportunity to think independently and to problem-solve.
Boxers are a bright, energetic and playful breed and tend to be very good with children. Boxers are friendly, lively companions that are popular as family dogs. Their suspicion of strangers, alertness, agility, and strength make them formidable guard dogs. They sometimes appear at dog agility or obedience trials and flyball events. These strong and intelligent animals have also been used as service dogs, guide dogs for the blind, therapy dogs, police dogs in K9 units, and occasionally herding cattle or sheep. The versatility of Boxers was recognized early on by the military, which has used them as valuable messenger dogs, pack carriers, and attack and guard dogs in times of war.
As puppies, Boxers demonstrate a fascinating combination of worrisome expressions, energetic curiosity, flexible attention spans and charming characteristics. Boxers have an average lifespan of 10-12 years.
Some of the content on this page was originally published on Wikipedia
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Brindle Boxers with uncropped and cropped ears. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.
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