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Today we revisit the Boxer as our breed of the week. Yes, it’s a re-run, but I’m slowly falling in love with the Boxer as a breed and needed a refresher on what they’re all about. I meet people who have them and love them, as well as people who own one and don’t have a clue about the breed. Here’s one owned by someone who knows the breed well and loves them.
This breed is known as
The well-conditioned middleweight athlete of dogdom
Isn’t that a cool description? The Boxer is a gorgeous dog, strong, intelligent, alert. They’re known to guard their people well, and they LOVE being loved and slobbered on. Okay, maybe not slobbered on. But the Boxer is affectionate and loves kids. Truly.
Y’all, I’m reading that Boxers were originally bred for fighting and running down large game. They also are known for standing tall and batting with their front paws, hence the name Boxer. I’ll tell you that every Boxer I’ve met has been a real sweetheart.
In fact, I spoke with a friend when I wrote the original post who had a Boxer for years and it was wildly protective of her and only her. Now her grown daughter owns a Boxer who is as gentle as a kitten and would follow a burglar home, carrying the silver as it plodded along behind. She says this Boxer actually lets the declawed house cat beat it up, thinking it’s a fun game.
Dog Breed Info has this to say:
The Boxer is happy, high-spirited, playful, curious and energetic. Highly intelligent, eager and quick to learn, the Boxer is a good dog for competitive obedience. It is constantly on the move and bonds very closely with the family. Loyal and affectionate, Boxers are known for the way they get along so well with children.
Smart dogs. Playful dogs. Not too big or too small. Beautiful dogs. Great for a family with small children, a growing family. Short hair. I’m guessing that, similar to a Great Dane, their hair sheds like handfuls of eyelashes. It’s weird, petting a dog with that kind of fur, having it come away in sheets.
What’s the down side of owning a Boxer?I’m always asking people to be informed before bringing home a dog, which means knowing the potential crazy of a dog and how to appropriately prepare. Dog Breed Info says this:
They are extremely athletic, sometimes even in their old age. This dog needs to go on a daily pack walk. Daily mental and physical exercise is paramount. Without it, the Boxer will become high strung. This breed requires a dominant owner. Training should start young and be firm and consistent. The objective in training this dog is to achieve pack leader status.
Be the pack leader. Unlike a previous breed, the Shih Tzu, you can’t afford to let the Boxer run the home. They can’t handle it. Please don’t do that to a Boxer. Start young, go through obedience training, read up on the breed, find a club in your area if there is one. This handsome beast deserves no less.
One last thing I always ask is, Does this dog slobber? I know that some of you own dogs which slobber something fierce and that’s endearing to you. You know who you are. I just can’t handle it. The answer? It depends on who you talk to. Seriously. So if you can handle slobber, go into it knowing that it might happen regularly with your dog. Or just when they exercise or are nervous. Or your Boxer may not slobber at all. If you can’t handle excessive drool, you may want to rethink the Boxer.
And what kind of treats are best for the Boxer? You knew I was going here. The Saddle Knuckle is probably a great treat for them, being perfect for medium to large breeds. The 7″ Natural Center Bone is probably a good choice as well. Keep in mind, all Jones Natural Chews are 100% all natural and completely made in the USA.
Well! I’ve enjoyed getting to know the Boxer a little better! I hope you have too!
Until I write again …
Flea
