Is Owning a Boxer Dog a Good or Bad Idea?

There are many dog breeds and canine associations that make it a point of duty to identify them. However, some of these associations do not agree on the classifications of certain breeds.

If you are interested in knowing the entire dog breeds including the ones that have been declared extinct, you can visit here.

Knowing the different breeds as identified by reputable canine associations and their characteristics will help you make the right choice. For instance, this will help dog lovers that have kids around choose the right breed for their kids.

In light of this, the article will highlight and explain some things about a popular dog breed. At the end of it all, you will be able to decide whether to get one of this breed or not.

Let us talk about Boxer dogs!

History of the Boxer Dog

This breed needs no introduction for many people. This is because it has become a popular face among law enforcement agents, hunters, herders, and homeowners. The many character traits this dog possesses are part of the reasons for this. But first, let us discuss how the popular boxer dog came to be.

This canine is a product of the Bullenbeisser which now belongs to the extinct category. But before it attained this status, Bullenbeissers were crossbred with old English bulldogs and mastiffs to produce what is now known as a Boxer dog.

Its strength and hyper activeness do not come as a surprise considering that the Bullenbeisser is an agile canine used for bull-baiting and hunting at large. But other than its ability to put its violent features to good use, it can also play the role of a lifeguard, seeing-eye canine, cattle herder, house dog, and police dog.

Kinds of Boxer Dogs

The classification of these canines is based on their skin color. On that note, there are 3 coat colors that this breed can have. They include fawn, white, and brindle. However, it is not uncommon to see these 3 kinds with similar features such as markings that are white, brindle, fawn, and black mask.

Is Getting a Boxer Dog Right for You?

As explained earlier, knowing the characteristics of canine breeds will help you make the right decision. So, let us see if getting a boxer dog is a good decision by going over some things.

Should an Inexperienced Dog Owner Get One?

We strongly advise those canine lovers that have no experience raising a dog to stay away from this option. This is because raising this creature can be quite tricky and difficult for such people.

For instance, a high level of discipline is required to successfully raise this dog. This means that the guardian needs to be a strong and insistent figure.

But despite that, boxers do not do well with trainers that use harsh punishment. So, it is a little tricky. To raise a boxer, the trainer needs to be insistent but patient and loving.

Reward systems with dog treats, words of affection, and affirmative words are very important. If you are interested in knowing the proper way to train this canine, you can check here.

Should A Busy Person Get a Boxer?

People who are frequently on the move or have little or no time to spend are advised to stay away from this dog. The reason is that they are very active and need to spend quality time training and having fun with their owners.

Boxers who are unable to get this will have pent-up energy that cannot be channeled properly. As a result, it is not uncommon to have such canines exhibit mild to severe symptoms of separation anxiety. Such dogs become violent and destructive and this is something you certainly do not want to deal with.

So, make sure you can spend sufficient time training and having fun before getting this canine breed. Just so you know, owners of this breed are expected to make their dog exercise for no less than 30 minutes each day.

If possible, they can exceed one hour doing this. However, it would be better to split the exercise into sessions to make sure the dog is not overworked.

Should Parents of Little Kids Get a Boxer?

We advise parents of little kids to get a boxer. Frankly, this is one of the most child-friendly furry companions. It has a natural tendency to protect kids from danger. Furthermore, this canine and your kid(s) will have a nice time playing around.

However, it is advised that you get a puppy rather than an adult. First, this will enable you to instill the right behavior easily. For instance, you would need to teach the dog not to pounce playfully on your child. This can be pretty difficult for adult dogs that were not exposed to that training early enough.

Are Boxers Healthy Dogs?

Boxers are healthy dogs for the most part. They do better than many other canines in terms of having a good mental and physical health status. This is one of the reasons they are very common as you do not have to visit the veterinarian often as you would with some other canines.

But even at that, this breed has proven vulnerable to certain kinds of health conditions. It is important that you know these health conditions and you keep an observant eye on your furry companion. This is because a boxer can be very silent about pain until things get out of hand.

So, pay attention to every detail. Some of the health complications that this breed is vulnerable to include:

• Deafness (especially for white-coated boxers)
• Breathing issues
• Skin problems (because of their short-haired coat)
• Eye problem (which may degenerate into blindness)
• Hip issues
• Gas problems

You must understand the factors that can lead to any of these health problems. You can visit holistapet for more information about this.

Conclusion

The boxer is one of the most common canine breeds around. However, you must understand what having one around you means. This is why we have answered some important questions in this article and hope that you make informed decisions based on the information shared here.