Boxers are known to have many wonderful characteristics. Good-natured, affectionate, loyal, intelligent, energetic, playful, silly, and of course occasionally stubborn, just to name a few. Every boxer has their own unique personality, behavior and energy level.
Boxers desire the companionship of their humans. They need a family that is able to provide them proper daily exercise and playtime and dedicate several hours of their day to their 4-legged family member. Most boxers consider themselves big lapdogs and make the perfect snuggle buddy. They are known for their unique “kidney bean” happy dance, “zoomies” in the yard and wagging “nubs”. Boxers MUST live indoors with their families. Boxers are NOT a breed that can survive living outdoors. If left alone for many hours of the day, they can become lonely and bored which usually results in destructive behaviors and they may even develop separation anxiety. If you and your family are rarely at home or if you prefer a dog not live inside your home with you and if you do not have several hours a day to commit to their daily needs, then a Boxer is NOT the right breed for you. The average life span of a boxer is typically 9-12 yrs. Proper vet care, feeding, exercise and love can all contribute to a longer, healthier, fulfilled life for your boxer.
When people hear “BOXER” it’s usually followed by, “OH those are very energetic and hyper dogs aren’t they?” Well, for the most part that is accurate, but every boxer will have their own energy level and it will greatly depend on their age and health status. Boxers are known to be a breed that has one of the longer “puppy stages”. Meaning, they tend to have that fun puppy energy well into the ages of 3-4 yrs. The younger boxers will have a lot more energy and the need to keep busy throughout the day. Being crated or alone for 8 hours a day is not acceptable for a young boxer. Mid-age to senior boxers may be more like a couch potato while still performing their daily “zoomies” in the yard and be in need of a shorter walk to help keep their joints mobile and heart healthy. Roaming around in a fenced backyard is not proper exercise for any boxer. Daily walks, fetching a ball, and even some brain games (e.g., dog puzzles and interactive toys) are great ways to keep your boxer busy and release physical and mental energy. Whether young or old, each boxer needs to be given the proper exercise and play that is best suited for them to keep them happy and healthy.
Click here for a great resource to read more about exercising a boxer.
Boxers are known as a brachycephalic breed, meaning they have a shorter, flatter snout. This can make it harder for them to withstand long outdoor play sessions, long runs or walks in hot, humid warm weather or very cold weather. Having a shorter snout, boxers can have more difficulty breathing in such conditions if over exercised. Heat stroke is something all owners need to be aware of and monitor while exercising their boxers. Does this mean a boxer will snore like the sound of a freight train? Some do, some don’t, some snore loudly and some softly, again each boxer is different. As crazy as it sounds, many boxer lovers enjoy the sounds of their boxer happily asleep!
Each dog breed is susceptible to certain diseases or conditions more so than others. Boxers of their own, but that does not mean every boxer will encounter one of these health issues but that owners should be aware and knowledgeable when considering and caring for a boxer.
- Heart/Cardiovascular conditions – such as Cardiomyopathy
- Cancers- such as mast cell and lymphomas
- Bloat- is a serious life-threatening condition if you are not aware of what to look out for and how to prevent it. Deep chested dog breeds like the boxer are more prone to bloat, although any dog breed can get bloat.
*PLEASE read further in the links provided below to find out what causes bloat, what symptoms may occur and MOST IMPORTANTLY how to help prevent bloat from occurring to your boxer
http://www.allboxerinfo.com/boxer-dog-bloat
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/bloat-in-dogs/