Breed: Boxer
Average Size: Boxers weigh between 55 and 70 lbs. Male Boxers are between 22 and 25 inches tall at there shoulders and females are between 21 to 24 inches tall
Appearance: The Boxer has short, shiny, and smooth coat. The recognized colors are fawn and brindle, often with a white underbelly and white on the front or all four feet and it can extend to the neck and face. Fawn is a range of color from light tan or yellow, reddish tan, mahogany or stag/deer red, and dark honey-blonde. Brindle refers to a dog with black stripes on a fawn background. Some fawn or brindle Boxers have so much white that they are known as white Boxers. White Boxers have a high percent of deafness and blindness. They have a very distinctive head. Boxers have broad skull and square muzzle with an under-bite and folds around the mouth. They normally have a short, small tail and a very muscular body.
Lifespan: 10-12 years
Habitat: They are high energy and active needing lots of exercise so a place to play and run is crucial.
Food: No special food needs
Temperament: Boxers are a smart and energetic. They are playful and good with children. They are active dogs and if they become bored can start chewing or digging. The Boxer is not an aggressive or vicious breed as long as they are socialized properly. Boxers are generally patient with smaller dogs and puppies. They may have issues with larger adult dogs of the same sex. Boxers need companionship whether human or another dog.
Special Traits: Boxers are friendly, lively companions that are popular as family dogs. Their intelligence and bond to humans makes them excellent guard dogs. They have also been used as service dogs, guide dogs for the blind, therapy dogs, and police dogs. Boxers have earned a slight reputation of being headstrong and stubborn, which can be related to inappropriate obedience training. With there intelligence and work ethic, training using positive reinforcement is usually more successful.
Other Important Info: In Boxers the leading health issues include cancers, heart conditions such as Aortic Stenosis and Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy also known as Boxer Cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism, and hip dysplasia. Entropion which is a malformation of the eyelid requiring surgical correction, is occasionally seen, and some lines have a tendency toward fusing of the spine. It is recommended that the drug acepromazine used by vets as a sedative be avoided in the Boxer breed due to their sensitivity to it. They need proper exercise and conditioning for the continued health and longevity. Boxer pups should not be over-exercised because it can damage their growing bones. Be aware that in hot and humid weather, Boxers have difficulty due to their brachycephalic head.
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