Purchasing or Adopting – Adult Boxer vs. Boxer Puppy
By · CommentsIf you’re looking to adopt or purchase a Boxer then it’s important that you decide first if you want a puppy or an adult dog. Although puppies tend to be more expensive, if you plan to purchase one and more rare if you plan to adopt, there are some cons to owning one. Read on to learn the differences between owning an adult Boxer dog vs. owning a Boxer puppy.
Adult Boxer Dog
Pros of an adult Boxer dog
Already Trained – If the adult boxer is already trained then it means you will have to do a lot less work with the dog. Not everyone has the time to train their dogs so an adult boxer is perfect for those who want to own a dog that is already trained.
No need for housebreaking – Housetraining a puppy is one of the biggest problems first time dog owners have to face. Dealing with the mess and the smells is not for everyone and those that can’t handle it should consider adopting a boxer that is already housetrained.
You will know the boxer’s exact personality – When purchasing or adopting an adult Boxer, you can find out the exact personality of the dog. You will know if the dog is outgoing and social, lazy and boring or fun loving and active dog.
Cons of adopting or purchasing an adult dog
Could have behavior issues – If the previous owner didn’t train their boxer dog and let them develop unwanted behavior, you will have to deal with the problems yourself. So not only will you have to train the dog, like you would with a puppy, but you will also have to correct and change the bad habits, which can be difficult to do sometimes.
Not a Puppy – Some owners want to own and play with an adorable puppy. Of course boxers don’t stay in the puppy stage forever, but if you want to own a boxer while he is still young then an adult dog is not for you.
Training tricks can be more challenging – Although boxers are smart dogs, it’s more challenging to train them new tricks if they are not used to learning them. A puppy will have a much easier time picking up new commands than an adult Boxer would.
Boxer Puppy
Pros of adopting/purchasing a Boxer puppy
Enjoy the benefits of owning a Boxer puppy – A boxer puppy will be a fun companion to own. Boxers are a lot like children and can be very fun to have around. Although this breed always remains young in spirit, owning a cute/clumsy/funny puppy can be a lot of fun.
Shape your dog’s personality yourself – Puppies are often very similar to their owners. If you want to own a boxer that matches your personality, the easiest way is to train the dog yourself.
Easier to train new tricks- You will have an easier time teaching your boxer new tricks while they are young.
Cons of owning a Boxer puppy
Housebreaking mess – Most puppies are not housetrained when they are given up for adoption or up for sale. That means that you will have to clean up after them and housetrain them yourself.
Destructive chewing and biting – Puppies love to chew and bite on anything they can get their teeth on. Just like children like to touch everything with their hands, your boxer puppy will want to taste and bite everything in his sight.
Constantly have to watch them – Puppies always find a way to get themselves into some kind of trouble. They will try to eat anything that fits in their mouth, get into your garden to ‘smell’ the flowers, get into cupboards in hopes of finding a snack and so on. You always have to watch what they are doing and keep them out of trouble.
Choosing The Perfect Boxer Puppy from a Litter
By · CommentsIf you plan to own a well behaved and social boxer dog then it’s important to know which puppy you should pick out of a dog litter. Although nothing is set in stone at that age, knowing the type of puppy you pick will help you with raising and training your boxer.
Use this article to help you learn about the different signals you can pick up on when choosing the perfect boxer puppy out of a litter.
Finding a Boxer breeder
If you want to purchase a healthy and well-tempered boxer then the first place to start is finding a good boxer dog breeder. The environment that the puppy is born and raised in plays a big part in the boxer’s personality.
Of course that doesn’t mean that if you find the perfect breeder, you will have no problems with the dog whatsoever. You still will have to train and raise your dog once you take him home. The time the puppy spends with his mom and siblings is only a starting point in the dogs learning process.
Same applies from the other side of things as well. If the puppy wasn’t raised right from the start doesn’t mean that the boxer’s future is hopeless. You can still make changes to the dogs’ personality with training. In some cases you can even turn a dog’s personality completely around using the right boxer dog training approach.
Picking from the litter
There are a couple of things you should look for when picking a puppy from a litter. Watching them interact with each other or watching how they react to you will give you an idea on what the puppies will be like once they grow up.
The Shy Boxer Puppy – Boxer puppies that shy away from you when you approach them will most likely be very shy dogs as adults. They will need to be socialized with other people and dogs to help them regain their confidence and playfulness. Be prepared to take this puppy with you wherever you go to help them get used to social situations.
The first Boxer puppy to run towards you – Even though this little rascal is tiny and cute, he already made it clear to the rest of his siblings that he is the leader. He is the first one to meet new strangers while the others follow. This puppy will be strong willed and stubborn during training. This puppy will need a strong leader to keep him in check once he grows up.
The Daydreamer – The Boxer puppy that seems to be to lost in the clouds and confused about everything will be difficult to train. He won’t be as stubborn as the “pack leader” but he will often get distracted or confused during training. This puppy is only suitable for those with a lot of patience.
The Puppy in the middle – This will be the perfect Boxer puppy to pick for most people. Instead of rushing first to see who is visiting them, they will wait for someone else to do it first and then follow. Instead of shying away they will be confident enough to greet you and let you pet them. From this bunch, they will be the easiest to train and socialize.
Choosing a Boxer Dog Breeder
By · CommentsSo you finally decided to purchase your own boxer puppy. You did your research on the boxer dog breed and boxer dog training. You have calculated the expenses including the unexpected veterinary visits. You think you have the money and the time that you need to raise a healthy, happy and obedience boxer.
Well now it’s time to find a reputable Boxer dog breeder who you can purchase your puppy from. This article will help you make the right choice while avoiding breeders that are in it for the money and not the love of the boxer breed.
Table Of Content
Reputable Breeders
When looking for a Boxer dog you will come across many boxer dog breeders. Some of them are Boxer enthusiasts who love their dogs, others not so much. To spot reputable boxer dog breeders you will need to look for couple of signs.
Reputable dog breeders breed their dogs only once or twice per year. They don’t depend on the money they get from selling their puppies so they have no need to breed their dogs any more than that.
Reputable dog breeders will also keep their puppies in their own home instead of a kennel outside. This will help the puppies get accustomed to people and learn how to behave in social situations. Boxer puppies need healthy social interactions with humans to help prevent anxiety and fear problems once they are adults.
Reputable Boxer dog breeders will also ask you a lot of questions instead of just pushing you to buy their puppies. A good breeder will not hesitate to reject someone if they think the person is not ready for a dog.
Places to Avoid
When searching for a reputable boxer dog breeder, you need to keep in mind that some people will try to take advantage of your love for the breed. Unlike the reputable dog breeders, these people will try to sell you a puppy without passing health checks or showing you the required documents just to make some money off of you.
The most obvious place to avoid is pet stores. Their dogs are usually imported from puppy mills to keep up with demand. Although the boxers might look cute in the pet store windows, you should never purchase a puppy from there. Giving them money will only support the cruel and abusive dog breeding industry.
Another place to watch out for is websites offering many different breeds of dogs all year round. If they have a large selection of puppies then chances are that they operate a puppy mill.
Watch out for backyard dog breeders and puppy mills. There are a couple of signs that you should look for to know what kind of a dog breeder you are dealing with. If you ask the right questions and know what to look for, you will have no problem finding a reputable boxer dog breeder.
Questions You Should Ask
If you want to find the perfect Boxer puppy, you need to find a good and reputable boxer dog breeder. You can use these questions to help you determine if the people you’re dealing with are honest about their love of the boxer dog breed.
Q: How often do you breed dogs? Reputable boxer dog breeders will only breed their dogs once or twice per year. Any more than that is too much. If they can offer puppies for sale all season round then they are probably a puppy mill in the dog business for their own profit.
Q: Do you have a waiting list? This question goes along with the previous one. Most reputable dog breeders have a long waiting list where dog lovers sign up months in advance for a puppy. If they don’t have a waiting list make sure you ask how often they breed their dogs.
Q: How many different dog breeds do you have for sale? If the dog breeder can offer more than two different dog breeds, they are probably breeding dogs for profit.
Q: Where do you keep your puppies? Reputable dog breeders will keep their puppies at home. This will give them a chance to live and socialize with humans. If the puppies are kept outside of the house or in a kennel, stay away from the dog breeder.
Do you have all the legal documents needed for breeding boxers? If you live in United States, ask if their dogs are AKC registered. If you live in another country, check to see what papers you need to have for dog breeding.
Questions You Should Expect to Answer
If you did your homework and found a reputable dog breeder then you should expect to answer a lot of questions. Breeders that care about their boxer puppies will want to give their dogs only to people who are prepared for the responsibilities that come with a boxer puppy.
Expect some of these questions and be prepared to answer these questions. Make sure you’re honest about the answers so the breeder knows what type of a puppy you can handle.
Q: Have you ever owned a dog/boxer dog before? The breeder needs to know how experienced you are with training and caring of a puppy. Don’t worry if you have no experience, a good breeder will help you find the information that you need.
Q: How large is your backyard? The breeder needs to know how much room your boxer dog will have to get his exercise. The backyard is not a requirement if you plan to take your dog out to a park on a regular basis.
Q: How much do you expect to spend on your dog per month? If you’ve done your research right, you should be able to estimate the expenses on a boxer dog. Keep in mind that on top of the monthly expenses you will also need to spend money on unexpected veterinary visits.
Q: How much free time do you have? Boxer dogs, especially while they are puppies will need a lot of your time and attention.
Stop Boxer Destructive Chewing
By · CommentsMany boxer dog owners will have to deal with some sort of destructive chewing problems with their dogs at one point or another.
Babies like to grab and feel new textures to see what they are like and boxers are not much different when comparing chewing of furniture or other household items.
The only difference is that puppies don’t have hands, so instead they use their mouths. They are curious about how things feel and taste so they will often try chewing on your kitchen table legs, dining room chairs or the living room carpet.
Of course most puppies outgrow that stage once they get older and stop biting and chewing on things around them, but not all do.
If your boxer starts, or won’t stop, chewing up your shoes, furniture or electronics then you have to take the matter in your hands and train the dog to stop chewing on those things.
The top three reasons for destructive chewing are boredom, itchy teeth or stress. Try to find the source of the problem to see why your boxer puppy won’t stop chewing.
Bored - This is when the boxer puppy has nothing better to do and finds other ways to entertain him when you’re off working or going out with your friends.
If you suspect that your puppy is chewing because of boredom, the most obvious choice to solving the problem is buying some new toys for him to play him.
If that doesn’t work then you have to find alternative ways for him to deal with the problem.
Itchy Teeth – This one only applies to puppies and not adult boxers. If your dog is fully grown and continues on chewing your clothes, curtains or whatever he has mind on then it’s probably not because of itchy teeth.
For a puppy that is chewing, you will need to get some toys and chewable so he has something else to chew besides your furniture.
Stressed - Chewing for dogs helps relieve stress and if your dog is anxiety about something or is stressed out about something else, you can bet that he will sink his teeth in your leather couches to calm himself down.
Chewing helps get their mind off whatever it is that is stressing them out and helps them relax. This is why destructive chewing is so popular amongst dogs that are suffering from separation anxiety.
Learn More About Destructive Chewing And How To Stop It
If you are suffering from destructive chewing with your boxer and aren’t sure how to deal with it then go to then follow the link below:
Click Here To Solve Your Boxers Destructive Chewing Problems.
Dangers Of Pet Food
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Diet is the major factor in your boxer dog’s health and well-being. The food that you feed plays a major role and can make the difference between a healthy boxer that rarely needs to see the vet and a boxer that is always suffering from some illness.
The boxer’s diet is also responsible for his expected lifespan. Feeding your dog nutritious and healthy food will result in a long and healthy life so make sure you know exactly what goes into your boxer’s mouth.
It’s shocking what some dog food companies can get away with when it comes to packing dog food with complete junk.
I know this is gross and I’m sorry, but I want you to have an idea of what some companies put in dog food to save on the cost of the food:
WARNING: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH
- 1. Bodies of Dogs and Cats
- 2. Rancid Grain
- 3. Sheep Guts
- 4. Road Kill
- 5. Chicken Heads
Of course your boxer wouldn’t eat that junk if they knew what it is, but unfortunately big companies found a way around that as well.
So they sprayed the dog food with oils and grease to make the food (if you can call it that) smell and taste like normal food. This is also the main reason why it may seem like your boxer love the cheap garbage food and hates the nutritious and healthy dog food.
Why Do Companies Fill Dog Food With Junk?
I found myself asking the same question. Why do these companies fill our dogs food with such junk?
Well the answer to that question is money. Those companies are not in it for the benefit of our pets – they are in it for the profit.
If they can save money buying junk meat which can’t be sold for human consumption, stuff it in dog food and get away with it, they will!
If they can get away with buying road kill and euthanized animals for pennies, add it to the dog food and sell it to the public, they will!
They don’t care that your boxer’s healthy expectancy is half of what it should be. They don’t care that the food has almost no nutritional value, as long as they can get away with it and make some money in the process they will do it.
Housebreaking a Boxer
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No owner wants their boxer pooping and peeing indoors so house-training is usually the top priority when it comes to boxer training.
A lot of people get frustrated with their dogs when they go potty inside the house and take their frustration out on their dogs. This is a big mistake because you can’t expect a puppy to know that going to the bathroom indoors your apartment is inappropriate.
The dog has never learned that going outside is the right thing to do and peeing indoors is wrong.
Don’t Give Your Boxer A Chance To Pee Indoors
This one can be a tough one considering the fact that young puppies can’t ‘hold it in’ for as long as an adult boxer can, but you have to make sure your puppy doesn’t get a chance to pee indoors.
You don’t want him getting used to going to the bathroom on your favorite carpet, instead you want him to think that the only place he can go potty is in your backyard (or on your neighbors front lawn if keeps parking his car in front of your driveway and blocking you off every morning)!!
If you catch your boxer peeing inside, don’t just stand and watch him go. If he notices that you are just watching him do it he will think you condone such behavior. That is the complete opposite of what you want him to think.
If your puppy is still young and you can pick him up, grab him and carry him outside to finish. I know it’s a bigger mess for you to clean up but at least your puppy will learn that going potty inside is NOT something you will let him do.
However if you have an adult boxer dog that likes to go potty inside, picking him up and carrying him outside is probably not a viable option. So you have to drag him outside.
Whatever you do, make sure you don’t just stand and watch. This will just reinforce the habit further and will make it more difficult to get rid of.
Never Punish Your Boxer For Going Potty Indoors
You should never punish your boxer pup for soiling your carpet, especially if you didn’t catch him in the act. Dogs don’t have the same recollection of past and present events as humans do and punishing the boxer for something he did hours ago will only confuse him.
Never “rub your dog’s nose in his own urine” or do anything ridicules like that. I can’t recall the exact name of the book that suggested that particular tactic for housebreaking dogs, but that is just plain abuse and I can’t believe people actually suggest doing that!
You should correct your dog when you catch him in the act by bringing him outside, but you should never hit, slap or do anything else as a way to “punish” your dog.
Crate Training Tips For Housebreaking a Boxer Dog
A popular method to housetrain a boxer is to use a crate.
The idea behind crate training is that the puppy won’t want to pee in the same place where he sleeps so he will try to hold it out as long as he possibly can before he goes potty indoors.
This way whenever you need to leave your house, you can put them in the crate until you get back home.
Another positive to crate training a boxer puppy Is that your puppy won’t have the chance to pee on your furniture or carpet. If he does go potty indoors, it will be in the crate which will be much easier for you to clean up.
A problem with crate training is that puppies, especially boxer pups, hate staying still for more than five minutes. So when they are left in a crate for hours, they get bored quick and start barking or chewing on the cage.
A good idea is to leave them some chewable treats or toys in the crate so they have something to do while you are gone.
Fix Your Boxers Housebreaking Problems
If you know what to do and what not to do, you can have your boxer dog house trained in a matter of days, and not weeks or months.
The goal is to let your boxer know what you expect of him so he knows what you want him to do. Sounds simple right? Well too many owners forget to do that and that’s where things go wrong.
To learn more about housetraining a boxer dog and to learn how you can improve the relationship between you and your dog follow the link below:
Housebreak Your Boxer
And Cure 21+ Of The Worst Boxer Dog Obedience Problems
Boxer Puppy Training
By · CommentsSo you finally brought home that adorable little rascal that you had your eye on for a while and are looking for some boxer puppy training information.
Well first of all let me congratulate you on your new puppy!
Despite the adorable looks and playful personality, boxer pups can be quite a hassle, especially when they become more confident in their new environment and feel a little more adventures/mischievous.
That’s the stage when they start to get into things they shouldn’t, chew and sharpen their teeth’s on things which are off limits and start to test your authority over them. Don’t worry; this is normal with all boxer puppies. They just need to be pointed in the right direction and the best way to do it is through boxer puppy training.
At What Age Should I Start Training My Boxer Puppy?
The truth is there is no right age to start training your boxer puppy. The training starts from the day you bring your puppy home.
Once your puppy first enters the home he will be learning from you what he can and cannot do. Your puppy will start exploring every corner of the house so make sure you correct him whenever he wonders into a room that you don’t want him to visit.
Remember that consistency is key when it comes to boxer puppy training. If you don’t want him to get on the furniture when your boxer pup gets older, then don’t let him do it while he is young. Suddenly changing the rules will only confuse him.
Remember that bad habits don’t form overnight. Start training your boxer puppy good behavior from an early age so when he gets older, he will already know the house rules and how to behave around others.
Training a Boxer Puppy New Tricks
When it comes to training your boxer puppy a new trick, you can start at age of three months. Don’t start off with anything complicated, stick to the basics for now, things like sit and come are good place to start.
For things like fetch, play dead or any other more complicated trick I suggest you wait until four to five months. You should move on to more complex commands only when your puppy grasps the basics commands first.
Training Tip – Boxer Puppy Training Needs To Be Fun
You must already know that boxers are fun loving dogs even throughout their adulthood, so imagine what puppies are like!
If you make training sessions tedious and boring, your puppy will despise training and will always want to do something else that’s not training related.
Instead you should try to make it as fun for your pup as possible. Cheer him on as he first learns to come to you when called. Reward him with a treat whenever he completes a task.
It’s also a good idea to keep training sessions short. You don’t want tell him to sit 10 times in a row, he will get bored of it and will hate the command. Only make him do it a couple of times and if you see that you are losing his attention then stop the training session and resume at another time.
Keeping training fun and exciting is the best way to get your puppy wanting to learn instead of hating it.
Use Positive Reinforcement To Train a Boxer Puppy
Boxers learn best from positive reinforcement. They do not respond well to punishment or shouting. That kind of training only makes training more difficult and you will end up losing your dog’s trust.
Your goal is to earn your dog’s trust from an early age so he wants to listen to you to make you happy. It’s a lot easier than most people actually realize. The problem is most boxer owners don’t know how to achieve that kind of a relationship with their puppies.
Had enough boxer puppy training tips and want to get started?
Click Here: Learn About Boxer Puppy Training
Separation Anxiety in Boxers
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Separation anxiety in boxer puppies is quite common as this breed is very attached to its owner. Often enough this can lead to some very destructive behavior and I had to learn about it the hard way.
When you leave your puppy at home while going to work, a boxer puppy will often experience severe separation anxiety. Your puppy may then exhibit some things that are commonly experienced by most dog owners such as annoying barking and destructive chewing. If your boxer puppy is suffering from separation anxiety do not despair – there are simple and effective ways to ensure your puppy stays busy while you’re gone.
First thing you should do to help your puppy is to avoid long and emotional goodbyes. Your puppy can sense your emotions very well and when you’re sad, giving your puppy lots of hugs and kisses then your boxer will think something is wrong. Boxers are exceptionally intelligent, and being very attached to their owners, their experience might be even worse than other breeds of dogs. So rule number one, long goodbyes are bad and a quick and short “Bye Rocky” should do the trick. However, many of you will probably still see your puppy tear stuff apart in your home while you’re gone. If that is the situation there are more things that you can do.
Giving your boxer puppy more toys is a great way to help it deal with separation anxiety. Remember, keeping your puppy’s mind stimulated mentally and physically is important for its overall health, especially to deal with separation anxiety. Provide plenty of toys and keep switching them off every few days for variety. This should reflect at least some of their chewing-ness to the toys instead of your expensive possessions.
It helps to leave your clothes around your puppy so that they can sense your scent and think that you’re around. Place your shirt in the area where your puppy will spend most of its time and see if the behavior improves. Leaving the radio or television on is also helpful so that your puppy doesn’t feel lonely. It may take some time for your puppy to get used to the fact that you’re gone. That’s why you should keep fake-leaving and watch your puppy’s reaction while you’re gone. Repeat it over and over and provide your puppy a treat when he behaves nicely after you leave.
Boxer Diet – Healthy Treats and Food Tips
By · CommentsIf you want your boxer to live a long and healthy live, his diet should be one of your main concerns. Feeding the boxer dog junk food will only leave him sick and your wallet empty from all the veterinary visits.
You should feed the boxer a balanced and nutritious diet filled with all the right vitamins that he needs. Don’t rely on the promises made by the dog food companies. Do your own research to find the best food which is both nutritious and is approved by the boxer’s taste buds.
Healthy Treats For Boxers
Before you try any of the treats listed below, make sure your dog is not allergic to any of them. If your boxer is on certain medication or is on a special diet, consult with your veterinarian to make sure it’s ok to feed your boxer with the treats.
Rice – Rice cakes come with a lot of healthy benefits for boxer dogs. The great thing about rice is that its inexpensive and boxers seem to like it.
Popcorn – I’m not talking about the greasy popcorn you find in movie theaters, but the soft and fluffy air popped popcorn. These treats are a great substitute for high fat treats you might find in pet stores.
Cottage Cheese – This is a good replacement for dairy treats such as ice-cream. You can also use yogurt too.
Cooked Veggies – We all know that veggies are filled with vitamins, so why not use some healthy cooked vegies as delicious treats? I personally give my boxer cooked carrots and he seems to love them!
Whether you want to give your dog some healthy treats while training him tricks or to spoil him a little bit, using the healthy ideas above will help keep your feel lean and stay healthy.
Obesity in Boxer Dogs
Obesity in boxers is not that rare, especially in dogs that sit home all day and get little to no exercise. All the extra fat they pick up from their food can’t be burned off if your boxer only gets to go out for short walks and has no time to run around and play.
Lack of exercise however is not the only cause for obesity in boxers; they can get the extra pounds from overfeeding as well.
Most owners actually overfeed their dogs without even know it. They just follow the instructions given by the dog food companies and a lot of times the recommended amount is nowhere close to what you should really feed to your boxer.
Some companies recommend a lot more than what your boxer needs so you end up buying more of their products (slimy I know, but things like this happen when money is involved).
Remember though that not all companies do it, so doesn’t start feeding your dog less food after reading this!
How to Ensure My Boxer Lives a Long And Healthy Life?
The key to a long, happy and healthy life for your boxer dog is balance.
The most common problems for boxers are either improper diet, insufficient or lack of exercise and high stress level.
Learn More About Boxer Dog Care
Countless studies have proven that people working in stressful environments suffer more illnesses and have a lower life expectancy and your boxer is no different.
This is why I always promote positive behavior training that doesn’t involve stressing, shouting or hitting your dog. Instead you tap into your boxer’s natural instinctive pattern.
This way not only will you have a healthy and stress free boxer, but also a dog that wants to obey to make you happy.
Learn More About How You Can Make Your Boxer Happy, Healthy And Obedient
Boxer Dogs As Family Pets
By · CommentsDifferent people have different needs so there is no perfect dog breed for everyone out there. If you are looking for a dog and are curious about the boxer dog breed then I recommend you get a little more familiar with the breed to see if they match your personality.
Remember that just because two dogs are in the same breed doesn’t mean they will act exactly the same. This is the overview of the breed in general and things can differ from dog to dog. It is best that you go see the particular dog that you want to adopt and introduce him to everyone in your family to see how well he gets along with them before you adopt him.
Use this information as a general guide and not a universal law to every single boxer dog.
Do Boxers Get Along With Kids?
Like previously said, not all boxers are the same and these questions greatly depend on the way the dog was raised since he was a puppy. Some boxers might have been raised in a household full of kids while others might have been in a different environment and shy away from kids.
In general however, boxers get along with kids due to their playful nature. Boxers are well known for their goofy behavior and child-like playfulness which kids love and they make perfect play mates.
Sometimes they can be a little clumsy and run into someone in the midst of playing, but that usually isn’t intentional and is accidental.
However their energetic personality is perfect for kids who love playing outdoors and even an adult boxer will love running around and playing outside all day with the kids.
Are Boxers Aggressive?
Boxer Dog Getting Along With Cats
Aggressive behavior is learned and is usually caused due to improper training or complete lack of it. Boxers are not aggressive by nature but instead are very friendly and love making new human and dog friends.
They are not vicious attack dogs as portrayed in some movies; in fact they are playful and very loyal dogs that will stick by their owners no matter what happens.
If they feel threatened or don’t trust someone, they will growl and let the person know ahead of time before doing anything drastic. Even though they don’t like starting a fight or attack anyone, they are capable of defending themselves when feel threatened.
Requirements for Boxer Dogs
Just like with any other dog breed, boxer dogs have particular needs and wants. If you can’t match them or don’t think they go along with what you like then maybe the boxer dog breed isn’t right for you.
Exercise – These dogs were bred for their strength and stamina and even though your particular boxer doesn’t need to chase down wild animals or hunt down boars and other large creatures, your boxer still has a want and need for the same type of exercise to stay healthy.
Boxers don’t like sitting home all day waiting for their owners. They want to run around, play and explore new territory. Boxers who don’t get enough exercise throughout the day will turn to other ways to entertain themselves like destructive chewing or barking.
Social Interaction – Like previously said, boxers don’t like sitting home alone all day. They want to be around people or other dogs. A lot of owners get two boxers just for that reason alone. Two of them keep each other company and that keeps them busy while you’re away at work.
Grooming - When it comes to grooming boxer dogs, they don’t need as much attention as some other breeds, like German Shepherds or Labrador Retrievers. They still shed, but the fur is much shorter and much less noticeable.
They also don’t require frequent baths. You should wash your boxer dog no more than once every 3 months. Washing them any more than that will do more harm to their skin and fur.
Training - All dogs require some sort of training, including boxers. The problem with boxers however is that they extremely intelligent and quickly pick up on the best ways to get what they want.
You want your dog to respect and listen to you and the best way to do it is obedience training. Without boxer dog training, you will only have problems on your hands and will be running around with a mop from room to room cleaning up your dog’s mess.
Of course if you know what you’re doing and know the best way to approach training with your boxer then you will have a loyal, behaved and well socialized companion for you and your family.
Is a Boxer Right for My Family?
I will say this right off the bat, boxers are NOT for every family. If most of the time your home is empty because everyone in your family is either at work or at school, then boxers might not be the right choice for you.
If however you are looking for an additional companion to a family that loves to go hiking, going to the park and doing other outdoor activities, then a boxer might be just the perfect pet.
Take a moment to consider how much free time you will have to see if a boxer is good for your family. Also consider the price of a vet, food and other expenses. Larger breed dogs breed will cost a lot more to take care of than a smaller dog.
Each family is different so it’s up to you to judge for yourself if a boxer dog would make a good pet for you and your family.