The Boxer: Get Ready to Laugh and Play!

atos-in-corridorAt first sight, the boxer appears to be a very serious and threatening dog, but upon closer look you will soon see that this isn’t all true. The regal stance and muscular build will quickly give way to a humorous and devoted dog, possibly with an under bite and a little bit of slobber. Boxers are quite possibly the goofiest dogs around. With an energetic and playful demeanor and a plethora of animated expressions, they will be sure to make you laugh and keep you entertained.

at poolBoxers are devoted and affectionate dogs who have a way of trying to get as close as possible to the ones they love. It is not uncommon to see a 60 pound boxer crouched awkwardly on his owner’s lap, pathetically hoping to pull off the lap dog look. They will subject themselves to looking completely silly as they curl up in the smallest and most uncomfortable of spaces so they can get just a little bit closer. On the other hand, boxers can be a proud and stubborn breed, so get ready to see your boxer sulk and pout, sometimes for several days, if he does not get his way. He will ignore you, he will avert his deep, soulful eyes, and he will stay curled up in a ball in the corner until you apologize sincerely. Boxers are very expressive dogs who seem to understand their human friends on a profound level. With such a lovable personality and human-like traits, the boxer will truly be your best friend.

Boxers respect strong leadership in their owner, and once this is established they will proudly obey. But give a boxer an inch, and he will take a mile… and he’ll most likely come back with a goofy (and guilty) expression on his face. With such an athletic build and so much hyper energy, boxers need consistent exercise and entertainment or they will surely get into mischief. They are naturally curious, and can also be very headstrong and determined. This breed was originally used for hunting, so they will most likely chase chickens or any kind of game, cats, and, well, any other moving thing that they catch out of the corner of their eyes. Because of these characteristics it is a good idea to learn how to care for your boxer.

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Boxers make wonderful family dogs. They do a great job at protecting their family in a way that is not too overbearing or intimidating. They seem to have a good sense about people and can immediately tell whether a person is a friend or foe. With their hyper and rambunctious behavior, they will easily knock over small children, but they won’t mean to. Boxers adore children. They seem to have a keen understanding of children because they are like children themselves whether they are 2 years old or 7 years old. This puppy-like playfulness does not usually go away until a boxer is middle aged, and even then they still will resemble a puppy (or a small child) more than a grown dog. Unfortunately, boxers are prone to certain health problems but a good breeder will have their dogs tested where it is possible. The average life span of a boxer is 10 – 12 years.

A medium to large breed with short hair, boxers are easy to groom and attractive to look at. Historically it has been the norm to dock their tails and crop their ears, but in many countries that practice is now outlawed and even in those countries where it is allowable more are choosing to leave the ears and tails alone.  By leaving the ears and tails natural you will save the money and pain of an operation and after care but lose more cups off the coffee table (their natural tail is like a whip! 🙂 ). An endearing trait that you will appreciate about the boxer – with or without  the docked tail – is the dance he does when he greets you as you come in the door. It will start at his nub of a tail, which will get wagging so frantically that his whole rear end will wiggle with excitement. Then, this wiggle will spread throughout his entire body until he can barely contain himself. He will continue his wiggle dance in circles around you. He’ll do his best not to jump up on you. He will probably let out a few whines of excitement. And, finally, once he settles down you will see in his deep eyes a questioning look, as if to say “How was your day today?” And then “Do you want to play?”

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