Boxer

History of the boxer breed

The ancestors of the German boxer are bulldogs, mastiffs and bullenbacers. It was due to the mixing of their bloodlines that this breed was born, which began to conquer the world since 1896.

Boxers of the late XIX century and modern boxers are not exactly the same thing. In those distant years, they were used as shepherds, for transporting goods and hunting wild boars and bison. Often, early representatives of the breed became participants in dog fights and even bullfights. During the First World War, the German army successfully used them as postmen and scouts. At the same time, German boxers proved themselves as guide dogs. Later, dogs of this breed revealed their "creative" talents, successfully performing in circus and theatrical performances.

The version of the earlier origin of boxers is also interesting. Some researchers claim that their direct ancestors are the Tibetan Great Danes who found themselves in Rome and Greece in ancient times. It is believed that the ancient boxers were larger and more aggressive. Their inherent bloodlust helped them to cope perfectly with military tasks. They were used for protection and as a baiting dog during hunting for large forest game, as well as in popular entertainments of those times – dogfights, which were almost as intense as gladiatorial ones.

Since the end of the century before last, the German boxer began to conquer the world, he had many fans in different parts of the world, even opening clubs dedicated to this incredibly stately, portly and beautiful dog. Her appearance seems aggressive (sometimes it may seem that she is ready to rush at a stranger and tear him apart), but behind her lies a good-natured and complaisant character. This is a great merit of the breeders who have done everything possible to add such traits as kindness and poise to dexterity, endurance and quickness of reaction.

When a dog wants to play, it starts to move its paws in the air, as if boxing. Such a special manner, which makes her unlike other dogs, predetermined the name of the breed. According to the owners, boxers have all the necessary qualities for living in a family, so they are the best!

Video: German boxer

Features of the German boxer

A German boxer at the age of 18 months is already an adult dog, fully formed physically. However, the inner world by the age of one and a half is still "childish". For this reason, attempts to train a dog during his emotional immaturity are almost hopeless, that is, he does not respond to commands, the owner even begins to think that he is communicating with the deaf. But one day there comes a breakthrough in learning, and your pet suddenly begins to understand everything that they tried to teach him before, but in vain.

Boxer is a sociable dog, it gets along easily with other four–legged inhabitants of the house, but sometimes bullying in character takes over and she starts chasing yard cats. It happens that a dog of this breed easily gets into a fight with other dogs, and fights are often provoked by him. By nature, a boxer is a real fighter, he is agile, brave and strong. If he is properly trained, then you can raise an excellent guard. The childlike spontaneity inherent in a boxer remains with him all his life. The dog shows enviable stubbornness, but he never achieves his goal with aggression. His main weapon is humor and charm, which no loving owner can resist.

Representatives of this breed have amazing sensitivity, they are very smart and cunning. Sometimes they are noisy, which is perceived by some owners as a disadvantage, therefore, in order to develop the best character traits and minimize shortcomings, it is necessary to train boxers. With the right approach to this task, you can achieve amazing results, as boxers perceive training as a game and easily succumb to it.

Appearance and special features of the breed

Boxers have a stocky build. They are also called "square" dogs, because their height and length have approximately the same values. A wide and deep chest, coupled with a strong back with a slight slope in the pelvic area, fully corresponds to this type of physique. At the same time, representatives of this breed do not look squat – rather the opposite. Dogs look stately, they have a proud posture, and all thanks to dry muscles and a lean stomach. Their limbs are massive, correctly placed, without curvature, so they do not spoil the "figure". The boxer's neck is of medium length, strong and muscular, and the tail is long and even.

A distinctive feature of the breed is a slightly protruding lower jaw, a slightly upturned nose and high–set ears - thin, slightly hanging forward. During circumcision (cupping), they acquire a pointed shape, which gives them the correct setting. The boxer's eyes are dark, intelligent, they can tell a lot about the breed. You can read curiosity in the look, it glows with energy, but not aggression.

The skin of boxers, with the exception of the forehead and cheeks, fits tightly and does not form any folds. The coat – short, stiff – also fits snugly. Only two colors are considered classic for German boxers: red and brindle. The first one can vary from rich red to light yellow shades. The tiger has its own "extremes": from golden to darkly dark. The breed standard assumes that the stripes should look like clear lines.

Whatever the color, a kind of dark mask is an invariable attribute on the dog's muzzle. Acceptable is the presence of white markings that give the breed aesthetics. "Defective" are considered white, black, gray dogs with a large number of stripes and spots. And one more thing: if you plan to send your pet to the exhibition, then you will have to sacrifice the cupping of the ears and tail. Experts categorically do not recommend such manipulations with a boxer.

General description

• The height of the German boxer is average, about 60 cm at the withers. An adult dog weighs from 25 to 32 kg.
• Dogs of this breed have a superbly developed and voluminous musculature. Their movements are active, energetic, filled with nobility and strength.
• Boxers, despite their "square" physique, have sufficient substance. That is, you can't call them clumsy, heavy or, conversely, too light.
• They are characterized by poise, they often serve as guides for blind people.
• Males are larger than bitches. Pedigreed parents can have up to 7 puppies in one litter.

Head

The head corresponds to the proportions of the body and, giving the dog a special identity, does not look too massive or excessively light. The muzzle, ideally, is as wide and powerful as possible. The correct ratio of the cranial part and the muzzle provides the boxer with the harmony of his head. No matter where you look – from the front, from the side or from above – the muzzle relative to the cranial part remains in the right proportion and does not look too small.

The boxer's head is dry, there are no wrinkles and wrinkles on it. The latter are formed, and this is allowed only in cases where something has alerted the dog. On the muzzle, on both sides of it, there are natural wrinkles. But not everywhere, but only in the area from the base of the bridge of the nose down. A black mask is clearly visible against the general background of the muzzle. Despite the gloomy shade, it does not give the dog a gloomy appearance.

The upper region of the skull is not wide, not flat and extremely angular. Its shape is somewhat convex, but not shortened or spherical. The severity of the bump in the occipital region is not excessive. The furrow on the forehead (primarily the area between the eyes) does not differ in depth and is only slightly visible. The area from the forehead to the back of the nose has a ledge that is clearly visible. The back of the nose is not lowered and, unlike bulldogs, is not upturned.

Teeth

The lower jaw, if you compare it with the upper one, is slightly longer. Its distinctive feature is the upward curvature. The base of the upper jaw is wide, tapering towards the end. Boxer's teeth are distinguished by excellent health, very strong. The canines are impressive in size, widely spaced. The incisors are located on the same line, very evenly. The shape of the dog's bite is a snack.

Eyes

The eyes of boxers are rather big, dark in color, not set deep and do not differ in bulge. The edges of the eyelids are also dark. Dogs look intelligent and energetic at the same time, their gaze is kind and does not carry any threat.

Ears

Are located on the sides in the upper region of the skull, their landing is high, the size is proportionate. In a state when nothing bothers the dog, and there is no need to listen to the sounds, they are adjacent to the cheekbones. If your pet is alert, then the ears will immediately turn forward, forming a clear bend.

Nose and lips

Thanks to the nose, the dog's muzzle has a complete appearance, its tip is slightly higher than the base. The lobe is slightly upturned, it is wide, the color is black, the nostrils are also wide.

The upper lip is pronounced, fleshy. It closes the free area formed due to the fact that the lower jaw is longer. The upper lip is supported by the lower canines.

Neck

The boxer's neck is dry, muscular and at the same time rounded and long (but not excessively). From the bump on the back of the head in the direction of the withers, the upper border of the neck forms an elegant arc.

Housing

The boxer's withers are clearly pronounced, strong, developed limbs serve as a support for the body. The back is wide, with a "pumped up" muscular system, but short and smooth. The croup is distinguished by some roundness, wide, slightly inclined. The pelvis, first of all it refers to female individuals, is wide and long.

The chest area is so deep that it reaches up to the elbows and is equal to half the height of the dog at the withers. Its front part is powerful, superbly developed.

The bottom line has an elegant curve in the direction of the sciatic mound. Groin length can not boast, moderately fit.

Tail

Has a fairly high landing. Usually it is not docked, that is, it is left unchanged – the way it is by nature.

Limbs

If you stand in front of the dog, you can see that the front paws are parallel to each other. The backbone of the limbs is strong.

The shoulder blades are firmly connected to the body, differ in length and have a slope. The shoulders are also long, located relative to the shoulder blades at the right angle. The elbows are not pressed too tightly to the chest.

Forearms are also by no means short, arranged vertically, muscular. Pasterns, on the contrary, are short, almost vertical. The wrists are clearly marked: they are strong, but not too massive.

The front paws have a rounded shape, they are small, compact, the pads are firm and elastic. The hind legs are naturally well "pumped up", straight, the hips are distinctly wide and long.

The hind legs are somewhat longer than the front ones. They are also compact, the pads are firm and elastic.

When a boxer is calm, his knee joints are so clearly pushed forward that they even reach the conditional perpendicular outlined in the direction of the surface from the iliac tubercles.

Muscularity is also inherent in the shins. Although the hock joints are not massive, they are strong and well pronounced.

Wool

The hair fits snugly to the skin, it is short and hard, shiny.

Color

Boxers are red or tiger color. Any shades of the first are allowed, starting from light yellow and ending with red-brown. The most typical for the breed or, in other words, preferred are red-red tones.

Brindle color has the appearance of dark or black stripes on a red background. They should be clearly outlined and contrast with the background. White areas are not forbidden and, accordingly, the "marriage" of the breed is not considered – on the contrary, they can even decorate a dog.

Possible vices

Various variations that do not meet the breed standards listed above are considered disadvantages. The assessment of these shortcomings should be carried out according to the degree of their severity, as well as by how much they affect the daily lifestyle of the dog and its health.

Disqualifying vices

Physical: congenital short-tailedness. Behavioral: cowardice or, conversely, aggressiveness.

Testicular defects: in healthy males, they should be normally developed, completely lowered into the scrotum.

Any representative of the breed showing obvious physical disabilities or behavioral abnormalities should be disqualified.

Life expectancy

A German boxer lives on average 11-12 years. There are happy exceptions to this rule.

Photo of an adult boxer

Boxer's character

Cheerful, playful, curious, funny, energetic – these traits fully characterize German boxers. And these dogs are loyal, they are very attached to their owner and his family members. Positive traits remain with the boxer all his life, he likes it when there are a lot of people and noise around.

A boxer who has passed a good training school, gets along well with young family members, treats them carefully, never offends and plays with them with pleasure. He will not only become an excellent companion for your child, but also a reliable guard.

A representative of this breed, provided good upbringing and social adaptation, will get along well not only with other dogs living in the house, but even with cats. However, the real "temptation" for them are small animals and birds. Your pet can be taught not to touch them, and he won't do it with you. But, as they say, it's better not to leave the boxer alone with them out of harm's way.

The boxer likes to fool around, all the people he knows are warmly welcomed. He never loses vigilance, and therefore he will be a good defender for his household. This brave, athletic breed retains excellent protective and watchdog qualities sometimes until a very old age. In order for the dog not to show his not the best qualities – excessive noise, stubbornness, and sometimes uncontrollability – he needs a master who will dominate him.

Adults have a calm temperament, which is a direct result of proper training at an early age. The popularity of the breed is precisely due to this very balance, coupled with a natural mind and tolerance for people and other pets. In relation to his master, the boxer shows the most tender feelings and shows with all his appearance that he really likes being around. If you do not cultivate communicative qualities in him, the dog will be suspicious of strangers all his life, bark at them, refuse to let them near the owner.

The boxer retains his childlike activity and spontaneity until the age of 2-3, although physically he matures by the age of one and a half. Many owners, who are not aware of the subtleties of the breed, complain that the boxer does not understand the commands that he is taught. In fact, the dog needs time to assimilate and consolidate new information. The fact that this is so, the owners then become convinced: at one fine moment, the dog begins to do everything that he, it would seem, has been taught to no avail for a long time.

Training and education

Boxers are smart, well–trained dogs. At the same time, they are stubborn and perceive new information selectively. They refuse to carry out many commands, preferring to obey only those that they like.

Some owners believe that it is necessary to train a representative of this breed using the "carrot and stick" method, that is, punishing for disobedience and encouraging for the exact execution of commands. However, the "whip" in this technique will be superfluous, since boxers react badly to punishment. Various incentives (praise, treats, rewards) make them more receptive to training. Using a certain set of commands, in the process of training you will definitely achieve excellent results. With the correct and intelligible formulation of tasks, the boxer remembers the learned commands for a long time.

The education of a boxer usually begins from the moment the puppy was in the house, and full–fledged training - from three months. First of all, the dog is taught basic commands, such as "Sit!", "Lie down!", "Next!". When your pet learns them, you can start learning the command "To me!". This command is considered the main one, the boxer must perform it in any situation and from the first time.

Boxer loves expanse, so the countryside suits him perfectly. But even in the apartment, your four-legged friend will feel good if you regularly take him for walks in a large park, where he can walk for a long time. The dog will be an excellent companion for the owner who loves morning or evening jogging. He is ready to spend the whole day in the fresh air.

Dogs of this breed are often left to frolic in the courtyards of houses, before making sure of the strength of the fence. The latter is not superfluous: there are many cases when German boxers jumped over the fence and ran away. Their jaw is so powerful that, left alone at home, they can even bite the lock on the door.

Care and maintenance

Wherever you put your pet, in an apartment or a country house, it will take root perfectly everywhere. He will be comfortable even in an ordinary kennel, but on condition that another dog shares this "living space" with him.

In general, German boxers are quite unpretentious in care, but they do not tolerate cold and high humidity.

Since the wool of boxers is short, unlike long-haired breeds, it does not get lost and does not get tangled, accordingly, it does not need frequent combing.

Boxers are often not recommended to bathe. If your pet gets dirty during active games, just wipe the dirty place with a damp cloth.

Since a boxer is very active by nature, a sedentary lifestyle is contraindicated for him, he should receive maximum physical activity. For the healthy development of a dog of this breed, a balanced diet is also required.

The dog's eyes require special attention. Tear secretions or dust often accumulate on their corners, which a soft handkerchief is enough to remove. If the dog's eyes are red, a soothing ointment will help. However, do not self-medicate: a veterinarian should prescribe the drug.

Dirt may accumulate in the ears. To remove sulfur and dust from the auricle, it is enough to wipe it with a handkerchief wrapped around a finger or wipe it with a damp swab. Cleaning the boxer's ears with a cotton swab or instilling alcohol in them is strictly prohibited.

Boxer's claws should not touch the floor when walking. Otherwise, they need to be trimmed. Special forceps are used for this purpose. The procedure should be carried out no more than twice a month, otherwise you will bring discomfort and pain to your pet.

Boxer's Health and Diseases

Despite the fact that nature has measured 11-12 years of life for boxers, on average they rarely live up to 10 years. The reason lies in a weak immune system. Since these dogs are uncomfortable at low temperatures, they are prone to hypothermia, colds and allergic diseases. In order for their health not to be threatened, the rooms in which German boxers are kept should be dry and draughty. In wet and windy weather, it is better to refrain from walking.

The most common diseases of representatives of this breed include the following: heat intolerance, allergies, deafness, benign and malignant tumors, stomach twisting, hypothyroidism (decreased thyroid function), arthritis, heart problems, dysplasia (hip and elbow joints), degenerative myelopathy (as a result of this ailment, paralysis of the lower extremities is possible).

How to choose a puppy

In addition to compliance with the breed standard, an important criterion for choosing a future pet should be the conformity of its character to yours. Also, you should initially decide for what purpose you choose a German boxer. If you do not aim at the dog's participation in various exhibitions and just want to breed, a sociable companion dog is just right. The puppy should show his playfulness, friendliness and desire to communicate with you.

Boxer is great for active, cheerful people, because it is a sports dog. Even if you choose a "non-elite" puppy, communication with him and training will bring a lot of fun. For him, running for miles is not a problem, he will make you a good company on hikes and excursions to hard-to-reach places.

Many would like to become breeders of boxers in order to sell puppies in the future. For this purpose, do not skimp on a good bitch, which will become the starting base for breeding. It must meet the following criteria: to be a descendant of a famous family with excellent titles. In order not to make a mistake in choosing, it is better to buy a breeding puppy in well-known kennels that guarantee that you will not buy a "fake". You should also pay attention to the qualities of the puppy's parents: they must have excellent characteristics inherent in this breed, be mentally balanced.

Be sure to inquire about the health of the future pet, whether he has passed the test for deforming spondylosis, hip dysplasia, behavioral abnormalities and eye diseases. Any of these ailments carries a real danger to boxers and can even cause the death of a dog. It would be useful to demand from the breeder a document in which the results of the litter survey are recorded in order to find out how many puppies the commission rejected. If the number of such turns out to be high, it is better not to take a puppy, since there is a risk of transmitting defects to offspring.

Photos of boxer puppies

How much does a boxer cost

Boxers are relatively inexpensive, you can buy them in almost any region of our country. The future purchase should be treated responsibly, thoroughly study the breed standard, so that when making an independent choice, you will not be deceived. Those who do not have enough experience and knowledge are recommended to consult specialists.

The cost of a German boxer is influenced by factors such as the class of the puppy, the title of his parents, the fame of the kennel. Prices start from $350. It will be a pet-class pet, without the opportunity to participate in exhibitions and breeding. Breed and show puppies are more expensive – $600 and above.

Puppies, in addition to a veterinary passport, must have a stamp and a puppy card. Be sure to pay attention to the contents of these documents. The veterinary passport should contain notes on vaccinations and prevention of parasites. Do not forget that all the necessary vaccinations for a puppy are done at the age of 2 to 3 months.

A puppy card is like a metric for a child, based on it you will receive a pedigree for your pet in the future. Each such card contains the following data: date of birth, information about parents, from which breeder it was purchased, coat color, stamp number and nickname. The brand is placed at the time of sale on the ear or in the groin area. A puppy card is a very serious document. Without a certificate of inspection of puppies by the breeding commission, which includes authorized dog handlers, it cannot be issued.

Inexperienced owners are advised to be in close contact with breeders, consult with him. Specialists who are rooting for their business will never refuse advice and will try to help in solving possible problems with a puppy at the stage of their occurrence. This will help the boxer to develop properly, learn to get along with the owners and explore the world. And how your pet will grow up depends only on you.