Basic Information:

• Life expectancy: 10 - 12 years
• Temperament: Devoted, Friendly, Energetic, Cheerful, Intelligent, Fearless, Bright, Playful, Loyal, Confident, Calm, Brave
• Colors: White, Brindle, Fawn
• Height: Female: 53-60 cm, Male: 57-63 cm
• Weight: Female: 25-29 kg, Male: 27-32 kg
• Origin: Germany, Munich

Overview:

• He might have a worried look on his wrinkled face, but the Boxer isn't worried about being loved: he's one of the most popular dogs in America. And that's no surprise since this is a joyful, loyal companion who truly bonds with his human family. A well-bred, well-socialized Boxer is friendly with children and people he knows, suspicious and alert but not aggressive with strangers, and always ready for a walk, a game, or just some quality time on the sofa with you.

• The Boxer is a wonderful choice for an owner who will train him consistently, firmly and fairly, and who can have a sense of humor about the dog's stubborn streak. This breed also needs plenty of exercises to keep his high spirits in check the Boxer is a big dog and can do a lot of damage if he's bored or lonely.

• He's willing and able to participate in almost any organized canine activity, including agility, obedience, and flyball. While all dog-child play requires supervision, Boxers are generally good with children and make great family dogs.

• The Boxer's face is unmistakable: wrinkled and worried-looking, the expression belied by his square jaw, noble head, and jaunty walk. He's a big dog, weighing up to 70 pounds (sometimes more), with females being quite a bit smaller than males. His short coat sheds, but otherwise, he's an easy-care dog.

• The Boxer comes in shades of tan and brindle, as well as white. There is considerable controversy surrounding the white Boxer, largely because for generations, breeders killed their white puppies instead of trying to find homes for them as pets. This is widely considered to be unacceptable now, and more white Boxers are becoming available for purchase and adoption.

Personality:

•  Boxers are fun, happy dogs. They play willingly with family and friends and are patient and gentle with children. Boxers are also loyal and will respond courageously to anything that threatens their loved ones.

• Boxers are incredibly smart, but they don't always take training seriously. For best results, be firm, fair, and consistent with your Boxer. Appropriate rewards and consequences will teach him that good things happen when he does what you want and that he is never rewarded for disobeying. Boxers are good at spotting loopholes in the rules and they will push to see what they can get away with. And start early! Your little eight-week-old Boxer will be much easier and more fun to teach than his bigger, more stubborn eight-month-old self. Use treats, toys, and praise to lure and motivate him.

• Good outlets for a Boxer's energy include playing fetch, going for an hour-long walk, or training for agility or another dog sport. At least one Boxer is titled in herding, which is one of the breed's original functions. Their ancestors included all-purpose farm dogs whose jobs included catching and driving livestock.

Health:

• Cardiomyopathy is not the only heart problem that affects Boxers. Aortic/subaortic stenosis (AS/SAS) is a narrowing of the aortic valve or area just below the valve, usually caused by a fibrous ring of tissue. While it's likely to be genetic, the mode of inheritance is unknown and there is no screening test for AS/SAS. Diagnosis is often made by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist and affected dogs should not be bred.

• Boxers are also at risk for degenerative myelopathy, a form of progressive neurologic dysfunction. There is a genetic screening test for this condition that can be used to determine whether a puppy's parents are clear, carriers, or at risk; a puppy whose parents are clear neither carriers nor at risk will also be clear. A puppy from two carrier parents will be at risk, and a puppy with one carrier parent may be at risk.

• Boxers are more susceptible than many breeds to bloat, a condition in which the stomach expands with air. This can become a more serious condition, called gastric torsion, if the stomach twists on itself, cutting off blood flow. Gastric torsion strikes suddenly, and a dog who was fine one minute can be dead a few hours later. Watch for symptoms like restlessness and pacing, drooling, pale gums, and lip licking, trying to throw up without bringing anything up, and signs of pain. Gastric torsion requires immediate veterinary surgery, and most dogs that have bloated once will bloat again. That means it's wise to opt for the procedure known as "stomach tacking," which will keep the stomach from twisting in the future. This procedure can also be done as a preventive measure.

• Boxers are also at increased risk of many other diseases including allergies, skin problems, cancers including lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, mast cell tumors, and more. A good breeder will be able to discuss how prevalent these and other conditions that have no genetic screening test are in her dogs' lines, and help puppy buyers make an informed decision about health risks to their dog.

Grooming:

• The Boxer is an easy-care dog. His short, smooth coat benefits from weekly brushing with a firm bristle brush or rubber curry brush to keep it shiny and healthy and to remove dead hairs that would otherwise find their way to your clothes and furniture.

• Frequent baths are not necessary unless he gets dirty, but with the gentle dog shampoos available now, you can bathe a Boxer weekly if you want without harming his coat.

• Clean the ears as needed with a solution recommended by your veterinarian. Don't use cotton swabs inside the ear; they can push the gunk further down into it. Wipe out the ear with a cotton ball, never going deeper than the first knuckle of your finger.

• Trim the nails every couple of weeks or as needed. Don't let them get so long that you can hear them clicking on the floor.