Boxer
By Jacquelyn Valentine
(This article originally appeared in our Summer 2009
magazine. For more information regarding our magazine,
click here.)
The physical appearance says strong and stalwart, from the straight-as-an-arrow stance to the streamlined, square build. There’s no lack of confidence here, and the owner can certainly feel safe. Yet at the sight of a familiar child, this alert and protective dog’s demeanor changes visibly, and the high-spirited playfulness hidden inside the Boxer steps to the forefront. There’s no question why the Boxer is one of the most popular dogs around today. This versatile breed offers so much to the people it loves.
History
The Boxer is descended from dogs of the Molasser group of dogs, large mastiff-type dogs that were once found in Europe and Asia and other parts of the world. These dogs were depicted and referred to in paintings, tapestries and writings at least as far back as the Middle Ages. Humans used them for many purposes, including war dogs, carting dogs, hunting dogs and watchdogs.
In Germany these dogs, known as the Bullenbeiser, were used to guard their owners’ home if needed, but their main purpose was to serve as swift hunters. The Bullenbeiser, known as a bull baiting dog, had to be able to grab the prey and hold on to it until the hunter could retrieve it. This dog had a lower jaw that jutted out slightly farther than the upper jaw, a characteristic that allowed the dog to breathe easily while he held the prey. As time progressed, the faster dogs were preferred, and a smaller Bullenbeiser was bred in Brabant of northern Belgium.
The Brabanter Bullenbeiser is considered to be a direct ancestor of the Boxer. At the end of the Napoleonic Wars (1815) much of the aristocracy (the primary owners of Brabanter Bullenbeisers) was scattered throughout Europe. As a result, the breed became more of a loyal dog of the working class than a hunting companion of the upper class and the nobility. Then in the late 1800’s the Brabanter Bullenbeiser was crossed with the English Bulldog and the resulting dog is the true progenitor of the Boxer of today. In 1894 three German breeders by the names of Roberth, Konig and Hopner worked together to secure a standard for the breed. The first Boxer developed by these three men was shown in Munich in 1896 when they formed the first Boxer Club. Boxers first came to the United States at the turn of the twentieth century.
Temperament
The Boxer’s personality is one that begins with its love and loyalty to its owner. Harmless and protective of its family, he is immediately wary of strangers, but will warm up to them as soon as he knows his owner approves. This dog is determined and obedient, ready to help his owner in any way possible. This social tendency makes him excellent at working with people, and lends this dog to the many uses man has had for him, including police dogs in K-9 units, therapy dogs, circus dogs, herding dogs, attack dogs, guard dogs, messenger dogs, and courier dogs in times of war.
The Boxer is dignified, yet fun-loving, making him a perfect pet for all ages. He’s especially good with children because he’s tough enough to take some tugging and pulling but gentle enough to be patient with rambunctious tots. As much as the Boxer relishes romping with kids, he’s also ready and willing to frolic around with other dogs, making this the perfect breed to have in a home with more than one animal.
The owner should be sure the dog is obedience trained, whether this is done at home or in an obedience class. Light obedience training should begin at eight weeks of age or when the puppy is brought home. A Boxer is sensitive to pleasing his owner, a point to build on during training, always striving for patience and consistency in teaching the dog what is expected of him.
It stands to reason that the intelligent Boxer needs to stay busy or have something to do to prevent boredom, which can lead to undesirable behavior. When the Boxer is not kept busy and isn’t worked with, it can become strong-willed and stubborn, characteristics that can be dealt with using positive reinforcement training methods. These dogs need a daily walk or time outside with their favorite person in order to burn off some of that boundless energy and head off some of the problems that can arise from boredom. During the day several chew toys should be available to keep him busy, preferably the ones that can be stuffed with his kibble to keep him occupied for a long time.
Health
There are several health conditions to which this breed is predisposed. This simply means that the owner should keep an eye on these health issues as the dog matures.
Cardiomyopathy is a hereditary heart condition that is characterized by an abnormal heart rhythm. This condition can cause sudden death often with no warning signs. The dog may have a seizure or faint, go into complete heart failure.
Aortic Stenosis, a heart disease distinguished by an aortic valve that does not open completely, is another heart condition that affects Boxers. The heart of the affected dog is forced to work harder to pump blood through the narrow vessel, and the vessel becomes hardened. Symptoms of the disease are a weak and tired dog, some even faint. The only way to treat the dog is to restrict his activity, which can be difficult to do with an active dog.
Hip dysplasia, a hereditary condition characterized by a malformed hip joint is found in many dog breeds, including the Boxer. Since the joints aren’t formed correctly, wear and tear take a toll on the dog’s comfort level, often causing him a great deal of pain.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) has developed a highly recommended x-ray exam that tests for the presence of the disease in a dog.
Thyroid disease, also seen in Boxers, can be a complex disease to diagnose. Some of the typical symptoms are lethargy, weight gain, skin infections, dull coat, colon problems, cold intolerance, and skin odor. The veterinarian will consider all possibilities and will do blood work to determine if the symptoms are because of a thyroid problem. Thankfully, when the disease is diagnosed, the dog can often be easily treated by being given doses of the hormones that it’s lacking.
Bloat is a common problem among dogs in which the stomach becomes “stretched out” by excessive gas, food or water. It is also called gastric torsion or gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV). In this condition, the stomach gets twisted, preventing gas from escaping and leaving the dog in excruciating pain. This often requires immediate surgery to save the dog’s life. In order to help prevent this problem, the owner can be mindful of how fast the dog eats and drinks. It also helps to give the dog smaller meals in order to encourage normal stomach emptying. Finally, give the dog time to digest its food before taking it out for vigorous exercise.
Boxers are predisposed to develop cancers, mainly Lymphosarcoma or lymphoma, which are cancers of the lymph system. They also develop mast cell tumors (cancers that affect the immune system) and squamous cell carcinomas (cancer of the skin). Owners should watch their dogs closely for unusual lumps that might be cancerous. Some of the tumors that Boxers develop are fatty tumors, but this can only be determined by a veterinarian. If a dog does have cancer, as with humans, the sooner it’s found, the better the prognosis.
Grooming
The Boxer is blessed with a simple-to-groom, smooth, short-haired coat, and bathing doesn’t need to be done very often. Interestingly, the Boxer is a clean animal who likes to groom himself in cat-like fashion. Boxers are moderate shedders; brushing should be done with a soft bristle brush on a regular basis to bring out the natural oils in the skin. Sometimes it helps to rub the dog down with a soft cloth in order to keep his coat soft and shiny.
Dogs that have that “pushed-in” muzzle and face shape are called Brachycephalic breeds. Bacteria can grow in the facial crevices of these dogs if they’re not kept clean, causing not only a foul odor but infections. The facial wrinkles and folds of these dogs need to be inspected and cleansed often in order to keep the skin clean and healthy.
This one's Just Right!
Everyone has their preferences when it comes to dogs. Some dogs may be too big, some may be too small. Some dogs are too furry for those who don’t want a hairy mess on the couch; still others may seem to be “high maintenance”.
The Boxer is the “just right” dog. He has just the right amount of grooming for the busy owner. He has just the right loyalty and intelligence that endear him to the adult owner, just the right calm demeanor for having fun with the children and just the right eagerness to amuse his human friends that will win over anyone’s heart.