Boxer Dog
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Boxer Dog
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Dog Group
Kennel Club: Working (AKC, KC)
Appearance
The boxer dog is a medium
sized breed with an impressive well muscled athletic body. They
are well known for their expressive faces.
Coat
They have short smooth
coats. Colours include: red, fawn and brindle with white markings
on face, chest and paws.
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Weight: 50 - 80 lbs
Average Life
Span: 10 - 12 years
Temperament
Boxer dogs are playful, affectionate,
loyal, intelligent, high energy dogs who can be very stubborn at
times. They are excellent with children and other dogs and animals
making them great family pets. They like to be involved in family
activities and love human attention. They can develop destructive
behaviours if left alone for long periods of time. If you are out
at work for most of the day this is not the breed for you.
Training
Boxers
are intelligent dogs but training must begin early and be consistent
as they can be very stubborn and full of self confidence. Owners
need to be patient and have the time to give efficient training,
otherwise the boxer will always get his own way. Early socialisation
is also recommended as some males can become male dominant.
Grooming
Their short coats are
low maintenance, once weekly brushing will keep it shiny and healthy.
Exercise
This breed is full
of energy and requires lots of daily exercise to keep them healthy
and happy. They love to run off the leash, chase balls and frisbees.
Boxer Dog Health Issues
Bloat (gastric torsion),
though not a hereditary condition, but has been found to affect
the boxer. This is a very serious condition. When a dog bloats,
the stomach can turn and block, causing a build up of gas. Unless
treated quickly, bloat can be fatal. Signs of bloat include futile attempts to vomit and to salivate.
Bloat, which may lead to cardiovascular collapse, usually occurs
when exercise too closely follows eating. The incidence of bloat
may be lessened by feeding adult dogs twice a day and, of course,
by allowing a dog time to digest before taking him for a run in
the park. Click Here for more information
Hip
dysplasia: a
malformation of the hip joint resulting in a poor fit between the
head of the femur bone and the hip socket. This condition can be
alleviated by surgery, at some cost to dog and owner. Because dysplastic
dogs often produce dysplastic puppies, buyers should ask if both
the sire and the dam of the puppy in which they are interested have
been rated clear of hip dysplasia. Do not take yes for an answer
without seeing a certificate, and ask for a copy to take to your
veterinarian.
Ulcerative
keratitis (boxer ulcer or corneal erosion):
This condition, for which no causative bacterium or virus has been
identified, is peculiar to boxers. The ulceration of the cornea
may affect one or both eyes. The lesion is small and superficial
and has no tendency to spread. At first there is no discharge, corneal
opacity, or growth of blood vessels associated with this condition.
In its later stages, however, constant tearing occurs and may resist
treatment. More than 80 percent of these ulcers occur in spayed
bitches five years of age or more.
Aortic
Stenosis: is
a narrowing of the outflow channel between the left chamber of the
heart and the main artery (aorta). In most cases, an abnormal sound
of the heart (a systolic murmur), detected by stethoscope, is the
only finding. With moderate to severe stenosis, signs may vary.
Some dogs may show signs of exercise intolerance or fainting. As
the condition progresses, symptoms may include difficulty in breathing,
coughing, abnormal heart rhythms, and sudden death.
Monorchidism: The failure of one
testicle to descend into the scrotum. Monorchidism occurs more often
in boxers than is the norm. If the testicle is retained inside the
abdominal cavity, it should be removed while the dog is young.
Boxer Dog History
There are theories
as to why and how the Boxer as a breed originated, but we do know
the Boxer was a man made breed in the late 1800's. His
ancestors, the "Brabant Bullenbeisser", a Mastiff type
dog, were originally bred in Germany. As the breeders
of that time wanted dogs suitable for hunting and holding prey,
these dogs were then out crossed with a smaller Mastiff type dog,
(the originator of the the English Bulldog). These dogs possessed
a wide undershot lower jaw, a nose that was set further back, and
was a smaller and more active dog than the Bullenbeisser.
- This dog's strong
and wide undershot jaw and strong teeth were needed in order to
have him lock onto his prey and to continue holding it until his
master arrived.His nose with its
large, open nostrils, was set back in order that he could breath
while holding on to his quarry.
- The wrinkles on
each side of his muzzle were also there for a purpose which was
to keep the blood of the animal away from his eyes.
This criteria for the
perfect boxer head still stands to this day. |
