Everything you need to know about Boxer dogs

Updated 24 June 2024

Alert yet affectionate, watchful yet calm and strong yet oh so loving, it’s safe to say the Boxer dog is a one of a kind family pup. Whether you’re a fan of the breed already, you’re house sitting a Boxer dog or you’re a pet parent with sitters arriving soon, stick with us as we explore all things Boxers. Here we’re diving into a complete Boxer dog breed guide, covering temperament, training tips, breed history, and a whole lot more.

Boxer breed characteristics 

• Origin: Germany
• Size: Female Boxer dogs reach 23.5 inches at the shoulder and weigh around 60 pounds, while males reach 25 inches and weigh up to 70 pounds.
• Character: Playful, energetic and loving. They’re great around children, can get on with other pets and make for the perfect furry friend for any active household.
• Health needs and grooming: Their short, slick coat needs minimal grooming - just a quick brush once a week to help with shedding, along with nail clipping and ear cleaning.
• Training: Consistent, positive reinforcement training and socialization from puppyhood is needed.
• Energy levels: Boxers are high-energy dogs - they’re ex-hunting dogs so love exercise, walkies, challenges and games.
• Intelligence: Their working dog history means they’re a great choice for the service dogs of today. Boxers also love agility training and playing games to keep those intelligent minds stimulated.
• Life expectancy: 10-12 years.
• Barking/howling: Boxers aren’t prone to excessive barking or howling. With the right training and socialization, you shouldn’t have a noise problem.

What do Boxers look like?

Boxer dogs are medium to large-sized pups known for their short-haired coats. Brindle and fawn Boxer dogs are the most common, sometimes with white markings on the feet and underbelly.

They’re found with a black mask covering a short snout, and sometimes a white stripe following from the muzzle all the way through the middle of the face. 

Like with any dog, the Boxer’s size is determined by their age and sex. Female boxer dogs tend to reach up to 23.5 inches at the shoulder and weigh up to 60 pounds, whereas males reach 25 inches and 70 pounds. 

And while adult Boxer dogs are muscular and well-built, the Boxer puppy is softer in appearance, and can weigh in as little as 0.5 pounds as newborns.

Boxer personality

Typical Boxer traits include:

• Intelligent
• Confident 
• Friendly
• Playful
• Loyal
• Energetic
• Alert
• Watchful
• Polite
• Sometimes protective

Boxer temperament

With good socialization and puppy training, Boxer dogs are often friendly and loving towards other pets and humans.

The Boxer puppy is playful and curious about the world - and like with any dog, a good upbringing will often result in a happy adult family dog. 

One way to scope what the temperament of a Boxer puppy will be like is to meet their parents, brothers, sisters, and any other relatives you’re aware of. While it’s no guarantee they’ll turn out the same, it can give you a good idea as to what their temperament will be like as an adult.

Boxer dog training tips and behavior

1. Reward, reward, reward. Positive reinforcement-based training is a must, so find out your Boxer dog’s favorite biscuit or toy and use it to reward the behavior you want to continue.
2. Exercise before training. Take your Boxer dog for a good run around and a game of fetch before training - this will help to expel some of that boundless energy and hopefully increase concentration in your training session.
3. Notice good behavior. Even if it’s outside of a training session, reward your Boxer puppy or adult pooch when you notice them doing something right - this will only reinforce the behavior you want repeated.
4. Start young. If you can, it’s always a good idea to start your Boxer puppy training as soon as you welcome them home. That way, good behavior becomes ingrained.
5. Socialization. Expose your Boxer dog to as many pets, people and environments as you can in those early years - this will result in a friendly, less reactive adult dog.
6. Mental stimulation. Boxer dogs are intelligent, so are happiest when using their brains, and love getting stuck into obedience training, agility and even herding.
7. Consistency. Whether it’s a local puppy training class or puppy training from home, consistency is key. Have the same rules repeatedly enforced, and you won’t go far wrong.
8. Structured play time. With bags of energy, Boxer dogs could play almost constantly, so make it clear when play time starts and ends.
9. Settle. Teach your pup to settle in their bed or in a comfortable, designated area of your home - this will help you manage all of that energy.
10. Recall training. Train your Boxer dog to come back to you when out on walkies - they love to socialize, so reward your pooch when they come back with a high-value toy or treat.

Boxer dog history

Pre-Boxer dog history

Boxer dogs of today descend from a mix of working dogs developed in Germany - Bullenbeisers, Mastiffs and Bulldogs (but for your interest, Boxer dog origins date all the way back to the Assyrian empire in around 2,500 BC). 

The Bullenbesier can be traced back to Medieval times, when they were employed by noblemen to catch and hold down bison, wild boar and even bears.

Skip ahead to the early 1800s, the German nobles were out of favor (politically speaking) and their large estates were broken up. The new situation trickled down to their Bullenbeisser hunting sidekicks and the partnership came to an end. Instead, they were adopted by butchers and farmers to guard but and drive cattle.

The beginning of the Boxer breed

Then in the late 19th century, a man named Georg Alt from Munich bred a brindle-toned female Bullenbeisser (named Flora) with a dog of an unknown breed. From the litter was a fawn and white dog who they named Lechner’s Box. 

He was then bred with Flora, and from their litter came a female called Alt’s Schecken who was registered as a Modern Bullenbeisser, otherwise known as Bierboxer.

She was then bred with a separate breed - an English Bulldog called Tom which produced the first Boxer dog to be entered into the German Stud Book. The pooch was named Flocki and he won a show in Munich which earned his status. 

His sister (Piccolo von Angertor) was then mated with a grandson of Lechner’s Box (confusing, we know). They gave birth to a female called Meta von der Passage - a dog who’s thought of as the mother of the German Boxer dog.

The 'official' Boxer breed

Fast forward to 1894, three people from Germany set out to stabilize the modern Boxer breed by exhibiting a Boxer at a dog show in Munich, 1985. The following year, they formed the very first Boxer Club. 

Word spread of the Boxer breed across Europe in the late 1890s, and in about 1903, the first Boxers were shipped to the US. A year later, the first Boxer dog to be registered by the American Kennel Club in the United States was Arnulf Grandenz.

During World War I, Boxers worked as messenger dogs in the military, positioned as attack and guard dogs. Between World War I and II, the American Boxer Club (ABC) was formed in 1935. Their popularity then soared in the 1940s as US soldiers welcomed their sidekicks back home with them. 

They’ve since become popular family dogs, and also serve as rescue, military and police dogs. They've even been paired with other popular breeds to create a number of Boxer hybrid dogs, which are becoming increasingly well-known. And then the rest, as they say, is history.

Boxer health issues

The Boxer dog lifespan is 10-12 years, and in that time, there are a few health issues that can crop up (like any of our other four-legged friends). While not all of these will occur in every pup, they're certainly worth looking out for in the life of a Boxer dog.

Hip dysplasia

This common condition occurs when the thigh bone doesn’t fit as well as it should into the hip joint. Signs include pain and lack of mobility in the back legs. While it’s a hereditary condition, hip dysplasia can be caused by a high-calorie diet which has resulted in ultra fast growth, or from injuries.

While some Boxer dogs can get by with medication to help with hip function, others may need a complete replacement.

Hypothyroidism 

This health condition is caused by an ineffective thyroid hormone, hypothyroidism can result in lack of energy, mental sluggishness, obesity and infertility.

Another sign to look out for is a change in fur texture - Boxer dogs with hypothyroidism can develop rough, brittle fur which will eventually fall out, exposing tough, dark skin beneath caused by the condition. Luckily, hypothyroidism can be treated with lifelong medication.

Cancer

The sorts of cancer that Boxer dogs are unfortunately prone to developing include brain tumors, mast cell tumors and lymphoma. If your Boxer is white or has a lot of white markings, they can also be prone to skin cancer. If this is the case, find a dog-friendly sun cream to protect their ears, nose and coat from the sun’s rays.

Aortic stenosis/subaortic stenosis (AS/SAS)

AS and SAS occur when the aorta narrows below the aortic valve which causes the heart to work much harder to pump blood around the body. It can cause fainting and sometimes sudden death.

Despite being an inherited disease, AS/SAS is picked up when a heart murmur has been diagnosed. If your pooch has sadly been diagnosed with it, do not breed them. 

Boxer cardiomyopathy (BCM)

Another inherited heart condition, dogs with BCM will sometimes have an erratic heartbeat caused by an electrical conduction disorder (otherwise known as arrhythmia). It’s a difficult condition to detect which is why it can cause sudden death, but other signs to look out for include weakness and collapse. 

Just FYI, BCM is also sometimes referred to as Boxer Arrhythmic Cardiomyopathy (BAC), Familial Ventricular Arrhythmia (FVA) and Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Like AS/SAS, Boxer dogs with known BCM shouldn’t be bred.

Demodectic mange

This occurs in Boxers when the mother passes a small creature, a demodex mite, onto her pups in the first few days after birth. While they usually live in hair follicles and cause no harm, demodectic mange can develop if your pup has an immune system that isn’t functioning properly.

There are three forms of the condition: generalized, localized and Demodectic Pododermatitis. The generalized form affects older Boxer puppies and young adults, covering the whole body with patchy skin, bald spots and skin infections. 

The localized form spreads across the head, neck and front legs with red, scaly skin and hair loss. If left untreated, it can progress into the generalized form of the condition.

The last form of the disease we’ll mention is Demodectic Pododermatitis which only affects the dog’s paws but can result in deep-rooted infections.

Corneal dystrophy

Corneal dystrophy refers to a variety of eye diseases that occur when the layers of the cornea turn opaque. While it’s not usually a painful condition, ulcers can develop which can result in discomfort and pain.

Deafness

Deafness is most common in white Boxer dogs and dogs with white spotting. If your pooch experiences hearing loss, consider training them to understand hand signals, and avoid startling them with your presence by gently patting their head or body before you appear.

Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV)

GDV is caused by stomach bloating with gas or air which then twists and is more common among older, deep-chested dogs (like Boxers). This traps the air in the stomach, meaning the dog can’t burp or vomit it up. 

That then results in a lack of blood returning to the heart, causing low blood pressure, shock and sometimes even death. It’s thought that this can be more likely in dogs who are only fed one large meal a day, eat quickly, drink lots of water after food, and then head off for intense exercise. 

Things to look out for include an enlarged abdomen, retching without vomiting, and more drooling than usual. 

Degenerative myelopathy

Canine degenerative myelopathy is a disease of the spinal cord that results in muscle atrophy (wastage). While the condition isn’t painful for dogs, it can result in a lack of mobility.

Allergies

If you notice your pooch has itchy or scaly skin, take them to the vet to find out what they’re allergic to - it could be environmental or food-related.

What to feed a Boxer dog

Make sure that the dog food you choose is high-quality and suited to medium-sized breeds with lots of energy and right for their stage in life. 

While it can be tempting to reward your pup with dog treats throughout training, it’s important to remember that they can gain weight when overfed, so opt for toys as treats, too. 

Avoid cramming all the food into one meal a day - it can cause bloating which can result in gastric dilatation-volvulus.

Grooming a Boxer dog

Boxers dogs will benefit from weekly brushing to avoid excessive molting, along with teeth brushing a few times a week. Trim your pup’s nails twice a month (if they haven’t worn down naturally). And Boxers are prone to drooling - you might have heard - so keep a tissue to hand to wipe those faces.

Always reward your doggo during and after your grooming sessions - this will help them associate the practice with something positive.

We’d also advise taking the time to check for any rashes, red patches or sore areas - if you spot any, make an appointment with your vet. It’s also a great chance to make sure their ears aren’t smelly or filled with wax. And if you’ve got any concerns after your at-home once over, head to the vets.

Are Boxers good with kids and other pets?

When properly socialized, Boxer dogs can be great with children and other pets. It’s best to introduce a Boxer puppy to older children and pets early on - they’ll love having another companion to play with.

And like with any dog, always keep an eye on your Boxer around children and other pets, no matter how loving and friendly they are.

Boxer dog name ideas

• Apollo
• Atlas
• Bruiser
• Hilda
• Roxie
• Maximus
• Sasha
• Stella
• Tank 
• Rex

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