my account
cart
help
ORIGIN: Germany
The ancestors of the Boxer were the German Bullenbeisser, a dog of Mastiff descent, and the English Bulldog. Bullenbeissers were bred as hunting dog for centuries, and used to pursue bear, wild boar, and deer. During a hunt, a Bullenbeisser’s task was to seize the prey and hold it until the hunters arrived. In later years, faster dogs were favored, and the Bullenbeisser grew smaller and was renamed the Brabanter.
In the late 19th century, the Brabanter was crossed with an English Bulldog to start the line that would become the modern Boxer. In 1894, three Germans named Roberth, Konig, and Hopner decided to stabilize the breed and put it on exhibition at a dog show. This was done in
The breed was introduced to other parts of
During World War I, the Boxer was co-opted for military work, acting as a valuable messenger dog, pack-carrier, attack dog, and guard dog.
It was not until after World War II that the Boxer became popular around the world. Boxer mascots, taken home by returning soldiers, introduced the breed to a much wider audience, and it soon became a favorite as a companion animal, show dog, and guard dog.
Breed name
Some believe that the name "Boxer" is derived from the breed’s tendency to begin a fight by standing on its hind legs and "boxing" with its front paws. However, according to Andrew H. Brace in his Pet Owner’s Guide to the Boxer, it is unlikely that this is the true origin of the name. Brace favors the theory that the Boxer’s name is a corruption of the word “Boxl,” which was a nickname of the smaller Bullenbeisser breed
"Boxer" is the name of a dog owned by John Peerybingle, the main character in The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens. This is evidence that “Boxer” was commonly used as a dog name by the early 19th century, even before the establishment of the breed by the end of that same century.
The character of the Boxer is of great importance and demands careful attention. They are renowned for their great love and faithfulness to their masters and households and also known for their alertness and fearless courage as defenders and protectors. Boxers are docile but distrustful of strangers. They are bright and friendly in play but brave and determined when roused. Their intelligence and willing tractability, modesty, and cleanliness make them highly desirable family dogs and cheerful companions.
Boxers are a bright, energetic, and playful breed and tend to be very good with children. It’s best if obedience training is started early since they also have a strong personality and therefore can be harder to train when older. This attribute, added to their strength, may present a challenge for a first-time dog owner. Boxers have earned a bit of a reputation for being "headstrong,” which can be related to inappropriate obedience training. As a highly intelligent breed, they tend to respond better to training that allows them to think for themselves rather than training through repetition. Boxers have one of the longest puppyhood and adolescence periods of any dog and therefore are sometimes called the "Peter Pan" of the dog world. They are not considered fully mature until age three, and need early training to keep their high energy from wearing out their owners.
By nature, the Boxer is not an aggressive or vicious breed, but it does need socialization to tolerate other dogs well. Their sometimes over-protective, territorial and dominating attitude, most intense in males, may be problematic. Boxers are very patient with smaller dogs, but may be aggressive with larger dogs of the same sex. A poorly bred or trained dog is capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals.
Temperament Summary
Attitudes toward:
- Owners: Affectionate, devoted.
- Children: Protective, playful, exuberant (may be too much for very young children).
- Other Pets: Favorable if properly socialized.
- Strangers: Protective of family, deliberate with strangers. Able to discern a threat, but friendly if well socialized.
- Unfamiliar Dogs: May be problematic if poorly socialized.
Special needs to maintain a desirable temperament:
- Socialization: To avoid aggression to strangers and dogs of the same sex
- Daily exercise: To avoid destructive responses
- Respect training: To avoid jumping and barking when playing and to lessen natural independence
Boxers are friendly, lively companions who are often used as family dogs. Their suspicion of strangers, alertness, agility, and strength make them formidable guard dogs. They also sometimes appear at dog agility trials and flyball events. Before dog fighting was made illegal, Boxers were often used in dogfights. These strong and intelligent animals have even been sometimes used as service dogs, guide dogs for the blind, and police dogs in K9 units. The versatility of the Boxer was recognized by the military, which has used them as messenger dogs, pack carriers, and attack and guard dogs.
