Male Boxer Size

Question
Hi Renee,
I have a 1 yr old male boxer named Zach.  He is a great, sweet dog who is very affectionate to everyone.  We have not had him fixed as to allow him to grow to his full potential.  Here is my question, as a male who is fully intact he shows no signs of agression at all (very submissive), has never shown any interest sexually towards other dogs and is quite small weighing in at 60lbs.  Could there be any medical issues here, maybe low testosterone levels or thyroid levels?  What tests would you suggest we ask our vet to perform to see if all is well? This is our second boxer and our first guy was around 75 to 80 lbs of lean muscle.  We were told by our breeder that Zach's lineage is quite large and the males are usually 80lbs. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your help.

Kim

Answer
HI Kim. You could have a thyroid test done. However, there would be more signs if he was having problems with his thyroid. If a dog was having a problem with testosterone, then he would appear more female like. Some dogs take awhile before filling out, and to finish growing. I personally think that a male Boxer doesn't quit growing until he's about 3-4 years of age. That may be what's going on with your guy. Talk to your breeder and find out if her line is slow to mature. I have a 12 year old intact male here. He weighs in at about 85 pounds (He use to be solid muscle. Now, we're fighting his weight. :-). I had his son who was taller than his dad by the time he turned a year old. However, he wasn't finished with spreading out until he was about 3. He ended up bigger then his sire. But it took him longer than dad to grow. And, you also have to take in account that some Boxers, be they male or female, just won't get that big, even if they come from large dogs. Each dog is different. I really don't see anything medically wrong with your guy. I think that he just needs time to finish growing. You can take him in for a check up, and to see if your vet can find anything that's 'off' with him. You can ask for a thyroid test, and have his testosterone checked. Of course, have him checked for worms. Besides that, there's really not a whole lot that you can do besides give him time, good food, and plenty of exercise. You can't fight genetics. :-) Your boy may just be a slow grower, and I personally like those dogs better. They are the ones that usually ends up still looking great in old age. Talk to your vet, and your breeder. Have patience with your boy, and he may end up suprising you. :-)