Why Choose A Boxer Dog

I have owned and loved boxer dogs for the past 25 years and am what you could say as a bit of a boxer dog nut, so why choose a boxer dog? The question for me is why wouldn't you choose a boxer dog? I think that is a very good question to ask yourself if your thinking of buying or adopting a boxer. There are many pros and cons to the boxer dog breed.

Firstly if your wanting a dog for a companion and good all round pet for the family the boxer would have to top the list in my opinion, their friendly and lovable nature is perfect! They love to play and clown around and if you've had a bad day you can guarantee that your boxer will put a smile on your face!

Mind you with all this clowning around and playful behaviour comes a commitment from their owners to put the time into their boxer dog as far as training and obedience goes if you don't then look out they can be very destructive if bored, don't be surprised to come home and find your designer shoes chewed up! They are a very energetic dog and need to be exercised on a regular basis especially in the early years. So you'll need to put time aside on a daily basis to walk your dog, a plus if your wanting to get some healthy exercise yourself! But they are also happy to cuddle up with you on the couch as well.

The other thing to keep in mind is they are not an outside dog, they want to be around you and will follow you around, not in annoying way they just want to be close to you which to me is an admirable trait. If your thinking of leaving them outside while your watching TV or in the house expect them to whine and whinge at the door, being ignored and left out in the cold is just not acceptable to the boxer! As far as they are concerned they are part of your family and should be treated so.

While I wouldn't recommend the boxer as a guard dog you can be assured they will let you know if someone is lurking around. The other point to take into consideration is the climate of where you live they don't like extremes in temperature, especially heat having the short squashed muzzle they tend to have difficulty breathing and will pant a lot in hot climates, Bruza my first boxer lived in Queensland, Australia and in the hot summer months we always had to be mindful about making sure he had enough water and a cool, shady spot to relax. In winter hear in NZ with my latest addition Bonnie, we have invested in a coat for her for the cooler months.

The boxer dog is on the list for being one of the 10 most popular family dogs, they are easy to groom and don't shed a lot of hair, lovely shiny coat. You don't need to bath them excessively only when they get a bit smelly. They are loyal and absolutely adore their owners and families. However you need to watch them around toddlers, especially when in play mode, I remember my daughter who was about 3 at the time getting knocked over by Bruza my first brindle boxer boy while he was playing in the back yard. He then proceeded to lick her all over the face, she thought this was hilarious and the more she laughed and squirmed the more he licked! So if you don't like boxer kisses then their probably not the breed for you. Starting on obedience and training should be a priority as soon as you get your puppy home to avoid any stressful situations and to let your boxer know what acceptable and what not!

The boxer does have some health issues and when choosing your puppy or dog make sure you buy or adopt from a reputable breeder or agency. They will be able to supply you with breed history and other information regarding the breed. Having owned 4 boxer dogs over the past 30 years I can't recommend the boxer dog highly enough so if your looking for a relatively easy to groom, playful - never a dull moment, loyal, friendly dog you can't go wrong with a boxer dog!