Boxer breed guide

If you’ve ever encountered the boxer breed, you’ll already know that these dogs are bouncing bundles of joy!

Read our guide to find out more about the gorgeous boxer breed…

Boxer breed history

There’s some debate surrounding the origin of boxers. While several sources suggest the boxer breed originated in Germany during the 1800s, through crossing a mastiff with a bulldog, others believe the breed was created by ancient Asian civilisations.

Although it’s believed they were originally bred as hunting dogs, the boxer’s job title changed through the centuries; they became guard dogs and even ended up working in circuses.

Nowadays, due to their loyal nature and eagerness to learn, boxers have transformed in their role as working dogs to support the police, as well as search and rescue teams.

Boxers have been trained successfully as service dogs and guide dogs, too. Plus, owing to their versatility, boxers are also known to be excellent at agility!

Common characteristics of the boxer breed

Please remember that the following characteristics are considered ‘average’ for boxer dogs, and since each dog is a unique individual, your boxer’s characteristics may differ.

Average height for a boxer dog

Most sources agree that the average height for a boxer dog is 53-63cm (at the shoulder).

Average weight for a boxer dog

Female boxer dogs can weigh up to around 25-27kg.

Male boxer dogs might weigh as much as 30-32kg.

Average lifespan for a boxer dog

A boxer’s average lifespan is around 10-12 years.

Typical boxer appearance

Perhaps best known for their cute, button nose, squishy jowls, and eyes full of expression, the boxer is a beloved best friend for pet parents the world over!

Along with their short, wrinkly muzzles and floppy, triangular ears, boxers tend to boast a slender body with an athletic torso, long legs, and an ever-wagging tail.

A boxer dog’s coat is short and lower maintenance than dogs with longer coats, since they usually only need to be brushed once or twice a week.

Boxers can have a variety of coat colours, including:

• Fawn (light brown).
• Fawn and white.
• Brindle (brown with darker patterns).
• Brindle and white.
• Red (orange-brown colour).
• Red and white.
• White.

Whichever your boxer’s base coat colour is, they might have white markings or a darker face (also known as a ‘black mask’). There may be variations in a boxer’s base coat colour, too – for example, ‘tiger bridle’ is a brindle coat with obvious dark stripes against a paler fawn or red base.

Please note: Studies suggest that, contrary to popular belief, white boxers are not more likely to be deaf compared to boxers of other coat colours.

Typical boxer temperament

As part of the ‘working dog’ group, their boundless energy means your boxer dog will need a lot of exercise! It’s recommended that boxer dogs are exercised for a minimum of two hours every day.

However, owing to their excitable nature, boxers are known to jump up at people, too – which means you’ll need to dedicate plenty of time to training them daily. Luckily, boxers are extremely intelligent dogs, which can make them straightforward to train if you find the right reward.

For some extra support with training your boxer, check out our guide to stopping your dog from jumping up as part of our dog training series.

A boxer can become a wonderful member of any family – with the right training and exercise to keep their high energy levels under control. They’re also entertaining and enjoy nothing more than making their pet parents laugh by clowning around!

Boxer health conditions

It’s not unusual for pedigree breeds to be prone to certain health concerns, and boxers are no exception. Here are a few health conditions commonly seen in the boxer:

• Skin allergies.
• BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome).
• Eye ulcers.
• Epilepsy.
• Heart problems (like boxer cardiomyopathy).

Remember: Keep an eye out for any health issues your boxer may develop, and make sure your canine companion is checked by a vet if you have any concerns.

Fun facts about boxers

Fact 1 – This dog breed is called the ‘boxer’ because of the way they stand on their hind legs and ‘box’ with their front legs while playing.

Fact 2 – Boxers snore very loudly!

Fact 3 – They don’t carry the gene for a solid black coat, so you won’t find a purebred black boxer.

Fact 4 – It’s not unusual for boxers to drool excessively!

Fact 5 – During WWII, boxers worked as messenger dogs.