Boxers: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find about Boxer temperament, personality, and behavior.

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Boxer Temperament
What's Good About 'Em,
What's Bad About 'Em

By Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2010

Boxers can be fine family dogs if you can proviide enough exercise and training to control their rambunctiousness when young, and if you can provide for their special needs due to their unnaturally short face.

As puppies and young adults, Boxers are animated, playful (often cuckoo!) dogs who love to romp and jump. Middle-aged Boxers typically become more deliberate and dignified and make calm, loyal companions for the rest of their (unfortuntately not very long) lives.

Exercise needs vary from long daily walks for more sedentary Boxers to vigorous daily romping for high-energy individuals -- but not in hot weather, because Boxers are more susceptible to heatstroke than most breeds.

Though most Boxers are fine with other family pets, including the family cat, quite a few Boxers are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex, and some are cat chasers.

Boxers need consistent leadership. Their heritage, after all, is that of a strong-minded working dog. But you must handle them in an upbeat, persuasive way. Boxers are stubborn, yes, but also sensitive and proud. They will "shut down" (sulk and pout and passively refuse to do anything) if you jerk them around.

Most Boxers make vigilant watchdogs -- meaning they will bark when they see or see something out of the ordinary. Their guarding and territorial instincts, though, vary a great deal. Most Boxers react to strangers with a joyous "Hi there! Come on in!" (often accompanied by enthusiastic jumping and tail-wiggling). Other Boxers are sensible and polite with strangers, neither fawning over them nor threatening them. A few Boxers (typically those from German lines) are more forceful and challenging. Early socialization is important to develop a stable attitude in your Boxer.

If you want a dog who...

• Is medium to large, with a rugged, sleekly-muscled "masculine" build
• Needs minimal grooming
• Loves to romp and play
• Is usually steadfast and reliable with everyone
• Looks imposing enough that he is an effective deterrent even when friendly

A Boxer may be right for you.

If you don't want to deal with...

• Rowdiness and exuberant jumping when young
• Potential aggression toward other dogs (usually of the same sex)
• A strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
• Snorting, wheezing, snoring
• Slobbering and drooling
• Gassiness (flatulence)
• A very real potential for health problems and a short lifespan

A Boxer may not be right for you.

If I were considering buying or adopting a Boxer

My major concerns would be:

1. Bounciness. Young Boxers (up to about two years old) romp and jump with vigor, and things can go flying, including small children or elderly/infirm people.
2. Potential animal aggression. Though most Boxers are fine with other family pets, including the family cat, many Boxers are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex.
3. Stubbornness. Boxers are not Golden Retrievers. Boxers have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. Many Boxers are passively stubborn and will simply refuse to do what you want them to do. Some are dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show your Boxer, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
   
   
   To learn more about training Boxers to be calm and well-behaved, consider my dog training book, Teach Your Dog 100 English Words.
   
   It's a unique Vocabulary and Respect Training Program that will make your Boxer the smartest, most well-behaved companion you've ever had.
   
   Teaches your dog to listen to you, to pay attention to you, and to do whatever you ask him to do.
   
   
   
   
4. Boxer sounds. Boxers are not "quiet" dogs. They're not yappy, but they do vocalize with grumbles and grunts, and they snort, snuffle, and snore. The sounds are endearing to some people, bothersome to others.
5. Slobbering. Many Boxers, especially those with loose jowls, slobber or drool, especially after eating and drinking.
6. Gassiness (flatulence). Fortunately, Boxers who are fed real meat and other fresh foods, rather than a commercial diet of kibble or canned, have much less trouble with gassiness. See my Boxer Health Page for more information on feeding.
7. Finding a healthy one and keeping him healthy. Unfortunately, the Boxer is one of the riskiest breeds in the health department. They are very prone to eye diseases (such as corneal ulcers), digestive diseases (such as ulcerative colitis), hypothyroidism, and more. Even sadder is the alarming number of Boxers who succumb to cancer or heart disease in middle age.
   
   
   My dog buying guide, How To Buy a Good Dog, will teach you everything you need to know about finding a healthy Boxer. Health problems have become so widespread in dogs today that this book is required reading for ANYONE who is thinking of getting a purebred, crossbred, or mixed breed dog.
   
   
   

   If you'd like to consult with me personally about whether the Boxer might be a good dog breed for your family, I offer a Dog Breed Consulting Service.

   
   Once you have your Boxer home, you need to KEEP him healthy -- or if he's having any current health problems, you need to get him back on the road to good health.
   
   My dog health care book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy is the book you need.
   
   Raise your dog the right way and you will be helping him live a longer, healthier life while avoiding health problems and unnecessary veterinary expenses.

Please consider adopting an ADULT Boxer...

When you're acquiring a Boxer PUPPY, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important.

But when you acquire an adult dog, you're acquiring what he already IS and you can decide whether he is the right dog for you based on that reality. There are plenty of adult Boxers who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics that are "typical" for their breed. If you find such an adult dog, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you. Just be happy that you found an atypical individual -- and enjoy!

Save a life. Adopt a dog.

Adopting a Dog From a Dog Breed Rescue Group

Adopting a Dog From the Animal Shelter