The Boxer is a medium-sized dog with a muscular body and athletic appearance, neither heavy nor light. Its muzzle and nose are wide and its nostrils wide open.

Poil : short and hard hair, fawn in color, plain or with stripes (brindle).

Size (height at the withers): 57 to 63 cm for males and 53 to 59 cm for females.

Weight : around 30 kg for males and 25 kg for females.

Classification FCI : N°144.

The Boxer has its origins in Germany. His ancestor is the hunting dog Bullenbeisser (“biting bull”), a hound who has now disappeared. The breed is said to have originated from the cross between a Bullenbeisser and an English Bulldog at the end of the 1902th century. The first breed standard was published in 1946 and it spread to France from Alsace in the first half of the XNUMXth century. The Boxer Club de France was founded in XNUMX, half a century after its German counterpart.

The Boxer is a confident, athletic and energetic defense dog. He is outgoing, loyal and in return feels a great need for affection. He is also described as intelligent but not always obedient … unless he is convinced of the merits of the order given to him. This dog has a very special relationship with children. Indeed, he is patient, loving and protective with them. For this reason, it is highly valued by families looking for both a guard dog and a companion that poses no risk to the little ones.

The British Kennel Club (considered the first cynological society in the world) reports a Boxer life expectancy of over 10 years. However, a study he conducted in over 700 dogs found a lower life expectancy of 9 years (1). The breed faces a major challenge, the development and transmission within it of heart disease that affects the health and lifespan of Boxers. Hypothyroidism and spondylosis are also conditions this dog is predisposed to.

Heart disease : Of 1283 Boxers examined in a large screening for congenital heart disease, 165 dogs (13%) were found to be affected by heart disease, aortic or pulmonary stenosis the most frequently. This investigation also demonstrated a predisposition of males to stenosis, aortic and pulmonary. (2)

Hypothyroidism: The Boxer is one of the breeds most affected by autoimmune diseases that affect the thyroid. According to the University of Michigan (MSU), Boxers are ranked fifth among breeds for those conditions that frequently progress to hypothyroidism. The data collected seems to indicate that this is an inherited genetic pathology in the Boxer (but it is not the only affected breed). Lifelong treatment with synthetic thyroid hormone allows the dog to lead a normal life. (3)

The spondylose: like the Doberman and the German Shepherd, the Boxer is particularly concerned by this form of osteoarthritis which develops in the spine, mainly in the lumbar and thoracic vertebrae. Small bony growths between the vertebrae (osteophytes) cause stiffness and hamper the dog’s mobility.

Boxers are very active dogs and need daily exercise. Living in the city with a Boxer therefore means taking it out every day, for at least two hours, in a park large enough to run. They like to exercise and come back covered in mud from their walks in nature. Fortunately, their short dress is easy to wash. This energetic and powerful dog can be disobedient if not educated from an early age.