10 Unique Facts About Boxer Dogs For The Uninitiated

 

Boxers are the sixth most popular breed of dog in the United States, and for good reason. As you may already know, Boxers are strong, energetic, and loving dogs that make great companions and watchdogs, but there is more to them than that. Here are some fun and unique facts about Boxer dogs that you may not know.

1. In the past, Boxers have performed beautifully in the ring- the circus ring that is. Because they are easily trainable, strong, and energetic, Boxer dogs used to be popular performers in the circus.
2. The now-extinct ancestor of the Boxer, the Bullenbeisser, was used to hunt wild boar and stag. This powerful dog could seize large prey and hold it until its master came. It's no wonder then that today's Boxer dogs have such strong jaws and muscular builds.
3. Boxer dogs became popular in the United States after WWII when soldiers brought them home as pets after using them in the military as guard and attack dogs.
4. Boxers have floppy ears and long tails, but are often cropped and docked. Although this practice is illegal now in some countries, in American dog shows a long tail on a Boxer is still severely penalized.
5. One of the funnier facts about Boxer dogs is that they are known to snore, and loudly at that. They also tend to drool all over the place.
6. Boxer dogs often have white markings, but if more than a third of their body is white, they are called "white Boxers," and these dogs cannot receive full registration because they do not meet the breed standard. Although they still make good pets, white Boxers are more likely to be deaf and are more prone to skin cancer.
7. Boxer dogs were developed in Germany and were often used there as police dogs. The German Boxer is slightly different in build than the American Boxer. The German breed tends to be a little larger, and their heads are squarer in shape than American Boxers' heads.
8. One of the facts about Boxer dogs that may help you determine what type of Boxer to get is the difference between males and females. Female Boxer dogs are generally much more hyper and the males are more laid back. Both males and females tend to be good with smaller pets, but will occasionally fight with larger dogs of the same sex.
9. Boxers make good guard dogs because they are very friendly and gentle with people they know, but are wary of strangers and can be very intimidating. They will not hesitate to protect themselves and their human family if threatened.
10. Boxers have a bad rap for being headstrong, and can sometimes be difficult to train, but they actually respond very well to positive reinforcement. This is because they are very loyal and loving dogs, and want to please their masters. Training through punishment for wrong behavior is generally not nearly as successful with Boxers and can sometimes even make behavior worse.

Hopefully these facts about Boxer dogs have helped you to learn a little bit more about the breed. They are truly amazing animals, and I would highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for a good family pet.