Boxer Dogs

Developed in Germany, the Boxer is a breed of stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog. The Boxer is a short-haired breed, with a shiny, smooth coat that lies tight to the body. The recognized colors are fawn and brindle, often with a white underbelly and white on the front or all four feet.

The character of the Boxer is of the greatest importance and demands the most solicitous attention. He is renowned from olden times for his great love and faithfulness to his master and household. He is harmless in the family, but distrustful of strangers, bright and friendly of temperament at play, but brave and determined when aroused. His intelligence and willing tractability, his modesty and cleanliness make him a highly desirable family dog and cheerful companion. He is the soul of honesty and loyalty, and is never false or treacherous even in his old age.

Boxer Dog Health

Boxer Dog Health Concerns

The Boxer is prone to the following major health conditions:

Cardiomyopathy - Cardiomyopathy, which literally means "heart muscle disease," is the deterioration of the function of the myocardium or heart muscle.

Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis - Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis is the abnormal narrowing between the connection between the left ventricle and the aorta, eventually leading to heart failure.

Canine Hip Dysplasia - Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. It is a polygenic trait, that is affected by environmental factors in the production of the final phenotype. It can be found in many animals and occasionally in humans, but is most commonly associated with dogs, and is common in many dog breeds, particularly the larger breeds.

The Boxer is prone to the following minor health conditions:

Gastric Torsion - Gastric Torsion is a medical condition in which the stomach becomes overstretched by excessive gas content. It is also commonly referred to as bloat, gastric torsion, and gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) when the stomach is also twisted.

Hypothyroidisim - Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. Early symptoms: Being more sensitive to cold; Constipation; Depression; Fatigue or feeling slowed down.

Corneal Erosion - Corneal Erosion is the loss of outer layers of the cornea, if progressive it can lead to ulceration of the cornea.

Colitis - Colitis is inflammation of the large bowl often resulting in diarrhea.

The Boxer occasionally has problems with the following health conditions:

Brain Tumor - A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within the brain, which can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign).

Degenerative Myelopathy - Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. The disease has an insidious onset typically between 8 and 14 years of age. It begins with a loss of coordination (ataxia) in the hind limbs. The affected dog will wobble when walking, knuckle over or drag the feet.

*note: White Boxers are prone to being deaf