When the kids start begging for a dog, look no further than the boxer dog. As the former owner of a boxer mix, and two purebred boxer dogs, I can guarantee you're in for hours of entertainment. These personable dogs embody every desirable trait in a family dog. Hopefully you'll rescue an abandoned boxer, but if you insist on getting a puppy, educate yourself first on boxer ownership.
Boxer puppies reign as the cutest of all puppies in my opinion. However, they also reign as the most destructive puppies. Before I learned about crate training, my boxer puppy, Newton, ate two pairs of prescription glasses, a new $800 over-stuffed living room chair, and a water bed. After purchasing a new $900 dollar traditional mattress, I caught Newton in the process of ripping that to shreds. Luckily, I caught him when he had just rendered a small tear. In spite of all that, Newton lived to a ripe old age.
Before getting a boxer puppy, consider the advice of Bashkim Dibra, author of Dog Training by Bash. Bash instructs his readers to avoid getting a rottweiler, shepherd, pit bull, or boxer unless you have an authoritarian personality. Boxers are one of the more stubborn dogs around, and they want to boss you. I speak from my own non-authoritarian personality experience.
Boxers can keep you laughing with their funny antics. Newton liked to sing along with music which kept everyone in the house entertained.
We had a pond in our backyard, and one day my daughter and I noticed a fish had gone AWOL. We combed the yard for that fish to no avail. About a week later, during breakfast, we noticed Newton running around the backyard with something in his mouth. We deduced that Newton had gone fishing and buried his catch for digging up at a later date.
A well-trained boxer makes the greatest babysitter in the world. You can trust them around babies and they love to play ball in the backyard with the kids. Our boxer-mix, aptly named Boxer, loved playing soccer with the kids. .
Although boxers wouldn't harm a tick, many people are afraid of them, because of their size, and they sometimes mistake them for pit bulls. Like all dogs, they bark at strangers approaching their house and family.
You'll find a wonderful boxer at a boxer dog rescue near you. My third boxer came from a boxer rescue in Los Angeles. Boxer Roxie, a four year old female with a black mask and dark-brown coat, was rescued from the county animal shelter by Boxer Rescue. Her family abandoned her, because she had given birth, and they wanted her puppy, so they tossed her away. Roxie turned out to be a gentle sweetheart who kept Newton company and out of trouble. Boxers end up in animal shelters, because people don't do their research when choosing a dog. They need lots of exercise to release their high energy, and like any puppy, training is a lot of work.
At one time, white boxer puppies were automatically euthanized, because the American Kennel Club considered any white an undesirable trait on a boxer. My white boxer, Newton, was every bit as good a pet as a brown or brindle boxer. I've owned a lot of dogs in my lifetime and to this date, Newton ranks as my all time favorite dog, and I credit him for making boxers my favorite dog. If you get a white boxer dog, keep in mind that if any of the pink on his nose or ears doesn't turn black, you'll need to limit her time in the sun. The lack of pigment results in sunburn and can cause cancer.
Do the research before adopting a boxer puppy. If you do decide on one, remember, it's a lifetime commitment. Boxers live about 10 years on average. Dropping your boxer off at the animal shelter is akin to dropping your child off at the orphanage. Consider a rescue boxer and consider a boxer mix or white boxer. If you don't possess an authoritarian personality, look for an adult already trained and well-mannered boxer. But most important of all, enjoy your boxer, give it a lot of love and affection; exercise and playtime. She'll reward you in return.
