Boxer

This dog just loves to cuddle, and can actually be quite insistent when it comes to soliciting affection from his owners.

Lively, dynamic, and endlessly excitable, this dog is very playful. He takes a lot of pleasure in playing with children, who often constitute this dog’s favourite kind of human!

Calmness is not part of the ‘Deutscher Boxer’s’ (his foreign namesake) natural predispositions- he is, in fact, often considered to be ‘hyperactive’. 

Be wary of the latter term, however, as it tends to be overused. One mustn’t forget that hyperactivity is a syndrome symptomatic of developmental disorders, which need to be diagnosed by a vet specialised in behaviour. 

In truth, he is simply a dog with large stores of energy to spare, only calm whenever all of his needs for exercise have been met.

This molossoid’s intelligence is mainly evident in how versatile he is, since he is naturally predisposed to fulfilling the roles of companion, guardian, defense, and working dog all at once.

Rather brash by nature, this dog can take to pursuing a trail on a wim- be it in search of prey or simply to stretch his legs. Given this propensity, walks must take place in a fully secure environment.

While never dangerous towards his own family, the Boxer does remain rather wary of strangers, and can prove to be quite vicious if he feels that his adoptive family is in any kind of danger. 

In order for this molossoid to accept the presence of a stranger on his turf, a proper introduction must take place in due time. Once this has been done, he becomes very friendly.

Being a guardian inevitably implies being very attached to one’s social group. The Boxer is anything but independent, and is known for being very loyal to his adoptive family.

Solitude is one of the worst imaginable situations for this dog who is remarkably attached and loyal to his family. Isolation and exclusion are both notions that do not comply with this dog at all, and in the midst of which he can develop serious behavioural problems related to boredom, frustration, and anxiety.

Being the exemplary molossoid that he is, the Boxer is not necessarily easy to train if he is placed in novice or overly lenient hands. If, however, he is handled by confident and experienced owners, or trained by an expert in canine behaviour, he can achieve very good results. 

As long as the training methods consist of positive reinforcement, are respectful and coherent, and completely devoid of brutality- this dog will be very pleasant to train, not least because pleasing his master is of such importance to him. 

Training must be started as early on as possible, especially given this dog’s rather strong character. Very alert, some disciplinary basics can start being implemented as soon as the Boxer pup integrates the home.

Given his strong watchdog instinct, he does bark a lot, but usually with good reason.

Very close to his social group and particularly faithful, he is not much of a runaway. He stays by his family’s side to be able protect them.

If he gets bored, has not had enough exercise, or stays on his own for too long without having gone through a positive habituation towards solitude, this ultimately sensitive dog can quickly turn the household upside down.

He is a big glutton! You must be mindful not to leave leftovers lingering on the table, as this dog can be quite the ‘vacuum cleaner’.

A very good watchdog, this molossoid is brave and vigilant, and will not hesitate to show his dissuasive side if someone poses a threat to one of his own or to his home turf. In short: you really want to be on the Boxer’s good side!

Whether city or country-dwelling, residing indoors or outdoors, the Deutscher Boxer’s main priority is to be at his owners’ side. It is only in this way that he can feel fully at peace. Beware of frequent moves- this molossian is very sensitive to change, and will not tolerate them well. 

If living in a flat, he should not be left alone throughout the day, at risk of bothering the neighbours with his ‘vocal performances’. This goes for gardens as well.

This extremely energetic dog needs an active owner in order to be fully content. Walking him ‘around the block’ on a short leash will not be enough for this dog bursting at the seams with vitality. 

Walks lasting at least an hour must be provided daily, as well as the additional, regular practice of canine sports (which he excels in), such as cani-cross, bikejoring, trailing, musical freestyle, agility, etc.

Despite his medium size, the Boxer can rapidly become an imposing dog. Car travel is to be avoided when the weather is too hot, as his extremely short nose renders him very vulnerable to the heat. 

Having said this, if weather conditions allow it, and if the dog has been sufficiently trained and socialised, there should be no objections to taking him everywhere, inasmuch as the chosen destinations and means of transport can accommodate his presence.

He gets along very well with cats that he knows, and that are part of his family. In order to ensure a truly peaceful cohabitation, however, you should habituate the Boxer to their presence when still a pup.

The female is more malleable than the male, but at any rate, individuals of the same sex do sometimes have trouble cohabitating serenely- especially if they haven’t grown up together. 

It is advised to socialise this molossoid ahead of time, by exposing him to regular, positive and supervised encounters, so as to ensure that all prospective interactions will be enjoyable experiences.

He is very gentle with children- in fact, he loves them so much that he could easily be dubbed ‘the best four-legged babysitter in the world’. 

Do note, however, that this does not make you exempt from respecting the general security guidelines inherent in child/dog cohabitation, such as never leaving the children alone with the dog, or teaching the children to leave the dog be when he is resting in his bed, etc.

This molossian-type mastiff is not made for a sedentary lifestyle, but can live with the elderly if the latter are still fit enough to meet his needs. This would entail extensive daily walks as well as playful, educational, and even athletic activities. 

It does nevertheless remain unadvisable for the elderly to adopt this breed.

Novice owners could experience some trouble in training this molossian given his strong temper, but it could be considered a wonderful challenge since, if properly trained and socialised, this dog could be the ideal day-to-day companion for the whole family. 

For first-time owners especially, it is of utmost importance to select a good breeder, so as to secure a well-rounded specimen, endowed with all of the breed’s authentic predispositions.