Temperament of Boxer Dog
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Known to be real clowns, Boxers are often referred to as the “jokers of the dog world”. They are energetic, playful and fun characters to have around and they take a long time to mature. Boxers are always eager to please and extremely loyal dogs by nature. However, they need to be handled gently, but firmly so they understand their place in the “pack” or they can become a handful and a bit willful and stubborn when the mood takes them. Boxers must know who is the alpha dog and who they can look to for direction and guidance otherwise they will take on the role and show a more dominant side to their natures which is something to be avoided at all costs.
Boxers also need to be well socialized and introduced to new people, animals, and different situations as early as possible to curb any unwanted behaviors like jumping up when they greet someone which if not nipped in the bud can develop into a real problem. They rarely show any aggressive behavior, but due to their size jumping up can be a little intimidating to people and a dog could accidentally knock a child over by doing so.
Some Boxers can be a little wary when around people they don’t know and they are quick to let an owner know when there are strangers about. They need to be kept busy because if a Boxer gets bored through lack of exercise or because they are not given enough mental stimulation, they can become quite destructive around the house which includes chewing on furniture and digging up carpets.
Being such hyperactive characters, Boxers are a great choice for families and people who love to spend as much of their free time with a canine companion in the great outdoors. They adore playing interactive games which include things like Frisbee. In general, the Boxer is a quick learner because they are intelligent although at times they are known to be a little headstrong, with the correct training and handling, Boxers are a real pleasure to be around.
Boxers are independent thinkers by nature and will always “test” the limits and commands they are given which is why they must be handled with a firm and fair hand right from the word go and throughout their lives and even then, a Boxer would always “try it on” when the mood takes them.
More about White Boxers
There has been a lot of myths about White Boxers and the fact they are rare which is not true at all. In fact, 25% of Boxers when firstborn are white. They are not “albino” either, they simply have less pigment in their skin and although some completely white dogs might be thought of as being albino, they would have to have “pink” eyes to truly be so. A simple white dog would have normal colored eyes.
The other difference between an albino dog and a White Boxer is that they are the result of two White Boxers that have the “recessive gene” being mated whereas a white dog that’s albino would be the result of having the “albino gene mutation”.
Another myth is that White Boxers are more prone to developing and suffering from more health issues, but there is no evidence of this being true. With this said, because they have lower levels of melamine they are more prone to being sunburnt and of developing skin cancer. Another issue with a lot of white-coated dogs including the Boxer is that they are more predisposed to impaired hearing and vision.
Are they a good choice for first-time owners?
Boxers are not a good choice for first-time dog owners because they are very independent thinkers who can make training them more of a challenge. They are extremely high energy and intelligent dogs as such owners must have the time needed to socialize and train their canine companion correctly from a young age. Owners also need to understand the specific needs of a powerful, dominant and high prey drive dog so they never get the best of them.
What about prey drive?
Boxers are fun-loving dogs and they have “fighting dog” in their lineage as such they have a high prey drive and can be quite aggressive if not well socialized and trained correctly from a young enough age. Boxers are “bouncy” dogs and love chasing anything that moves in a joyful but often deadly way which often gets them into trouble especially if they are being walked in the countryside off their leads. Young Boxers must be taught the “no” and the “leave it” command from a young age to prevent them from taking off after other animals which includes other dogs when the mood takes them.
What about playfulness?
The Boxer is renowned for being the “clowns of the dog world” and thrive on being around their families and owners loving nothing more than to entertain with their silly antics and dances. They remain very playful throughout their lives which is another reason they are such fun to have around in a home environment.
What about adaptability?
Boxers need to have enough space to express themselves and therefore, they are not suited to apartment living. They do a whole lot better when they have a large back garden to romp around in as often as they can, making sure the fencing is secure enough to keep an athletic Boxer safely in.
What about excessive barking?
Boxers are not known to be “barkers” although they are natural guard dogs and therefore they are quick to let an owner know when things they don’t like are happening in their environment. With this said, any dog that’s left on their own for long periods of time would start barking incessantly to let people know how unhappy they are about the situation.
Do Boxers like water?
Some Boxers love being in water although they are not built to be “water dogs” and as such care should always be taken when a Boxer jumps in to take a swim. Because of their build and their shorter noses, Boxers find it harder to stay afloat which is part of the reason why care should always be taken when these dogs are around swimming pools or ponds.
Other Boxers don’t even like getting their feet wet and it would be a mistake to make them go in the water because it would just end up scaring them even more. Care should be taken when walking a Boxer that does like swimming anywhere near more dangerous watercourses just in case they decide to leap in.
Are Boxers good watchdogs?
Boxers are exceptionally good natural watchdogs, a trait that’s deeply embedded in their psyche which in short, means they don’t need to be trained to guard over and protect anything which could end up making a Boxer a little too over-protective and could even lead to a dog turning aggressive.