Boxer Puppies: Everything You Need to Know

There is a lot going on behind a boxer’s dark eyes. Equal parts silly and protective, the boxer dog has warmed the hearts of many households. With an excellent work ethic, boxers are used as therapy dogs and part of search-and-rescue teams. Boxer puppies light up a room with their silly personality. They tend to get into puppy mischief while investigating their new humans and surroundings.

The distant ancestors of a boxer go back as far as 2500 BC. However, the boxers found in Germany in the late 1800s are the ones recognised in recent history. Boxers were descendants of the Bullenbeisser (“bull biter”), which was a larger version of the dogs we know and love today. The Bullenbeisser was used to hunt large game such as wild boar, bison, and even bears!

The modern-day boxer may be smaller but is still filled with vim and vigour. When boxer dogs came across the continent, the Brits named them “boxer” after the fighters in the ring. One tug-of-war with a boxer puppy and you’ll see that they love putting their paws up as a way to play or defend themselves.

Boxer puppy facts

If you’re trying to “keep up with the Kardashians,” celebrities like Justin Timberlake, Cameron Diaz, Hugh Jackman, and Kim Kardashian have owned and been photographed with this breed often.

Put your paws up! It’s time to learn about your own bouncy boxer puppy:

Size	Medium. Adult male boxers reach 58-88cm (23-35 inches) and weigh29-36kg (65-80 pounds) females are 54-59cm (21.5-23.5 inches) tall and generally weigh 7kg (15 pounds) less than males.
Breed Characteristics	The boxer is a muscular dog with a short back. They have a confident gait and aren’t awkward in their stance. With large expressive eyes, a square-shaped head and blunt snout, the boxer has a unique and balanced look particular to the breed. They have very short, smooth fur, with the colours of brindle or fawn and a scattering of white markings throughout the coat.
Temperament	Boxers tend to be lighthearted and playful. Due to their sweet nature, they are a natural fit with children. They do take a protective stance against intruders. Boxers are confident and very alert to their surroundings. Their trademark is their wrinkled forehead, with a permanent “at attention” look. Boxers exude tons of energy, so having a space to exercise their mind and body is essential. Don’t worry, they love taking much-needed naps, too. And if you can’t be around as much as you’d like to be, remember that you can find a local sitter on Rover.com who offers dog boarding and can give your dog all the attention they deserve while you’re gone.
Grooming and Health Needs	Due to the shortness of a boxer’s coat, they require only the bare necessities of grooming. Boxers are a naturally clean dog, and only need baths if they get into a mess. Once a week, consider going over their coat with a hound glove or curry-brush, as this helps to promote a slick and shiny coat. Like most pets, getting nails trimmed and brushing teeth is part of a healthy grooming routine. A boxer doesn’t have great tolerance when it comes to extreme heat or cold. It’s recommended to get a boxer dog hip and elbow evaluations, a thyroid evaluation, ASSAS Cardio, Aortic Valve Disease, Boxer Cardiomyopathy, ARVC DNA Test, and a Degenerative Myelopathy DNA Test.
Training	With an energetic breed like a boxer, early socialisation classes during puppyhood are pivotal. They thrive in many canine sports like agility, herding, and obedience, and would make excellent therapy dogs for both adults and children. Their brains are hard-wired to solve problems, so giving them a job to do helps in a puppy’s productivity and growth.
Energy Level	Though these energetic pups love to run, it’s important to have them in a fenced in area as they should never run loose. Due to their ancestry of hunting big game animals, they may accidentally think a strange dog is a threat rather than a friend.
Life Span	Boxers live between 12 – 14 years on average.

Who is the best human for a boxer?

To be friends with a boxer means you must be willing to get a little silly. They love to leap across the land (and on to you) so teaching the word “down” during puppyhood is a tremendously important part of training. Boxers are built for speed, agility, and need a variety of activities to keep their brains engaged. They are wonderfully protective guard dogs and need extra training to help channel that protective instinct.

Particularly frail adults or small children might get overwhelmed by the springy boxer, so keep that in mind when deciding if a boxer is the right type of dog for your household.

Getting a boxer puppy

Choosing to adopt or go through a breeder for your new boxer puppy is a personal choice that requires research. Thankfully, there are many resources out there to help you find a rescue or breeder that offers healthy, ethically-sourced boxer puppies.

Knowing what you’re in for when you get a boxer puppy is an important step in being a responsible pet owner. Whether you find a responsible breeder or are planning on adopting, prepare yourself for an energetic and friendly addition to your household.

Adopting boxer puppies

It may be surprising to know, but adopting a boxer puppy is possible. Most breed rescues report that a majority of their rescue dogs come from individual owner surrender, with the most common reasons being a change in lifestyle or the breed not being right for them. This means that there may be many dogs and puppies out there that are looking for a new forever home.

The main difference between a breeder and a rescue is that a rescue may not always have young puppies to choose from. The benefit, however, is that most are mandated to only adopt out dogs that have been microchipped and spayed/neutered. This means you may end up with a dog that’s already been housebroken, and doesn’t need these common medical procedures. You may also find a boxer mix that has all the traits you want from the breed, but with a little extra thrown in.

Finding a boxer rescue can be as simple as searching the internet. The Kennel Club also has an excellent list of boxer rescues on their site.

Finding a boxer breeder

The first step is to do your research. Sadly, there are many puppy mills posing as reputable breeders along with plenty of online scams. Be aware, and reach out to different online forums for conversations about getting your future furry family member.

Be sure to ask questions, make arrangements to meet the parent dogs or mother, and follow your gut. If something seems wrong at a breeder you visit or the boxer puppy seems too good to be true, there’s likely something fishy going on. The Kennel Club also offers resources for finding a breeder, with fairly strict guidelines on who they let participate.