The Vet’s Guide to Boxers: Facts, Health & Training

A strong and energetic breed, Boxers are a loveable companion and a great addition to any family. Their fun loving energy makes them the perfect “eternal puppy” that will keep you on your toes everyday. 

• Boxers are a great breed for experienced dog owners! Whilst these pups are extremely loveable, they need a lot of care and attention compared to some other breeds. Boxers are also susceptible to some serious health conditions that experienced owners may be more prepared to handle.

• This breed is unfortunately predisposed to many health conditions such as cancers and heart diseases. It is important that you are prepared for regular veterinary checkups, and provide the best medical care when needed.

• Being a very active breed, Boxers are a great fit for owners who lead a very active lifestyle. Their fun-loving spirit means that they require large amounts of exercise and mental stimulation a day.

Appearance: Boxers are a medium to large-sized dog breed, with a large head and strong neck. In adulthood, Boxers can reach to be 63 centimetres tall, and weigh up to 32 kilograms. Their coats often vary from fawn, white and brindled, along with having shorter haired coats that are not prone to a lot of shedding.

Temperament: This breed is very loyal to their owners, along with being very energetic and intelligent. By being very loyal, they can often be wary of strangers, but will make great family companions as they get on well with children.

Activity Level: With being such an energetic and high energy breed, ideally Boxers require at least two hours of walking a day, in addition to regular play time and training games.

Health: The Boxer breed is very susceptible to many health conditions such as certain cancers, heart conditions and hip dysplasia. However, responsible breeders will ensure that their Boxers are screened for these conditions to help prevent extensive health issues.

Lifespan: Boxers have a lifespan of around 10 to 12 years, so you can enjoy their puppy and fun loving spirit for over a decade!

Whilst Boxers have a short coat, they are still prone to light to moderate shedding. As they shed occasionally, we recommend keeping up a regular grooming routine with them to keep their coat shiny and soft. Boxers don’t have a double coat like many long haired dogs, so during their peak shedding periods, they will shed more, but not excessively.

Shedding patterns: Boxers will shed occasionally throughout the year, so don’t be fooled by their short coat. This means that you may notice loose hairs now and then, but won’t see large amounts of hair floating around at once. 

However, during transitional periods such as the transition between cooler and warmer months, Boxers will experience a bit more shedding than usual. To handle this, be sure to consistently brush them once or twice a week, and more regularly brush them during peak shedding periods.

Bathing tips: Being a clean dog breed, Boxers only need baths occasionally. Minimal bathing also ensures that their coat stays healthy, as their fur contains valuable oils that protect their skin.

When bathing your Boxer, we recommend a gentle dog shampoo and conditioner to keep their coat shiny and soft. Be sure to remain patient with your Boxer in the bath, and reward them with praise and treats for their good behaviour. After bathing, and regularly day-to-day,  keep any nose wrinkles clean and try to prevent any issues.

Nail care: To ensure that your Boxer doesn’t experience discomfort, trim their nails with a dog nail trimmer at least once a month. Their nails can be naturally worn down on hard surfaces, such as the concrete on walks, so be sure to keep an eye on their length.  If you are unsure on trimming your dog’s nails, contact your local groomer or veterinarian to get them trimmed professionally.

Tools: To help keep your Boxers coat looking shiny and healthy, we recommend picking up a good quality dog brush or brush glove. Brushing them at least once a week will ensure that their coat stays soft, and reduce the impacts of shedding.

The Boxer breed is often susceptible to an array of health conditions that can be difficult to manage. However, by talking with a reputable breeder, you can decrease the likelihood of many of these health conditions through pre-screening. Being informed on the conditions and diseases that Boxers are susceptible to can help you manage your dog’s health.

Cancers: For Boxers, cancers are unfortunately the most common health issue that can arise. Boxers are most susceptible to both brain and mast cell tumours, which can be treated through surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy where applicable.

Boxers have the highest incidence of any pure-bred dog of mast cell tumours. Fortunately, there is now a relatively new medication (Stelfonta) which uses the dog’s immune cells to attack the mast cell tumour. This is a novel treatment which has been highly successful in Boxers. 

We recommend keeping up to date with regular veterinary visits to ensure you are on top of your Boxers health.

Heart Disease: Boxers are also susceptible to a variety of serious heart conditions that can result in weakness, fainting and sudden death. Whilst there is no cause, nor cure for these heart conditions, such as Boxer Cardiomyopathy, you can seek treatment from your veterinarian to control abnormal heart rhythms in your Boxer.

Along with these conditions, Boxers can also be found to have aortic stenosis which likewise causes damage to the heart. This condition can be detected through regular health checks with your veterinarian, as symptoms can vary by each dog.

Stomach Issues: A common issue that can be found in Boxers in Gastric Dilation Volvulus (otherwise known as Bloat). This issue occurs when fluid, air, foam or food collects in the stomach of the dog, and makes it expand. Then, the dog’s stomach may twist and trap the contents of the stomach with nowhere to go, and therefore restricting blood flow to vital organs.

Signs of GDV include excessive drooling & panting, a swollen upper abdomen, anxiety & agitation along with being unable to vomit. Be sure to take your dog to the veterinarian immediately if you see these signs, as this condition is life threatening.

To prevent this stomach issue, slow down your dog’s eating and drinking through special feeder bowls, along with smaller portions of meals throughout the day. It is also recommended not to exercise your Boxer for at least an hour before or after eating.

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome: As a short snouted breed, Boxers can experience a range of upper airway abnormalities that can affect their breathing. Some symptoms of this condition can be worsened by obesity in your Boxer, so be sure to keep up with a healthy and balanced diet and lifestyle.

With being very loyal dogs, and having the ability to grow up to 35 kilograms, it is very important that you not only socialise your Boxer at a young age, but also train them in basic commands.

Socialisation: We recommend socialising your Boxer as soon as possible. This means having puppy-friendly visitors to your home, or enrolling in specific puppy classes. This is to ensure that your Boxer doesn’t get sick before they are fully vaccinated at 16 weeks. After their last round of shots, you can  introduce your Boxer to a wide range of people and other dogs to ensure they are not wary or aggressive to others in the future.

Consistency: One of our top tips in training your Boxer is to remain consistent and patient during training. Whilst this breed has a love of learning, and wants to please you, they can be stubborn in taking up new skills. continue training basic commands with a positive reinforcement for the wanted behaviours.

Positive reinforcement: The best way to train your Boxer on wanted behaviours, and discourage unwanted behaviours is through the positive reinforcement approach. This includes giving your Boxer a positive reward, such as a yummy training dog treat or verbal praise, when they show a wanted behaviour. This can span from simple eye contact, to recall in an open area. When your Boxer is showing unwanted behaviours, ignore it, and reward a positive redirection to a wanted behaviour.

As a high energy breed, it is essential that you are ready to take on the amount of exercise your Boxer will need every day. We recommend that you take your Boxer out on walks that add up to at least two hours a day, along with encouraging playtime with a range of toys throughout the day.

Overexertion: Whilst they are a very active breed, you need to ensure that your Boxer does not overexert themselves through their daily exercise. Boxers are a late-maturing breed, meaning that they are not fully developed until at least 18 months of age. By not regulating their exercise, or having them partake in extreme exercise, their development and health could be affected.

Toys & activities: Along with being physically active, we also recommend that your Boxer is mentally active with a wide range of activities and toys. Allowing your Boxer to explore and sniff their surroundings on walks, as well as partaking in intelligence based activities will be sure to keep them happy and healthy. You can purchase dog puzzle toys and treat activities that will keep your Boxers mind sharp, and keep them from any destructive tendencies that can result from boredom.

With their puppy-like nature, it is hard not to love your Boxer. However, you might tend to become frustrated as they can bark at passers-by and chew on your belongings. Luckily, these behaviours can be redirected and eliminated through patience and consistency with your Boxer.

Barking behaviour: Since Boxers are a very loyal and protective breed, you can expect some barking from them to notify you of anyone close to your home. Their guard dog nature will make sure that you’re aware of a passing dog, or friendly neighbour. Other than this, you don’t need to expect excessive barking from your Boxer, unless they are bored or left alone for long periods.

To handle excessive barking if your Boxer is extremely vocal, we recommend the positive reinforcement training model. Ignore their barking, and do not yell or become aggressive with them. Positively reinforce them looking at you and sitting quietly when others are around, and remain consistent to see results.

Destructive chewing: As an energetic breed, your Boxer might get into the unwanted habit of chewing things they aren’t supposed to. This can be due to many factors, but can be alleviated by ensuring they are getting enough exercise, mental stimulation and attention. If they are bored, they will often seek out things to do, and chewing is often a common activity.

If your Boxer is experiencing excessive chewing tendencies, we recommend redirecting them to appropriate dog chew toys or mentally stimulating dog puzzle games. In conjunction, you can apply anti-chew sprays on high-chew areas to discourage chewing.

To allow them to keep up with their active lifestyle, you should ensure that you are feeding your Boxer a nutritious and balanced diet. To ensure your Boxer is receiving the appropriate amount of nutrients, we recommend a Boxer-specific food that meets their nutritional requirements.

Smaller & frequent meals: As Boxers are susceptible to stomach issues such as Gastric Dilation Volvulus, we recommend feeding them smaller portioned meals more frequently. This will help reduce the risk of excessive stomach issues in your Boxer, as large amounts of food aren’t being consumed at a fast pace.

Slow feeder bowls: Along with these smaller meal portions, you can regulate your Boxers eating habits through slow feeder bowls to ensure they don’t eat too quickly. These tools allow your Boxer to regulate their eating, whilst also providing them with some mental stimulation.

High protein diet: As a large and muscular breed, they need the energy to sustain their physique, health and lifestyle. That is why it is recommended to provide your Boxer with a high protein diet, with at least 18% of their meal intake being some type of protein.

Along with this, we recommend feeding your Boxer with Boxer specific food to ensure that they are receiving the proper amount of nutrients for their bodies. When portioning out food for your Boxer’s meals, it is also recommended that they receive three to five cups of food (dry, wet etc.) a day, split into at least two meals.

Whether you have a Boxer or you're thinking about getting one, we hope you learnt something by reading our article. Whilst this guide is great start to learning about Boxer ownership, never stop seeking out new information from reputable sources. Share your experiences with other Boxer owners, and always continue to learn more about your dogs breed, temperament and how best to care for and love them.

This article was written by Dr. Jack Ayerbe