‘It should also be remembered that boxers are big, strong and can be boisterous – rescue boxers often come from those with young children, unable to cope with them blundering about the home.’ She adds that some are in the habit of drooling, so perhaps not the right fit for anyone opposed to a bit of slobber. ‘They’re people-oriented and can get distressed if they’re on their own for too long, so we wouldn’t advise the breed to anyone out working long hours,’ she elaborates. The boxer’s keen sense of attachment can lead to a common trait of separation anxiety and Mrs Jenks is keen to point out that they’re not a dog to be left to their own devices at home all day. Mainly, they like being with people they’re affectionate dogs that always want to be at your side.’

They’re such characters, loyal and trusting. ‘I always say that, once you have a boxer, you’ll never have anything else. ‘My mum has bred and shown them for almost 60 years, so they’ve been part of my every day since I was born,’ she explains, revealing that they own 11 boxers between them. Based in South Yorkshire, Mrs Van-Beck can’t remember a life before boxers. ‘The working element to boxers isn’t as common here in the UK, but when you see one working in IGP, it is magnificent to watch’ says Vikki Van-Beck of Newlaithe Boxers and the Northern Boxer Club. ‘Some are in the habit of drooling, so perhaps not the right fit for anyone opposed to a bit of slobber’ The sport involves several retrieving tasks and one wonders whether the boxer might fare well in the shooting field – it is rare, but not completely unheard of and there have been occasional reports of boxers managing to keep up with more typical gundogs.

‘They adore the training because they enjoy being outdoors in the fields and spending as much time with their owner as possible.’ ‘Boxers are very much suited to the sport they were originally developed for this sort of work and they’re naturally good at it,’ he explains. Neil McMahon is currently training his second successful boxer in IGP, a three-part sport consisting of tracking, obedience and protection, designed to show off the abilities of working breeds used in police training or the military.

Country Life's Top 100 architects, builders, designers and gardenersĪlthough German shepherds are recognised as today’s police dog of choice, the boxer’s instinctive capability for this line of work is still present in the breed.

In Australia, you can adopt a boxer from the Boxer Rescue Network Australia (BRNA), a charity that re-homes boxers in need of new families. If you’re dead set on getting a boxer or similar breed, you might want to consider finding a “boxerdoodle” breeder. However, boxers’ propensity to drool can pose a problem to those who are allergic to dogs’ saliva.

As we mentioned, boxers shed all year round, albeit in small and often tolerable doses – especially if you’re meticulous about brushing. Unfortunately, boxers are not hypoallergenic. While some of these minis may closely resemble their larger counterparts, they may not act similarly. Sadly, there isn’t a lot of documentation on the exact process that results in mini boxers, so it’s difficult to determine a miniature’s exact sizing, characteristics, temperament, and health concerns. Miniature boxers are either a product of mating purebred runts or cross-breeding small dogs that have similar characteristics to boxers, such as Boston terriers, pugs, rat terriers, and fox terriers. But for those who want to cuddle up to a boxer, heed our warning: these dogs drool and snore a lot. And in any case, even if your boxer dog puppy isn’t quite ready to follow commands yet, you’ll always find yourself in stitches over his antics, from his “boxing” moves (yes, they really do box) to the “kidney bean” dance they tend to do when they’re really excited.īoxer puppies are loyal and affectionate creatures who make great snuggle buddies and even playmates for little kids. Though this personality requires a lot of patience, would-be owners can rest easy knowing that boxers are intelligent and easy to train given an early start and the right methods.

While generally considered indoor dogs, daily walks or playtime at the dog park are part and parcel of maintaining a boxer’s wellbeing. Over these three years, boxers often remain their energetic, ecstatic, and silly selves – meaning these giant puppies-at-heart need constant exercise. Getty The boxer’s temperament: Giant puppies-at-heartĪccording to Dog Time, boxers are sometimes considered as the “ Peter Pan of the dog breeds ” because they can take up to three years to mature.

Big boxer dogs