Boxer: The Energetic Athlete with a Playful Spirit and Loyal Heart
Fun Fact
Boxer holds the Guinness World Record for the longest dog tongue in the world!
About
Boxers are medium sized dogs bred in Germany during the late 19th century for hunting mainly wild boars and deers. Their powerful jaws would hold on to the animal until the hunter arrived to shoot and kill them. They used the extinct breed Bullenbeisser and Old English Bulldog to create the modern day Boxer. Their tendency to stand on their hind legs with their front paws in a boxing stance gives them the name ‘Boxer’. They were introduced to other parts of Europe during the late 19th century and to the USA during the early 20th Century. During World War 1, the Boxers were used as guard, attack and messenger dogs. The soldiers took back their pets and introduced them to other parts of the world. Boxers then became a very popular house pet. They are the 7th best pet dog breed around the world.
Appearance
Boxers have a square head with short snouts. Male boxers weigh between 28-33 kilograms and females between 25-29 kilograms. They have a black face mask with big brown round eyes and wrinkled forehead. They have a short and smooth coat. They have large and pointy ears which are floppy but people tend to crop the ears and tails for aesthetic reasons. The jaws protrude a little and have an upturned nose. They have a very stocky, powerful and muscular body with a broad chest and strong back. The coat colours are usually Fawn, Brindle, White, Black and combination of these four colours.
Temperament
Boxers are very playful, loyal, patient, silly, fearless and amazing watch dogs. They are very playful and behave like puppies most of their lives. They enjoy playing with the owners and are often called clowns of the dog world! Since they are high energy dogs, they need a high energy family to fulfil their needs.
LifeSpan/Health
The average lifespan of Boxers is between 11-13 years. Boxers are prone to various diseases such as Cancers, Hip Dysplasia, Allergies and deafness. Boxers are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections, such as parvo, rabies, and distemper. They develop Degenerative Myelopathy which is a neurological disease that affects the nervous system and spinal cord. They also develop Cushing’s syndrome. This is a condition where the adrenal glands malfunction which causes them to produce too much steroid hormone. Obesity is another common condition which causes problems to the joints and leads to heart diseases. They also suffer from bloating issues where the stomach is filled with gas and twists. However, the key to try and increase their life expectancy is to make sure they have a proper diet, required exercise/walk, timely medication, yearly Vaccinations, deworming tablets every three months and regular blood tests with Vet regarding the overall health. This breed is prone to get hip Dysplasia. Make sure they DO NOT jump from heights or constantly jump down from cots or sofas onto a smooth floor.
Maintenance
Although they have less grooming needs, they are considered to be high maintenance dogs when it comes to exercise and walks. Their short hair requires brushing one or twice a week with monthly bathing requirements. They are messy eaters and drinkers. You need to figure out the right place to feed and give them water. They require a minimum of 1.5 hours of walking a day. If you cannot give them the required time for their walks and exercise, then this is not the dog breed for you.
Good food and nutrition is significant. Awareness of what to feed and how much to feed is extremely important. Processed food is not ideal due to the chemicals used causing increasing effects on the gut. Bloating, digestive issues, stinky stool, diarrhea, obesity and dehydration are some of the most common issues faced.
Canine diet requires a blend of fresh and natural ingredients . It should include the right amount of protein, fibre, fat and carbohydrate. We understand that it is not easy to make fresh food at home on a daily basis which meets all the nutritional requirements.
We at Genie Pet Meal understand the nutritional requirement of each dog because we customise the food according to the requirement. 100% fresh and natural ingredients like Chicken, 7 types of Vegetables, Rice, Egg white and other ingredients combined in the right quantity makes our food extremely healthy! It’s tailor made for your dog as we keep in mind the importance of giving the best to your fur ball.
