In time, crosses with other breeds, notably the "Deutsche Dogge" or Great Dane, and the Bulldog, plus refinement to a smaller size by natural selection helped to establish the modern Boxer type, as seen at the end of the 19th century. Incidentally, the Bulldog of that period bears little resemblance to the English Bulldog as is known today.

The temperament and character of the Boxer are of greatest importance. He is known since his earliest days for his love and loyalty to his master and household, his alertness and fearless courage as a defender and protector. A sound Boxer is loyal and trustworthy, never treacherous, vicious or cowardly.

Boxers have a great zest for life, a sense of humour and will do anything they find exciting. Boxers love games and will retain this trait till they reach their final days.

By nature, as are most dogs, the Boxer is meticulous about his cleanliness, another of the many traits which make him a most desirable family member.

• Size: Adult males - 22 1/2 - 25 in. (57 to 64 cm). Females - 21 to 23 1/2in. (53-60 cm) at the withers. Males should not go under the minimum nor females over the maximum.
• Weight: Adult males may reach 75-80 lbs, females usually 10-15 lbs less.
• Colour: fawn or brindle, with or without white markings on muzzle, neck, chest, underbelly and legs (socks)
• Coat: short, lying close and tight to the body

for a complete description of the Boxer "blueprint" see the "Standard" page.

• Ownership of any dog entails definite responsibilities, one of which is not letting the dog run loose. This will prevent the possibility of a tragic death by accident or entanglement with neighbours dogs.
• The Boxer should be considered an inside dog, as he is sensitive to high or low temperature extremes.
• A fenced yard is adequate for a Boxer's exercise. However, a brisk walk on a leash 2 or 3 times a day is what they enjoy the most.
• Grooming the Boxer is basic and is easily done by the owner. Twice weekly brushing to remove dead hair and loose skin particles is sufficient to keep his coat in good shape. Brushing also stimulates the secretion of natural skin oils that make the coat shine. Occasional baths may be needed but excessive bathing is not recommended as it will remove the natural skin oils necessary for a healthy coat. Vaseline is great for gently rubbing on a dry nose. Teeth should be cleaned regularly and checked for tartar. Ears should be cleaned gently with a cotton swab to remove wax and dirt. Nails should be clipped or preferably sanded down every week or so, unless they are worn down naturally by hard surfaces.
• The adult Boxer best maintains his weight by eating two meals a day. Intestinal upsets may occur if he is fed only one large, heavy meal daily. A Boxer should never become overweight as this can lead to health problems. New puppy owners should follow the diet used by the Breeder and any changes to the puppies diet should be done gradually to avoid causing diarrhea.

• Basic training can begin as soon as the Boxer puppy comes into the home. Being gentle but firm, begin with normal commands of "NO" and "OFF" for jumping up. Physically show the pup what is meant rather than repeating the command. Give lots of praise when he gets it right.
• The Boxer puppy adapts readily to crate training and soon learns that the crate is his den. Crate training also saves chewed furniture, slippers, and frayed tempers while the puppy is teething. Crates make great baby sitters and will keep any age Boxer out of trouble while the owner is out.
• Serious obedience training should wait until the Boxer is about 6 months old. A Boxer has a mind of his own, (not a fault, just another side of his spirit and intelligence) so his training should be purposeful and consistent. Patience here is a must and training sessions should be followed by lots of praise and play.
• Although the Boxer has self-assurance, courage and natural intelligence, he also has a tremendous ego and pride, and will only "follow" after one has completely earned his respect. Anathema to the Boxer is constant repetition of an exercise and half-hearted corrections. Never nag a Boxer while training, make him understand that a swift correction follows a misdeed. Praise him enthusiastically when he is doing well. Never be "gray". Enjoy the training sessions and the Boxer will enjoy them too!

Dr. Wendy Wallner, DVM

There is one drug used in anesthetic protocols that should not be used in the Boxer. That drug is Acepromazine, a tranquilizer, that is often used as a preanesthetic agent. In the Boxer, it tends to cause a problem called first degree heart block, a potentially serious arrythmia of the heart. It also causes a profound hypotension (severe lowering of the blood pressure) in many Boxers that are given the drug. Recently on the Veterinary Information Network, a computer network for practicing veterinarians, an announcement was placed in the cardiology section entitled "Acepromazine and Boxers". This described several adverse reactions to the drug in a very short time span at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital. All the adverse reactions were in Boxers. The reactions included collapse, respiratory arrest, and profound bradycardia (slow heart rate, less than 60 beats per minute). The announcement suggested that acepromazine should not be used in dogs of the Boxer breed because of a breed-related sensitivity to the drug.
WARNING: This drug is the most commonly prescribed tranquilizer in veterinary medicine. It is also used orally and is prescribed for owners who want to tranquilize their dogs for air travel. I would strongly recommend that Boxer owners avoid the use of this drug, especially when the dog will be unattended and/or unable to receive emergency medical care if it is needed.
Wendy Wallner, DVM

Dr. Kathryn M. Meurs, DVM, PhD (Genetics)

Dilated Cardiomyopathy in the Boxer dog is a particularly lethal form of progressive heart disease. The majority of affected Boxers experience sudden cardiac death, although left heart failure also occurs. A significant sex predisposition has not been reported. The average age of the affected dog is 7 years but dogs as young as one year of age have been reported. The disease is characterized by one of three clinical presentations: the asymptomatic dog with an arrhythmia, the symptomatic dog with syncope secondary to cardiac arrhythmia, or the symptomatic dog with congestive heart failure. Although other breeds of dogs suffer from Dilated Cardiomyopathy, the clinical presentation of arrhythmias without heart failure is unique in Boxer Cardiomyopathy. The etiology of the disease is poorly understood, however, an inherited etiology amongst Boxers within the New england area was reported as early as 1983 by Dr. Neil Harpster.

from another source - a brief description:

[Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disorder of the heart muscle resulting in thinning of the muscular wall of the heart and its increase in size as a result. The enlarged heart with ineffective muscular activity results finally in heart failure.]

Dr. Wendy Wallner, DVM

A large percentage of boxers have gingival hyperplasia which gets worse with increasing age. It is a familial condition in the boxer breed. There have been many nomenclature changes recently with regard to this condition because of the relatively recent specialty of Veterinary Dentistry.

Another name for this condition is gingival epulis. It is described as a fibrous nodular proliferative hyperplasia of the gingiva of older dogs, particularly boxers. The lesion looks like multiple tumors and has been classified by some as a precancerous lesion. The epulides (plural) are frequently very hard and fibrous and occasionally calcified (like yours). Rarely malignant, these have a tendency to recur. Histopathologically these are (or once were) classified as one of three lesions.

1. Fibromatous epulis (gingival hyperplasia) - firm solid lesions, single or multiple, non-invasive, may recur following surgical excision,

2. Ossifying epulis - identical to fibromatous except that it contains osteoid, cementum or dentin (bony type or tooth type material, hence calcified),

3. Acanthomatous epulis - appears the same outwardly, but invades the underlying bone.

Only this last one is potentially malignant, and even this one does not metastasize (spread to other organs) but is very locally invasive.

also this last from an earlier Internet post by Dr. W. Wallner DVM

To: "Boxer Discussion List"
Subject: Re: gingival hyperplasia
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 22:36:19 -0500

The familial nature of this condition in the boxer was first described in 1952 in a paper by MS Burcoral. Though some other breeds are also affected, it is by far most common in our breed. I have owned lines of dogs with no hyperplasia and I have owned others with gums that required annual surgery so the dogs could eat without having bleeding gums. It is definitely an inherited condition.
Wendy Wallner, DVM

Dr. Nan Henderson of Park Veterinary Hospital

Gastric dilation/volvulus (GDV) is a life-threatening disease characterized by a tremendous ballooning (dilation) of the stomach with gas and frothy material. Dilation may be followed by twisting of the stomach (volvulus) that closes both the inlet and outlet of the stomach. As swelling continues, shock develops as the swollen stomach blocks return of blood from the abdomen to the heart. Widespread tissue damage and kidney failure develop and death from respiratory and cardiac arrest soon follows.

While most cases occur in large, narrow and deep-chested dogs, small dogs are occasionally affected. The disorder appears suddenly in apparently healthy dogs. The cause is unknown, although many contributing factors have been suggested. These include:

• Heredity
• Ingestion of large meals (though no correlation with specific brands, type of food, or free-choice vs. meal feeding has been shown)
• Ingestion of large quantities of water
• Exercising after eating
• General anesthesia (delays emptying of stomach)
• Vomiting
• Stress

The signs of gastric dilation include:

• General fatigue (possibly collapse)
• Signs of pain or distress
• Gums and/or other mucus membranes may be abnormal color:
• Blue -- from lack of oxygen
• White -- from shock
• Dark Red -- from sepsis (severe infection)
• Possible abdominal distention
• Arched back
• Attempting to vomit without success
• Persistent swallowing/salivating
• Difficulty breathing
• Restlessness

Diagnosis is made by physical examination and radiography. Immediate treatment is essential --
this is a true EMERGENCY! Irreversible damage can occur in a surprisingly short period of time. For this reason, many affected dogs die before treatment can be administered.

Surgery is necessary in all cases of gastric volvulus, and recovery is often long and intensive. Damage to the heart can cause problems up to several days after surgery. Unfortunately, recurrences are common in some pets. Owners of recovered pets must be especially alert for the early signs of recurrence.

excerpt from the Dogwood Tattle Tail, Volume 9 Issue 3

Corneal Epithelial Membrane Disease was identified in the Boxer in 1964. The abnormal make-up of the epithelial cells and basement membrane cause poor adhesion to the stroma, the next layer of the cornea. This results in a very loosely attached epithelium, which is prone to injury. Treatment for the resulting ulcers in the earliest stages consists of antibiotic and atropine drops. More aggressive treatments include chemical debridement of the corneal surface, and grid or punctate keratotomy, a surgical procedure that supports adhesion of the new corneal cells once the ulcer is scraped away. Stitching the haw closed during healing, or using soft contact lenses, aids the recovery. The judicious use of steroid-based ointments and cyclosporin topically, once healing is well established, helps to restore clarity in the cornea. Recurrence of ulcers after surgical treatment is not high.

Clubs such as the Dogwood Boxer Club and others can provide names of Kennels through phone contact or Web sites such as this one. The "Links" page has a few Web sites of interest.

The Canadian Kennel Club publishes the "Dogs in Canada" magazine which contains information on Breed clubs.

Having made contact with a Breeder and ascertaining if he has any puppies for sale a few visits to the Kennel are in order. The Breeder wants to get to know the buyer, as his primary concern is for the future welfare of his puppies. Keep in mind that it is wise to see as many litters as possible to see differences and to learn more about the Boxer breed. Be prepared to be put on a waiting list. The Breeder will advise at what age the litter is available for viewing. It is advisable not to bring children when first viewing a litter, as the decision to buy a puppy should not be impulsive or swayed by a childs infatuation with a particular pup.

When awake the puppies should look lively, alert and healthy. Avoid being attracted to the quiet, inactive puppy that shies away, as this may indicate a fault in temperament or even illness. Ask to see the dam if she is not with the pups.

1. The tail is usually docked within a few days of birth and the front dewclaws are removed at the same time. The Boxer has no rear dewclaws.
2. Ear crops are optional, usually done between eight and ten weeks of age. The Breeder is a good source of advice on post surgical care and taping, as is the Veterinarian performing the surgery.
3. A male Boxer should have both testes properly descended in the scrotum by two or three months of age. If one or both fail to descend he can not be exhibited in the show ring. The terms "monorchid" and "cryptorchid" refer to the respective conditions just mentioned. This in no way precludes the dog from making a fine companion, or entering Obedience or Tracking trials.
4. Federal law requires that the Breeder register, at no charge to the new owner, the transfer of ownership with the Canadian Kennel Club, who will in time mail the Certificate of Registration to said owner.
5. Along with the sales contract, a 3 or 4 generation pedigree and a Certificate of Vaccination should also be provided. There may also be a non-breeding contract attached as one of the conditions of sale.
6. The puppies diet should be discussed with the Breeder, as sudden changes may upset his digestive system.
7. Discuss crate training with the Breeder.
8. Most Breeders will not let their pups leave until 8 weeks of age.