Boxer dogs are in many ways an acquired taste from their firecracker personalities to their weird but loveable faces. Once you get past their peculiarity, they truly are the most loving and loveable dogs you will ever come across. With proper training, socialization, and care, Boxers make for awesome companion pets. You just need to be able to keep up with their energy levels.
Boxers cost around $300 to $2,500, depending on the health guarantee bundles that are offered with the purchase. This is common among breeders of Boxer dogs, as Boxers are known for their health issues like “Boxer cardiomyopathy” and related conditions due to brachycephaly. This also means that vet bills could be a concern as they get older. Monthly maintenance costs for a Boxer typically amount to around $120.
Their price tag is definitely a bit on the higher side. So are they worth it? Let’s find out more about what it’s like to live with these pooches and whether their personalities and care experience justify the price tag they come with.
How Much Is A Boxer Adult?
A Boxer dog will cost you between $800 to $2,800.
This puts them in the mid to high price range. furthermore, it will cost you about $140 per month in maintenance per month or $1,600 to $2,000 per year. This means that though expensive, Boxers are not necessarily expensive to maintain. Here are a few other reasons you might want to consider buying a Boxer.
Boxers Are Easy To Train
One of the main traits that make Boxers awesome as first-time dogs is their intelligence and eagerness to please. This makes them very easy to train whether it is house breaking or special tricks for your fun bonding time together.
There Is Never A Dull Moment
If you want a dog that will constantly keep you on your toes, then a Boxer is the dog breed to go with. These doggies are jam packed with love and energy and guarantee you will always have a great time together. They just have to feel loved and be kept engaged.
Boxers Are Versatile
There is no type of work that a Boxer dog cannot be put to. Boxers make for great watch and guard dogs and are therefore ideal if you want a personal protection pooch.
Boxers also get along very well with humans and are great companions if you just want a furry buddy to hang out with.
Boxers Are Low Maintenance
The high price of purchase is definitely justified by the relatively low cost of maintenance. In fact, you can save a ton of money by doing a lot of the care yourself including grooming and training as we will discuss shortly.
How Long Do Boxers Live?
Boxers have a life span of 10 to 12 years which is quite normal for medium to large dogs.
What is interesting about these pooches is the fact that it takes them 3 years to become fully grown. In fact, they are considered as the dog breed with the longest puppyhood of all dog breeds.
These doggies are generally quite healthy as a result of their genetics and very active lifestyle. However, they are prone to developing some diseases that may either affect their quality of life or even cause death. Here are a few of them.
Boxer Cardiomyopathy
Boxer cardiomyopathy is a genetic condition that affects the structure and functioning of the right ventricle. It is not exclusive to Boxers but it does disproportionately affect the breed compared to other doggies. If not managed early, it could lead to heart failure and death.
Allergies
Boxers often develop skin allergies to things like pollen, parasites, and even some fabrics or chemicals in their accessories and grooming products. This results in intense itchiness which is one of the main reasons why Boxers lick themselves so much.
Gastric Volvulus
This condition results in bloating and may also cause constipation. It is therefore important to monitor your boxer’s bowel patterns to pick out any signs of trouble within their gut. In very serious cases, they may need to get corrective surgery.
Heat Intolerance
This is as a result of the Boxer’s brachycephalic facial structure which affects breathing and panting required to regulate body temperature on hot and humid days.
How To Take Care Of Boxers?
As already mentioned, Boxers are very easy to maintain. You just need to know exactly what to do. Here are a few pointers that should help when you are trying to figure out how to you’re your Boxer healthy.
Get Your Boxer Dog On A Healthy Diet
These dogs are very energetic and as a result need a high calorie diet to keep up with their demands. We recommend you try Pet Plate for access to the right quality, combination, and quantity of food needed for your Boxer doggy to thrive.
Supplement Boxers’ Diet With Multivitamins
In addition to the main meals, Boxers benefit a lot from multivitamin supplementation. This helps address specific issues like bone and joint problems as well as gut health. They also promote general well being for a happy and healthy pooch.
Find Ways To Keep Boxers Cool During Summer
Summers can be brutal for Boxers with their poor heat regulation mechanisms.
It is therefore up to you to keep them adequately shaded and as cool as possible. Though they are not great at swimming, a shallow, inflatable pool would do wonders allowing them to enjoy the outdoors while also cooling off.
Invest In Exercise And Playtime
Boxers need high levels of physical and mental engagement. You should plan for 2 hours or more of walking or exercising with a Boxer. Failure to do so will leave you with a worked up doggy that is very likely to misbehave.
Are Boxers Cuddlers? Temperament Of Boxers
Boxers are everywhere on the temperament scale. They have aggressive tendencies but are also some of the sweetest and cuddliest dogs you will ever meet. They love people but can sometimes be very distrusting and hostile. To help you better understand your Boxer, here are some of their main personality traits.
Protective
Boxers can actually be quite aggressive and may even bite people that they consider to be threats to their human companions. This isn’t so much about them being malicious but is often more of their protective instincts kicking in when they feel their loved ones are threatened.
Mistrusting Of Strangers
Even when there is no apparent danger, Boxers generally tend to be very distrusting of strangers. They tend to bark a lot when they are suspicious which makes Boxers really good guard dogs.
Intelligent And Obedient
Boxers are relatively easy to train. If you choose to go the professional route, it may cost you $70 per week on training and about $50 to $100 on training equipment and toys. You could also go for a DIY approach to save some money in which case we recommend the Brain Training for Dogs program.
Patient
Boxers are generally great with children and other smaller pets due to their patient nature. However, their playfulness could easily get out of hand so it is best to avoid leaving them alone with kids to be safe.
Affectionate
Boxers are more comfortable in human company and do not love to be left alone. However, with enough toys to keep them busy you may be able to get away with a few hours of absence.
Do Boxers Shed? Grooming Tips For Boxers
Boxers are also quite easy to maintain in terms of grooming. They shed very minimally which means you don’t have to work too hard to keep up with their coat.
If you go with professional groomers, it will cost you about $50 to $80 per session. However, you could also do it yourself. Here are some of the key grooming tips in this case.
Brush Boxers Fur Weekly
You can get away with brushing a Boxer’s fur once or twice a week. This is because they do not shed a lot. Their short coat is also not likely to develop matts. Just make sure to invest in a good quality grooming brush that is suitable for their coat type.
Give Them A Bath Every 6 To 8 Weeks
These pooches play a lot and as a result collect a lot of dirt and grime outdoors. A bath every 6 to 8 weeks helps keep them looking and smelling fresh for everyone’s comfort and sake including the dog.
Clean Boxers Ears Regularly
A lot of gunk builds up under those floppy ears and it is your job to get rid of it. It is, however, very important to ensure that you dry those ears properly after cleaning them. This prevents development of fungi or bacteria which could cause serious infections.
Keep Boxers Intimate Accessories
CoFinally, keep anything that gets into contact with the dog as clean as possible. This includes their doggy clothes, bedding, and beds. This is particularly important if your dog is suffering active skin irritation.
Related Questions
Can Boxers Be Gray? Gray is not a standard Boxer color. The closest recognized variation are Silver Boxers. These are regular Boxer dogs whose coat turns silver-gray with age. It is commonly observed when these dogs pass the 7 year mark. More common colors with this dog breed include fawn and brindle patterns.
Why Is My Boxer So Small? Ideally, a Boxer should weigh from 55 to 75 pounds and measure 53 to 64 inches in height at maturity. If your doggy is not that big, it could be a sign of underlying conditions. Some of the health problems that cause Boxers to be small include:
- Growth hormone insufficiency
- Inadequate diet
- Canine dwarfism
- Underlying diseases causing stunted growth
- Genetic predisposition to smaller build
Are Brindle Boxers Rare? Brindle Boxers are actually not rare at all. In fact, they are among the most common second only to the fawn-colored Boxer variety. If you want something truly unique, white Boxers are the way to go. While they may not be incredibly rare, they are far less common than the fawn and brindle types.
