A first time dog owner always wants to know, “Are Boxer dogs dangerous?”, before bringing home one as a pet. You will find some eye opening facts in the following article. Read on, to know more about Boxer dogs and their temperament.
You must have seen a square, medium sized muscular dog going for a walk with his owner in the park. This dog breed is called a Boxer and was originally bred in Germany. They were voted one of the top 10 dog breeds for the year 2008. Also, according to American Kennel Club, they are the 6th most popular dog breed as pet in United States. However, Boxers may look intimidating to some people. This is why people thinking of adopting them as pets often ask ‘are Boxer dogs dangerous’. Well, the answer is, “No!”. I shall cover some facts about these dogs that will help you learn these dogs are not as dangerous as they appear to be. Lets go into the details.
History of Boxer Dogs
Boxers were bred in Germany around the 19th century. They were said to have old fighting dog breed, Assyrian Molossian as their ancestors. This breed was known as Bullenbeisser in Germany and known for its power and strong build. They were bred as hunter dogs to hunt bulls and boars. With time, they became more of utility dogs and were used in England as well. They are called as Boxers due to their habit of sitting on their hind legs and raising their front paws like a Boxer.
Physical Traits of Boxer Dogs
Boxer dogs are medium sized dogs that have a very noble appearance. They are very strong as well as very agile dogs. The back of Boxer dogs is short and they sport a square muzzle. Their lower jaw is protruding and have many facial wrinkles. They have smooth, hard muscles and taut skin. Their coat is short and smooth. The coat color is fawn, brown or brindle. White Boxer dogs are very uncommon as they are not bred due to their high risk of developing deafness. A Boxer dog will stand 21 to 25 inches in height and weigh 65 to 70 pounds when mature.
Boxer Dogs Temperament
In order to answer the question, ‘are Boxer dogs dangerous‘ one needs to first understand their temperament. Boxers are very intelligent dogs who are totally devoted to their family. The Boxer dog personality shows they are full of energy and are frisky. They are bright and playful dogs who you will find are a boisterous breed. They are always up to some trick that will make you roll on the floor with laughter. Boxers are smart dogs who will first want to know why should they do something you ask them to do. These dogs are mentally and physically active and therefore make sure you keep them busy at all times or else they will get bored and get a bit destructive around the house. They need human attention and want to be a part of the family. They have a stead fast temperament and therefore reliable dogs. These dogs are a bit headstrong and stubborn, so may prove to be difficult to train.
Boxer dogs were bred to hunt and protect. Therefore, they are instinctively alert and curious. They are a bit wary of strangers and very protective of their family. If they feel someone or something may pose danger to their family, they turn aggressive. They are self assured dogs who know no fear. But, will they prove to be good family dogs? Are Boxer dogs dangerous to kids and people around them?
Are Boxer Dogs Dangerous Pets?
Boxer dogs may look unfriendly or show constraint behavior towards strangers. Boxer dogs are not known to have a typically aggressive nature. They are hyper dogs who may get carried away at times. Therefore, avoid playing aggressive games with these dogs. They are basically very social dogs and you need to socialize them from the very start. These dogs adjust well with children and love to play with them. As I have already mentioned, these dogs are boisterous in nature and children helps them be naughty to their heart’s content. However, do not bring home a Boxer if you have kids below 7 to 8 years of age. This is because they are very strong dogs who may push a child down accidentally during play. Also, Boxers may not be very patient when it comes to pulling and pushing by a young child. If you do have a young children at home, never leave them unsupervised with a Boxer. This is because they are not very pleased with rough play by little kids.
A Boxer dog will attack a person only in certain circumstances. The way this dog is bred by the breeders also play an important role in shaping its personality. Many breeders tend to put their selfish needs before the good qualities of the dog. This causes breeding of any dog without consideration of his health or personality issues. This may give rise to aggressive dogs even if the breed is considered to non-aggressive. Another reason for Boxer dog aggression is lack of socialization. If a dog is not bought in contact with other humans and given a friendly environment to grow, he will develop an aggressive personality. Dog training also play a part in making a Boxer dog dangerous. If he is trained to bite and kill, he will act in the same way for no fault of his. Many times underlying health issues may also make the dog lash out at people. His mind may be preoccupied with the pain he may be suffering from and may release his displeasure by acting wild and dangerous. Thus, make sure you visit a veterinarian regularly to rule out any of your pet’s health problems.
So, I conclude that Boxer dogs are not dangerous dogs by nature. They are very friendly dogs who love to play. These dogs may get a bit aggressive during play time, so proper dog training will help overcome this problem. Boxers can be a bit clumsy around small kids and therefore should not be left unsupervised till the child and dog get comfortable around each other. Adopt a dog only from reliable breeders. Love, attention and plenty of care will keep your dog happy and calm. Never teach your dog to act aggressively or teach them wrong commands. All dogs tend to aggressive and dangerous. After all, they are all wild predators at heart. Only firm training and affection will keep their aggressiveness in check. So, feel free to bring home a Boxer puppy as pet. Boxers will make you laugh and also offer a shoulder to cry on when things look down. Hope, you have found enough information on Boxer dogs in the above paragraphs that proves to be useful to you.
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