If you have a cross breed and suspect that there may be an element of Boxer in it, then do feel free to contact us to have a DNA test done to determine same. Having a DNA test done to determine the breed make-up of your cross breed is so very easy, and can be done in the comfort of your home. We will email you a certificate with the list of breeds detected, behavioural information on each breed and information on typical disease risks. This will help you to understand your dog’s personality and be aware of potential health issues.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING A BOXER DOG
By Greta Wilson (“Bertie’s Choice - Quality products your pet would choose”) - https://www.facebook.com/bertieschoice
"Greta founded Boxer Rescue South Africa out of recognition that many a Boxer countrywide was owner advertised as a DIY rehoming and did not want Boxers to land in wrong hands. She focuses nowadays on her own beloved Boxers and is especially passionate about feeding one's pet correctly and in guardians seeking advice solely from force free, science based, positive reinforcement dog behaviourists and trainers, as this is where so many problems (health & behaviourally) can be nipped in the bud."
By Greta Wilson (“Bertie’s Choice - Quality products your pet would choose”) - https://www.facebook.com/bertieschoice
"Greta founded Boxer Rescue South Africa out of recognition that many a Boxer countrywide was owner advertised as a DIY rehoming and did not want Boxers to land in wrong hands. She focuses nowadays on her own beloved Boxers and is especially passionate about feeding one's pet correctly and in guardians seeking advice solely from force free, science based, positive reinforcement dog behaviourists and trainers, as this is where so many problems (health & behaviourally) can be nipped in the bud."
At first glance cute Boxers with their upturned snouts and underbite seem like the ideal goofball pet for any household. Do your homework and you’ll learn they are not necessarily suitable for you. As I write this I am awaiting the laboratory biopsy report for my original Boxer. Kerneelz is soon in his 13th year - a particularly good innings for a Boxer. I still aim to get a Boxer to 15 plus, perhaps even 17. There are those rare exceptions, but quality of life must rule supreme at all times.
This article is a tribute to my Boxers: Kerneelz; Sophie (RIP); Oscar (RIP); Bertie (RIP); Mango; and Sadie. Three of my 6 Boxers were rescues - my one Boxer’s history had included time at an SPCA two homes back; another had one home before me; my Bertie, a Boxer with 01.-9.9% Boston Terrier per MuttMix DNA test, came to me as an emaciated rescue).
We would all love for our dogs to live forever, but sadly they don’t. This can impact on whether you decide to acquire an adult rescue Boxer, a charming, frosty faced senior rescue Boxer, or a puppy.
Yes, there is something to be said for Boxers from known lines, but also bear in mind that like all breeds, Boxers are prone to genetic issues and these are sometimes more pronounced in a particular line. On the other hand, a rescue Boxer can be Russian roulette, not knowing the parents’ behavioural and medical history, however, you may potentially have a chance to foster a rescue Boxer on a ‘foster with option to adopt’ basis.
44.3% of Boxers will get cancer according to a 20-year study by the University of Georgia. One can of course try to defy statistics. Genes certainly play a role, but I also believe firmly in feeding them right and in daily mental and physical stimulation.
This is not the breed for someone working 7/7 shifts in a hospital! I am lucky enough to spend a considerable amount of time at home but am nonetheless at an age, and stage, where I am done with having puppies! Here on out I prefer a known outcome adult personality. In the same breath, I fully respect that people want puppies bred responsibly and that people often want a specific breed, precisely because its personality suits, critically, all members of the household.
Many Boxers end up being rehomed because of conflict within the very same home that a few weeks, months or years earlier had brought home a “cute Boxer puppy”. Yes, you certainly have the right to interrogate as to exactly why the dog is up for adoption. Never fall for what I refer to as “ego animal rescue”: just because it’s human nature for all and sundry to wish to lay claim to the most poorly looking dog on a rescue page, and to be that dog’s “rescuer” does not mean everyone would be committed to that dog for the long haul. Whether a rescue or breeder acquired Boxer/dog, ongoing behavioural and medical needs must always be met - and timeously.
All puppies are hard work, and not everyone will ever be cut out to raise a puppy. If you decide to get a puppy anyway (ideally not before 10 weeks, 8 weeks at a push) - be it through a carefully researched registered breeder or through the breed specific rescue organisation, you need to commit from the outset to socializing the puppy (Google ‘Puppy socialization checklist’).
No, dog parks and daycares are in fact not the place to socialize your dog. Work closely with a dog behaviourist if your dog shows any signs of fear based aggression or, for that matter, if your dog proves tricky with other dogs. Your choice of dog trainer or behaviourist is vital. For one on one sessions which are often needed and which I strongly recommend for ironing out specific behavioural niggles such as Boxers’ tendency to jump on people while they are walking or standing, I personally advocate COAPE behaviourists. It’s critical that the trainer or behaviourist advocates only positive, force-free training principles rooted in the latest science of what motivates a dog to do (or not) something. It needs to be about offering your dog choices, none of which are scary, threatening, intimidating or - heaven forbid - punishment based.
My first two Boxers came to me as young puppies. I had researched the breed and decided, despite the breed’s considerable health challenges (see below) that I want to be a Boxer mom. Ever since, oh, the endless farmstay adventures we have had together! All my Boxers, without exception, have got along tremendously well (yes, there have been resource guarding issues from time to time, and in Mango rather pronounced, but all in all I have been really lucky).
Pictured above my current trio. As we set off on our farmstay adventures I had to choose accommodation carefully, as Boxers can chase livestock or even try to take on a baboon. In Kerneelz’s case he was even chased by ostrich! For that matter, while there are some Boxers that are fine with dogs of all sizes (my Mango adores little dogs, it’s really sweet), one can never assume all Boxers will get on with any dog, cat, toddler, horse, sheep, cow, chicken, etcetera. Boxers cannot be blamed for what in many comes to the fore at some stage or the other as an innate prey drive. I hold the view that all too often you could be setting a Boxer up for failure by offering it a home on a farm with livestock. An enormous amount of Boxers find themselves later up for adoption because they attacked or killed livestock.
‘Littermate syndrome’ is a common reason that many dogs (not only Boxers) land up in rescue down the line. This refers to numerous behavioural issues that can sometimes (more often than you think) present when siblings from the same litter are raised in the same household - dynamics change as they near maturity and these issues can start from early on. Just because you had Boxers without behavioural or health challenges in the past in no way means you won’t with your next Boxers. You may have historically only ever had female pairs (bitches is the correct term) and all got along well. Consider yourself lucky. I am indeed lucky as my two females enjoy the closest bond I have ever seen in my six Boxers, however this is a rarity and I do not advocate two female Boxers sharing a household (other than to say how fortunate I am). There will come that one Boxer that has been sent to challenge you and to teach you more than any others did! (Mango, are you listening?). Embrace this opportunity and take advice from qualified force-free, science rooted behaviourists and run a mile if anyone suggests aversive methods or describes themself as a “dog whisperer”, “pack leader” or “wrangler”.
Given that 44.3% of Boxers will get cancer (20-year study by the University of Georgia), in my opinion (and I am not a vet but have lived experience of what has helped my Boxers’ health) it is largely all about keeping inflammation levels down in the face of the role of genes which is a considerable one compared with the role of the environment. You can, nonetheless, considerably impact on your Boxer’s quality of life through feeding them right (yes, I am a major advocate of grain free and of raw feeding but only if you know what you are doing - personally I prefer to buy premixed raw food registered with the Department of Agriculture than any DIY - I feed exclusively Simply Pets raw food).
Brace yourself for the long list of Boxer health issues (yes, you may have 5 Boxers who lived to a ripe old age then along comes the 6th who shows signs of several of the below, and yes, pet medical insurance is an absolute must from the outset and do not skimp on the options of cover offered):
Possible Boxer Health Concerns
- Cancers that Boxers (and not exclusively Boxers) may get can include (but not limited to):
* Brain tumours
* Bone cancer
* Hemangiosarcoma
* Lung cancer
* Mast cell cancer
* Lymphoma
Check your Boxer for lumps once a week or monthly. Be sure to also look under and between the paws and under their armpit. Lift their coat and run your hand over their entire body. I insist on lumps being removed - one in three Epuli (gum overgrowth) is the malignant form, not to mention that Epuli are painful and cause great discomfort (yes, I advocate dental check ups, including periodic mouth x-rays. Teeth can and do chip, dislodge, fracture completely or become rotten, potentially down the line impacting severely on the organs. Jaw cancer has been known to afflict Boxers and it is a nasty, painful cancer (yes, if my Boxer would be diagnosed with jaw cancer I would choose to send my dog across the Rainbow Bridge).
My oldest Boxer has had countless Lipoma “vetklier” fatty lumps removed during his lifetime, none of which have ever been cancerous (yes, I have lumps sent to the lab for biopsy as knowledge is power).
Aside from wanting to keep that cancer gene from expressing itself, there are so many other reasons it’s desirable that your Boxer is kept fit and lean as opposed to even mildly tubby never mind morbidly obese. As with people, being overweight to any varying degree can impact considerably in terms of aggravating or bringing on certain serious conditions.
Common Health Problems Boxers May Be Prone To
- Brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome: all Boxers have this to varying degrees - shorter snouts which result in shorter airways, with the soft palate pushed back into their throat (one of my Boxers had an elongated soft palate reduction followed by an elongated soft palate revision, plus a wedge naroplasty to widen his nostrils so he could breathe more easily).
- Dental (and yes, some Boxers love to drool!):
* Supernumerary premolars (extra teeth - can cause discomfort as the mouth is crammed)
* Epuli, as previously referred to
- Be on the look-out for signs of partial or full cruciate ligament rupture, especially if your dog is holding up a hind leg or hesitantly weight bearing on a hind leg. Often when seated the afflicted stifle (knee) will jut out.
- Eyes:
* Cherry eye
*Distichiasis (extra eyelashes)
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Sesamoid fractures (this can cause great pain - Boxers, Rottweilers, Great Danes and St Bernards are among breeds prone to this, albeit under diagnosed. A game changer for my Kerneelz has been Ruffwear rubber booties when out in nature or walking on hard roads which also prevents grass seeds migrating, a common reason many dogs obsess licking their paws, if not for allergies. For dogs that slip in the house (and they all will, resulting in a potential blown cruciate), Dr Buzby’s Toe Grips come so highly recommended, but it is critical they are fitted correctly or they do damage instead of good.
- Heart:
- Subaortic stenosis
- The impact of gastrointestinal issues can impact in the long run on the pancreas, and hence acute followed by chronic pancreatitis can follow. You want to avoid this at all costs! Keep your Boxer lean and fit, do not feed grain, and in my opinion avoid grain-fed food too.
- Juvenile Kidney Disease
- Degenerative Myelopathy (watch out for scuffed hind toenails and for dragging of hind feet)
- Allergies (a topic unto its own and often the origins of inflammation becoming an increasing enemy in your dog’s system) - I advocate grain-free food and treats, raw-fed meals, but one does need to know what you’re doing. Ensuring sufficient Omega 3’s in the diet (and a diet that has an optimal Omega 6:3 ratio is key - not leaning too much into Omega 6’s). An effective probiotic is helpful too. Something as simple as a neighbour’s plant or lawn mowing (or, heaven forbid, pesticide application) can also trigger allergies, as can washing machine detergents (instead, I use all natural orange oil based laundry detergents).
- Histiocytic Ulcerative Colitis is so common in Boxers it is often referred to by vets as ‘Boxer Colitis’
- Tendency for shoulder tendonitis due to their bouncy nature (2 of my 6 Boxers were diagnosed with this at a young age. It is incredibly painful and bed rest for 1-2 months is really the only cure. My one Boxer had a series of injections under general anaesthetic for this, while the other was only treated with utter bedrest)
- Epilepsy (genes can play a big role, of course; also, grain free food, including treats, are really key here - for those of us who, like me, are holistically inclined in terms of our dogs’ health)
- Ear infections should not be a major drama with Boxers, unlike say Gun dogs. In my opinion, if your Boxer suffers chronic ear infections you should ask yourself whether there is any grain in your dog’s diet, and if so - lose the grain! This includes what the food eats (chicken and beef, for example, are commonly fed grain).
- Do yourself a favour and Google ‘dog gastric torsion bloat YouTube’. Find a video of a dog diagnosed with this life threatening medical emergency and study it. Touch wood I have never had a Boxer with this, and please may I never have. One of many theories (and, yes, genes can even come into play here) is that dogs fed pellets (kibble) may at times be more prone to bloat - the pellets swell in their stomach. Personally I am comforted that my dogs are fed an exclusively raw diet. The food does not still have to swell in their stomachs.
- Spine:
- Spondylosis
- Narrowing disc space
- Nerve pain (referred) arising from spinal issues which can span from neck through spine right down to tail - nerve pain may be seen in a hind leg or even a fore leg. My Sadie’s urinary incontinence we have ruled out as her previously lingering urinary tract infection (which needs antibiotics) and as she was not responsive to hormones, she wees in bed because her brain is unaware and has lost the ability to control when to wee.
- Pinched nerves
- Megaoesophagus is a nasty one and it is quite complex keeping the quality of life optimal in a dog that lives with this serious and chronic condition
- Floating ribs are not a medical issue but one should be aware of the difference between a fit, lean Boxer that perhaps has a prominent rib/ribcage and a Boxer that is drastically underweight. With floating ribs the last rib does not attach to the sternum (breastbone). My Sadie has particularly prominent floating ribs
Some Boxer health hacks (aside from feeding them right such that they are not plump nor, heaven forbid, obese):
- Have vet to run an annual whole blood count and urinalysis (get baseline figures lifelong - blood, urine, heart, kidneys)
- Check under paws and everywhere for lumps each month and have vet check lymph nodes monthly or certainly quarterly
- Annual SDMA test from mid years onwards can detect kidney issues way ahead, even sometimes years ahead
Please remember that no dog is being “stubborn” or “taking revenge” or “cross” with you! Dogs, while sentient beings, are not human. They are a different species. They are dogs. Allow them the ability to be dogs!
Typical Boxer behaviour you may see:
* Jumping onto your legs/chest and trying to slobber on your face while doing so
* Sending people flying
* Digging up garden
* Separation anxiety
* Some may bark too much
* Some fence leap 6ft walls (Mango!) or dig under and escape - quite a few go missing (time to neuter or spay - or raise wall far higher)
* Spinning tight circles while wiggling their bum and play bowing
Given their behavioural quirks, please ensure they are microchipped from the outset and have the chip regularly checked by your vet’s receptionist as they can and do migrate. When you are home, offer them the freedom of being both in the home with their human and the garden. Their thin coats do not take to extreme temperatures, coupled with their brachycephalic syndrome breathing challenges. Don’t be precious about your “stuff” - least of all your plants!
I’ve found that Mambo’s Plastics makes pretty Boxer-proof bedding if you look in their children’s section and ask for a “kiddie camper bed” - the type some kindergartens use. You really do want to offer your Boxer - a large breed dog - lifelong aerated bedding and joint support while they’re resting. Please use a harness as opposed to yanking your Boxer on a collar! Animal Health & Hydro sells the ‘Perfect Fit Harness’. As a bonus, front attaching harnesses lessen leash reactivity - something many Boxers are prone to. It’s a worthwhile investment signing your Boxer on to physiotherapy sessions. I do agility with my Mango (unusual for a Boxer, but she was born for this!). Injury prevention is the Holy Grail. Physio can play a key role in this. Though Boxers are agile, you do want to slip-proof, including offering steps or ramps to get them in and out the car. Personally I prefer steps. Ramps were never terribly popular with my Boxers. Most Boxers will never make good swimmers and you need to bear this in mind if you have a swimming pool. Tragically, many a Boxer has drowned.
Exercise and Mental Stimulation
I ensure my dogs get their daily walks (I do allow myself one day off a week, admittedly). No garden - whether big or small - can be sufficient. Dogs do need fresh sniffs. I don’t do a toddle around the block. These prove frustrating for dog and their human. Neighbourhood dogs bark and your dog wants to get to each gate.
Ensure that you give your dog sufficient mental stimulation when at home. Behaviour Puzzles, Scent Games, Stuffed chew toys such as Kong and Busy Buddies. Here is a link to give your further ideas on Entertaining dogs left at home
My Kerneelz
My Kerneelz is showing signs of cognitive decline and his hearing and vision is not what it once was. He has no cataracts but the eye specialist explained that older dogs do at some stage fail to see things close up as well as far away. He has become a needy boy and I ensure that someone is with him 24/7 and that I open doors gently as his nose gets in the way. I have seen night-time restlessness in my older Boxers before and know the signs. There are times when I give pain medication but generally Kerneelz seems restless because he is perhaps confused as to night and day (yes, there are meds one can give for canine cognitive decline).
As I finish this article, it remains unknown what Kerneelz’s lab report on the biopsy submitted will yield. What I for sure know is I always honour when it is time to mercifully and timeously help my beloved Boxers across the Rainbow Bridge with the help of a vet. I really do hope Kerneelz’s result will prove he remains in fine form as I have never loved anything more than him - like, never!
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