Boxer puppies will grow into wonderful medium sized dogs that can make a great household addition to many families, but like all dogs boxers have specific characteristics or personality traits that should be considered before making the choice to get boxer puppies.
The boxer breed has its roots in the 1700's brabanter bullenbeisser, a working dog used by the German elite to hunt wild boar. By the 1800's this breed was used by cattleman as a working class dog. Even at this time the brabanter was considered an excellent family pet when it wasn't hard at work, and gained a reputation for wanting to please its owner.
It is believed a forerunner of the English bulldog was then crossbred with a brabanter sometime around 1830, to produce the boxer puppy. The boxer was given its name for its tendency to use its front paws when fighting and playing. The German Boxer Klub of the 1860's popularized the breed, and by 1925 the boxer was used for police work.
In 1915 the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the first boxer champion, and in 1949 a boxer named "Bang Away" won the most prestigious dog show in the world -- the Westminster. Bang Away also won 121 Best in Show awards in just a 6 year period. The boxer breed had arrived!
Today's boxer is still characterized by a need for intense interaction and activity, both mental and physical. Boxers require daily walks but should not be kept outside as they not only require your companionship, but their short coat does not protect them from cold and their short nasal passage makes it difficult for them to breathe in hot weather. Boxer owners joke that boxers need temperatures between 72 - 74 degrees Fahrenheit (21-22 degrees Celsius).
Boxers are "lap dogs" despite their hefty size of about 60 pounds (27 kilograms) full grown. For this reason they and their owners will benefit from obedience classes. Boxers are very loving and will follow you from room to room, so if you are looking for a dog to lie by the couch all day, do not get a boxer puppy! Boxers are gentle with children, but due to their size they could knock over very small children or infants by sheer accident.
Boxers are "clowns," often spinning tiny donuts when excited or wriggling on their backs, and they are extremely intelligent. For this reason they can also be stubborn on occasion. Boxers are not suited to be guard dogs, though they will bark and protect the house and family. They are not aggressive by nature. If you have property you want guarded, a surveillance system is a better idea.
If you have a family with children who are old enough to care for a family pet, and if that pet will be welcome inside the house and will get plenty of attention, exercise, and mental stimulation, then a boxer puppy may be just the breed you're looking for to make your family complete.
