Boxer

Boxer History

The boxer originated in Munich, Germany in the late 19^th century. A descendant of Mastiffs they were originally bred for hunting.

They were officially recognised in Munich in 1895 by the first Boxer club which was set up to develop a breed standard and promote the breed.

Today they partake in a variety of activities including guarding, competitive obedience, search & rescue and police work.

These loveable, playful dogs are excellent family pets but are high energy dogs and demand a lot of exercise to avoid behavioral problems.

They are a short-haired, smooth coated breed which can be fawn, white or brindle.

White Boxers are not accepted by kennel clubs worldwide, they are banned from showing and from breeding.

They are also more likely to get sunburnt and contract skin cancer and also have a genetic predisposition to congenital deafness.

Average lifespan of 12 – 14 years

Common Illnesses include;

Hip Dysplasia – Genetic condition that cause abnormal development of the hip joints in young dogs. This can lead to early onset degenerative joint disease.
Hypothyroidism (Underactive thyroid gland) Seen in middle aged dogs, common signs include obesity, lethargy, skin and ear infections.
Bloat (Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, GDV) – Twisting of the stomach resulting in rapid swelling of the abdomen causing pain and eventual death if not treated.
Cardiomyopathy – Poor contractility of the heart muscle leads to arrhythmias and congestive heart failure.
Aortic Stenosis – Narrowing of the Aorta resulting in partial obstruction to the flow of blood as it leaves the left side of the heart.
Histiocytic ulcerative colitis (HUS) - inflammatory bowel diseasethat occurs in the Boxer breed.
Corneal Dystropy – Age related change resulting in inflammation of the cornea and possible corneal ulceration.
Cancer; most likely as mast cell tumours(skin cancer), osteosarcoma(bone cancer)and lymphsarcoma(cancer of the lymphatic system).