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 are genuinely the most loving and loveable dogs you will ever encounter. Boxers make for excellent companion pets with proper training, socialization, and care. You need to be able to keep up with their energy levels.
Boxers cost around $300 to $2,500, depending on the health guarantee bundles offered with the purchase. Such bundles are common among breeders of Boxer dogs because Boxers are known to suffer from health issues like “Boxer cardiomyopathy” and related conditions due to brachycephaly. It 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 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 pups 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 price tag puts them in the mid to high price range. However, maintenance costs average about $120 per month in maintenance. 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. It makes them very easy to train, whether housebreaking or special tricks for your fun bonding time together.
There Is Never A Dull Moment
Boxers are a breed of dog that will always keep you active and engaged. They are full of energy and love, so you will never have a dull moment with them. They need to feel loved and be kept busy. Otherwise, they can become destructive.
Boxers Are Versatile
Boxer dogs can be used for many types of work. They are great to watch and guard dogs, making good personal protection dogs. They also get along well with people and are good companions.
Boxers Are Low Maintenance
The relatively low maintenance cost justifies the high price of the purchase of a Boxer. You can save a lot of money by doing some 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 pups is that it takes them 3 years to become fully grown. In fact, they are considered 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 disproportionately affects 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 pollen, parasites, and even some fabrics or chemicals in their accessories and grooming products. Such allergies result in intense itchiness, which is probably one of the main reasons why Boxers lick themselves so much.
Gastric Volvulus
Gastric volvulus leads to bloating and may also cause constipation. Therefore, it is essential to monitor your boxer’s bowel patterns to pick out any signs of trouble within their gut. In severe cases, they may need to get corrective surgery.
Heat Intolerance
Heat intolerance results from the Boxer’s brachycephalic facial structure. It affects the breathing and panting required to regulate body temperature on hot and humid days.
How To Take Care Of Boxers?
As we have already mentioned, Boxers are very easy to maintain. All you need to do is follow a few simple guidelines. Here are a few tips that should help you keep your Boxer healthy.
Get Your Boxer Dog On A Healthy Diet
Boxers are very active and need a lot of high-calorie food to keep up their energy. We recommend you try Pet Plate to get access to the best quality, combination, and quantity of food for your Boxer.
Supplement Boxers’ Diet With Multivitamins
In addition to regular meals, Boxers need multivitamin supplementation to help with specific problems, like joint and bone health and gut health. Multivitamins also promote general well-being for a happy and healthy pup.
Find Ways To Keep Boxers Cool During Summer
Summers can be brutal for Boxers with their poor heat regulation mechanisms.
Therefore, it is up to you to keep them adequately shaded and as cool as possible. Though Boxers 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 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 distrustful and hostile. To help you better understand your Boxer, here are some of their main personality traits.
Protective
Boxers can be pretty aggressive and may even bite people they consider 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 distrust strangers. They tend to bark a lot when they are suspicious, making Boxers excellent 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 excellent with children and other smaller pets due to their patient nature. However, their playfulness could quickly 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 relatively easy to maintain in terms of grooming. They shed minimally, which means you don’t have to work too hard to keep up with their coat.
Going with professional groomers will cost you about $50 to $80 per session. However, you could also do it yourself. Here are some of the critical 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 matting. Just make sure to invest in a good quality grooming brush suitable for their coat type.
Give Them A Bath Every 6 To 8 Weeks
These pups 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, essential to ensure that you dry those ears properly after cleaning them. This prevents the development of fungi or bacteria, which could cause serious infections.
Keep Boxers Intimate Accessories
Finally, keep anything that gets into contact with the dog as clean as possible. Clean anything that comes into contact with your dog, including clothes, bedding, and beds. This is especially important if your dog is having skin problems.
Related Questions
Can Boxers Be Gray? Gray is not a standard Boxer color. The closest recognized variation is 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 more petite build
Are Brindle Boxers Rare? Brindle Boxers are not rare at all. 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 scarce, they are far less common than the fawn and brindle types.
