10 Incredible Boxer Dog Facts

With its goofy looks and interesting facial features, it’s hard not to like the Boxer. This dog breed has a rich and interesting history hidden behind its endearing demeanor. Despite their popularity, not everyone knows what makes these dogs special. Boxers are common in the United States, and many families enjoy their company. One could argue that Americans have a greater affinity for them than they do with people in their home country.

Let’s break down the top 10 unbelievable Boxer facts and give you some interesting stats and valuable background information about the breed.

10. Boxers are the product of a unique breed

The original Boxer came from a mix of an Old English Bulldog and another dog called the Bullenbeisser. If you haven’t heard of Bullenbeisser, don’t worry. Most don’t, because they’ve become extinct through interbreeding.

In the 1870s, dog breeders began mixing the two breeds together to become the modern Boxer. However, there were dogs similar to the Boxer as early as the 16th century, such as the Bullenbeisser.

9. Boxer is from Germany

The name “boxer” does not fit a particular country. However, if we look at the dogs that were bred to breed Boxers, it is clear that it is a German breed. In fact, the name Bullenbeisser translates to “bull biter,” which should give you an idea of ​​how these dogs were used.

In the early days of the species, boxers were used for hunting as well as to lure bulls in bullfights. Boxers are strong and capable of knocking down prey when hunting. However, they don’t have much of a chance against the big bulls.

8. Their head shape helps them catch prey

Boxers have a very unusual head shape, with a very short nose and a prominent lower jaw. They also have wrinkles on their faces and “sunken” noses. Believe it or not, all of these traits help boxers take down large prey.

The short snout and protruding jaw allow them to bite and use all their strength to get close to their prey. This is helpful for hunters looking to find wounded or downed game. Additionally, the compressed nostrils help the dog breathe when pinning down prey. So even with a stuffed mouth, they can continue to breathe.

Finally, the wrinkles on their faces stopped the blood from getting into their eyes. It all looks scary, but this Boxer was born to hunt.

7. Boxers take a while to mature

You may hear people talking about “Peter Pan” dogs from time to time, and Boxer is probably the most common point of reference. The term “Peter Pan” implies that these dogs are young for a significant portion of their lives. Boxers mature slowly, taking about three years to reach full maturity.

This breed will continue to maintain its youthful vigor for quite some time. The only problem is that the dog may forget that it is an adult animal and can no longer sit on its favorite human’s lap.

6. Boxers weren’t popular in America until recently

The Boxer breed we know today is only about 150 years old. Although these dogs were known and loved in Europe, they did not cross the Atlantic until after 1940.

Until then, Boxers have been working dogs on farms, hunters’ companions, and even police dogs. They were also used during World War I and World War II. Once the Boxer reached American shores, people fell in love with the breed and it is now one of the most popular dogs. Not only is the Boxer a very popular purebred, but many different Boxer crossbreeds are now popular as well.

5. Purebred boxers only come in three colors

Purebred boxers can only come in three colors. They are fawn, tabby (a tan with stripes of other colors) and white. Some people think they have a black purebred boxer, but that’s just a very dark brindle, not black. Of course, hybrids can come in many other colors.

4. Boxers have long tongues

When boxers were bred to have short noses, no one seemed to check their tongues. Of course, this was just a joke, but boxers did develop longer-than-normal tongues. In fact, the world record for longest dog tongue belongs to a boxer named Brandy, and it measures about 1ft 5in! Boxers are known to have the longest tongues of the breed!

3. Boxers are very protective of their families

In most cases, boxers will become attached to one or a few members of their human family. They are very loving and trusting to those people, but they don’t treat outsiders the same way. Although they protect their people, they cannot always distinguish outsiders from invaders.

That’s why it’s so important that people take time to socialize their boxers when they’re young. They need to know that other people are not a threat. These dogs are believed to be less friendly towards other humans than their favorite human beings, leading them to be considered one of the most dangerous dog breeds.

2. Boxers are popular at American dog shows

The boxer breed hails from Europe, but it doesn’t win best of show bouts there very often. Fortunately, Americans are very fond of these dogs. They won Best in Show and the Working Group Final, but the latter happened as recently as 2020.

1. The name of the Boxers is a mystery

We don’t exactly know how Boxer got his name. Some claim it comes from Bullenbeisser’s nickname. Others, however, think it comes from the way they play, including the way they jump on others with their hind legs and then “box” with their front paws. The latter sounds like a possibility, but if it’s found, we’ll have to get in touch with you about the origin.

The Boxer is an adorable dog breed that is loved and popular in many parts of the globe. After learning about these 10 incredible Boxer Facts, I hope you’ve developed an even greater interest in learning more about the breed. While its name may be confusing, it’s rare to find such a unique-looking and versatile dog.

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