The Cropped Ear Debate

   Whether or not to crop a Boxer Dogs ears invokes some strong emotions and always has carried with it some controversy. Cropping a Boxers ears goes way back to the early years when this breed was established. One of the reasons of cropping ears on dogs that hunt or fight is to give their opponent less to grab on to during an altercation. Some people also argue that by cropping the ears it will help deter ear mites and prevent having a moist ear canal, this has not been proven however. Breeders today generally still crop the ears and dock tails in an effort to maintain the breed standard. Ear cropping meets with the most scrutiny here in the United States; many believe it is unnecessary and puts the Boxer through much pain and discomfort.

   The process of cropping a Boxer Dogs ears involve surgery on a very young pup and subsequent visits to a veterinary surgeon. A period of 3 weeks is usually prescribed were the breeder or owner will administer disinfectants to the incision marks on the dogs ears. The Boxer will certainly go through considerable discomfort during this period and must wear a cone to protect itself from getting at the surgically altered ears. Unless you plan on showing your Boxer I certainly don’t see the need to have a Boxers ears cropped. In fact I find the look of floppy ears on a Boxer Dog quite cute, although they almost look like a different breed.

Best Dog Breed For Hiking

   Many dog breeds can make great hiking companions and for many different reasons. Today we will talk about why the Boxer Dog may or may not make a great hiking dog. The Boxer Dog comes from the working class breed and loves to work. A Boxer Dog has high energy and loves to please his master. Boxer Dogs will do quite well and actually thrive on carrying a dog-pack with some weight in it. Load up your Boxers pack with water, snacks and food, they will then feel very much a part of the hike.

   I have taken our Boxer Dog “ Scout “ on several hikes and he thrives on getting out on the trail. When I am in an isolated area I will take off the dog leash and let him run on ahead. Scout loves to run ahead a few hundred yards then sprint back to me as I am hiking, this way Scout get twice the exorcise.

   Lets look at the downside to hiking with the Boxer Dog. Even though Boxer Dogs are high energy they don’t have a great amount of stamina in comparison to lets say a Siberian Husky. Boxers don’t do well in extreme temperatures either; their tolerances are very similar to humans. On the flip side a breed such as a Retriever or Lab mix will do quite well in cold weather. I have purchased an insulated dog raincoat for Scout from R.E.I. and it works well to keep the chill off.

   I would recommend the Boxer Dog for a hiking companion just be aware of this breed’s limitation. I would call the Boxer Dog a fair weather hiker. I have also learned from experience that if your Boxer is a puller and you get worn out holding him back I have a great suggestion. Using a halter in conjunction with the leash immediately corrected the pulling problem with Scout. The head harness or halter works on the same principle as the when the mother Boxer scolds or keeps in line her offspring by applying pressure to the bridge of the nose. Many people look at a dog halter in use and think that it is cruel but in fact it’s just the opposite. The halter doesn’t hurt at all and works very well. 

               The following recommended items are products I use and work well for me:

• Mountainsmith Dog Pack

• Premier Easy Walk Dog Harness
• Dog Raincoat
• Extreme Dog Booties
• Collapsible Food Bowl

Boxer Destroys Man's Yard

   As I have stated in an earlier post, I believe if you want to become a boxer dog owner then you owe it to this breed to provide a yard. Be prepared however to see a transformation from a well manicured lawn to utter bleakness and destruction. As you can see in this photo our yard is beyond ugly thanks to our Boxer dog. We live in Oregon, a state that gets ample rain and to that end it creates a soggy environment that is easily destroyed. I have tried all sorts of remedies like: sand, wood shavings, bark chips, bark mulch ect ect.. Since a Boxer dog is so active and agile they can cut and switch directions on a dime. It’s this cutting that does the most damage along with the constant urination on the grass… grass what’s that? Sometimes it looks as though someone came in and rototilled my entire backyard while I was away.

   If you think about it, dog parks are no different than my yard in that they get destroyed especially in the winter and have to close sections off so they can mend. Some dog parks have a sandy area for the dogs to play in during the winter months. Do not use sand in your own yard unless you want sand tracked in your home constantly.

   Boxer dogs are known to be somewhat destructive when left to their own devices. Being left alone contributes to this deviant behavior. It’s not aberrant behavior it’s what they do. My Boxer dog Scout will chew on any thing left out like: hoses, lawn chairs, hose nozzles, fencing. He especially loves to dig up tree roots to the point that the tree completely dies. On another beautiful episode he tore up yards and yards of landscape fabric that I had painstakingly laid down as a weed barrier.

   I can’t leave Scout alone to wander the house either as he will get into mischief like destroying expensive electrical devices. This is the main reason why he sleeps in his crate nightly.. During the day or any time we are home we simply section off area of the home with baby gates or chairs. Here is a great item that will help you section off your home, the Northstate Superyard Playgate.

   Just make sure you know what you are getting into when you decide on a boxer dog. You may have luck with Boxer dog training. By the way I am open to suggestions on keeping my yard nice while owning a Boxer dog. Just leave your suggestions in the comment box below. Thanks Shawn..

About The Breed- A Boxers Profile

   Boxer Dogs are a working class breed originally bred from an English Bulldog specifically part of the mastiff group and were originally conceived in Germany. Markings can be a fawn or brindle with white markings denoting a flashy appearance or Boxer dogs can be all white, a more rare occurrence.

   Boxer dogs have a great temperament and are rarely aggressive making them a wonderful family pet. In some instances they can be trained to be a wonderful guard dog as well. They are very independent and will require considerable training. Boxer dogs are very smart and respond very well to dog training. Boxer Dogs thrive on learning and making their owners happy; they love treats and will comply readily for them. Our Boxer dog " Scout " knew the 5 basic commands at just a few weeks: sit, up, stay, come and down.

   Boxer Dogs are very energetic and require more exercise and play time than other breeds. The Boxer Dog is known to mature slowly and will have a puppy temperament for up to two years. I know people that own boxer dogs that live in apartments, although it can be done I don’t recommend this environment as they will have to be confined to much of the time. In my opinion a yard is a must to allow the Boxer dog some freedom during the day. We will discuss in a latter article what will become of your yard.

   The Boxer Dog is an inside pet basically for one reason, they can’t handle extreme temperatures  hot or cold. Because of there scrunched up nose they are part of the   brachycephalic breed (wide head and short nose) they don’t process cold air in the way that a retriever might. The short turned up nose also prevents a boxer dog from properly cooling itself down in extreme heat. For the most part a boxer dog can stay outside during the summer months provided you supply ample water and shade. I always bring our dog in at night.

   Unfortunately boxer dogs are susceptible to a few serious health concerns including: tumors, heart issues, seizures, thyroid issues, food allergies, epilepsy and cancer. Getting your dog from a reputable Boxer breeder is a must so that these health concerns can be minimized. A good Boxer breeder will do genetic testing on there dogs so that possible genetic defects can be bred out.

   The Boxer Dog is a wonderful breed but you as the potential owner must do your homework and make sure that the boxer breed will fit your type of lifestyle. I hope you have enjoyed this article on the Boxer Dog breed.