Boxer Characteristics
If you are planning to become the owner of a Boxer, please make certain that you really want to be owned by one of these wonderful, intelligent and very energetic dogs.
The Boxer takes an active - very active - part in your daily life. Their world revolves around you and they demand that you feel likewise. They will get into exactly as much mischief as you let them, but they are also content to follow the rules - provided those rules are consistently and fairly enforced. Never ignore them or play with their affections, as they tend to get even with you (or your shoes, or couch, or chair) in time.
Boxers are not a dog to languish alone in the backyard or in a basement, or tied to the end of a chain. They insist upon being a part of your family and all of its activities; a part of whatever is happening. They can be totally exasperating as puppies, willful as adolescents, and overly intelligent as adults. Boxers can be too much to handle for some and complete pussycats for others. They are quick to learn and bore easily. They are sometimes short-lived, but they remain puppies throughout their lives.
Boxers are dogs that think they are human and as such, they deserve to be treated the same. This does not mean their every whim must be given in to; indeed, on the contrary, firm but loving guidelines are a must if they are to live in harmony within your household.
Boxers have a joie de vivre that can be matched by no other breed. They will greet you after an hour's absence as if you'd been gone a week. Their expressive face seems almost human at times, their eyes quickly relay what they're feeling, and their smile can light up a room. Boxers are devoted to their families, and are one of the best breeds with children. One of their most desirable traits is their fearless courage when they feel they or their family are threatened. Boxers have an innate ability to distinguish between friendly and threatening strangers - and are often more accurate in this regard than their human owners.
Boxers are not for everyone - and if you are a person who cares about dog hair on the furniture, chewed-up shoes, and slobber on everything, a Boxer is probably not for you. If, however, you can overlook these things and open your hearts to an enthusiastic dog who is truly the clown of the canine world, you will find your life filled with a devotion and love that you never imagined.
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