Title: 
I’ve Been Boxerized

Word Count:
541

Summary:
In my life I’ve had many different dogs.  I have loved each and every one of them dearly, but had never found the “perfect” breed.  I wanted a dog that was good with children yet also a good watchdog.


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Article Body:
In my life I’ve had many different dogs.  I have loved each and every one of them dearly, but had never found the “perfect” breed.  I wanted a dog that was good with children yet also a good watchdog.  I did some research and found the Boxer to be just what I was looking for.  I am now owned by two white Boxers; Murphy and Rico.  They are as different as night and day.  They both love to play and run around, but while one is fiercely protective, the other, well, she couldn’t care less!

Boxers absolutely love their humans.  They greet you with full body wiggles and a ton of kisses.  They do think of themselves as lap dogs.  Boxers will lean against you, commonly known as, you guessed it, the “Boxer lean”.  They put their whole weight into it!

Boxers are extremely active and need exercise on a daily basis.  They tend to be quite stubborn and can be hard to train.  I strongly recommend obedience classes.  But they are also very eager to please.  Boxers tend to drool, so this would probably not be a good breed for a neat freak.

White Boxers cannot be shown at AKC shows, nor can they be AKC registered.  They should not be bred.  While the white Boxer is the same as any other Boxer, they are prone to sunburn and skin problems due to their lack of pigmentation.  White Boxers are also prone to hearing loss and deafness.  A responsible breeder will many times have you sign a contract that the puppy will be spayed or neutered.

Many people think that the white Boxer is a rare and unique dog; a novelty.  The flavor of the month, so to speak.  Some breeders will take advantage of that and charge more money.  The truth is, a good breeder only has the dog’s best interests at heart.  He or she will place the white Boxer in a good home at no or minimal charge to the buyer.

The Boxer is bold, courageous and protective yet peaceable, enthusiastic and good-natured.  The Boxer excels in obedience programs, therapy work, agility competition, as well as being excellent watchdogs.  Boxers are very mischievous and are inclined to misbehave if they do not have proper training.  The Boxer owner must be willing to spend a lot of time and effort to ensure a healthy, well-behaved dog.

You should choose an outgoing, playful puppy.  You do not want a timid, shy puppy, or one who is aggressive.  Look at the puppy’s surroundings.  If the environment is unsanitary, you probably don’t want a puppy from there!  A healthy puppy should have a clean, soft coat.  The ears should be clean and pink inside, the eyes clear and bright.  The gums should be pink and firm.  A good breeder will be happy to discuss any health related issues with you.

Remember, the Boxer is not a breed for everyone.  They need an owner who will be willing to take the necessary time and effort to raise a happy, healthy dog.  Without proper training, the Boxer can become quite obnoxious and destructive.  With it, he is an excellent companion, a wonderful family member who gives unconditional love.