HomeBreeds › Boxer

Working · Large (50-80 lbs) · 10-12 years

Boxer

Playful, bright, patient; famously clownish and exuberant well into adulthood.

50–80 lb

At a glance

Kid-friendly
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First-time owners
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Energy
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Shedding
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Good with cats
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Alone time
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Apartment OK
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Trainability
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What this is

What they’re great at

✓ A natural with children - famously patient
✓ Willing, capable learner
✓ Adapts beautifully to smaller spaces
✓ A steady, capable partner
Why it matters

Honest challenges

Alone time is genuinely hard
Bred to work or live beside a human all day - solitude was never in the job description.

What helps: ['Train it like a skill: the Alone-Time guide builds tolerance in micro-doses from day one', 'The frozen-KONG-only-when-you-leave ritual turns departures into jackpots', "Cover long days honestly: a midday walker, daycare 2-3x a week, and a camera to know (not guess) how they're doing"]
Needs a real outlet, rain or shine
Moderate-high drive doesn't take days off.

What helps: ['Build the outlet into the routine: Agility clown', 'Brain work counts double on bad-weather days - see Training School', 'A flirt pole in the yard delivers a workout in ten minutes']
What you can do

Exercise & training

Exercise: High - 1-2 hrs/day
Training profile — Versatile working type: Working breeds without work self-employ - as tax auditors of your belongings. Twenty minutes of training tires them more than an hour of fetch.
Sports and outlets that suit them: Agility clown · Rally
What you can do

Grooming & coat

Grooming: Very low.
Shedding: Moderate.
Good to know

Health to know about

Cancer (mast cell, lymphoma, brain), boxer cardiomyopathy (ARVC), aortic stenosis, hip dysplasia, bloat; heat intolerance
Breed-typical tendencies, not a diagnosis. Individual dogs vary enormously — your veterinarian screens for what matters for your dog.
Why it matters

Emergency red flags

Poisoning (chocolate, xylitol, grapes, medications, rodenticide)
Vomiting, drooling, tremors, collapse, or known ingestion
Call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 immediately; do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed
Know your ER
Save your nearest 24-hour emergency vet's address and phone in your phone TODAY, not during a crisis
BLOAT / GDV - the minutes-matter emergency for this breed
Unproductive retching (trying to vomit, nothing comes), rapidly swelling/hard belly, drooling, pacing, sudden distress after eating
Drive to the ER immediately. Do not wait to see if it passes. Untreated GDV is fatal within hours
Cardiac event (documented heart-disease breed)
Fainting/collapse during activity, night coughing, resting breathing rate over 30-35 breaths/min while asleep, blue-tinged gums
Sleeping respiratory rate over 30 warrants a call today; collapse or labored breathing means ER immediately
This page never carries product links in the emergency section. ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661.
Good to know

The numbers

Typical ranges for planning, not promises — costs vary by region, breeder and individual dog.

GroupWorking
SizeLarge (50-80 lbs)
Lifespan10-12 years
Healthy adult weight50–80 lb
Original purposeHunting large game, later guarding and police/military work.
Monthly care$100-$170
Typical puppy price$1,000-$2,500

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