After you bring your boxer dog home, there is something very important that you need to do—other than get him acclimated to the house and family.  You need to come up with a name for your boxer.  Some people know what they are going to name their boxer as soon as they see him; for other people, it isn’t quite so easy.  After all, a boxer dog name is a big decision.

Statistics say that if your boxer lives to his normal life span, you will end up calling your boxer dog name between 35,000 and 40,000 times.  So, you are going to want to choose a name that is easily pronounceable.  Additionally, if you intend to register your puppy, you need a boxer dog name that is no more than 25 characters long—and that the boxer dog name needs to be unique in some way.  It will need to be different from all of the other thousands of previously-registered boxer dog names.

That really seems to put the pressure on, doesn’t it?  It seems a whole lot more difficult to come up with a boxer dog name than, say, a name for a kitten.  Here are some suggestions on how to make it easier to come up with the best name for your boxer:

•    The boxer is a German breed.  So, you could go with some sort of German name from history.  Or, choose any type of current German name, one that is still in use today.

•    Boxer dogs are quite physically strong.  You could opt for a boxer dog name that represents that strength in some way, perhaps choosing a name from the world of wrestling or boxing.

•    If your boxer has some unusual markings or flash, perhaps that can inspire your boxer dog name.  Or, the general coloring of your boxer could be used as a basis for a boxer dog name.

There are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing a boxer dog name, though:

•    You do not want to choose any name that could possibly be confusing in any way to your dog.  For instance, do not choose any boxer dog names that rhyme with any training commands that you plan on using with your dog.

•    Select a name that everyone in your household can pronounce.  If, for example, your son has problems with the ‘s’ sound (and he isn’t a preschooler), opting for a name like “Susie” wouldn’t be quite the best idea.

•    Long names are a good idea for registration purposes; however, make sure that there is some shortened version that you can use as an everyday boxer dog name.  You don’t want to have to use a 5- or 6-syllable name for your dog all of the time; that would quickly get tiresome.

If you are the type of person who likes to go for something different, you may want to stay away from these names—these are some of the most popular dog names in recent years:  Max, Jake, Sam, Buddy, and Murphy for males; and Lady, Mollie, Suzie, Maggie, and Sadie for females.

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One of the best ways to determine if a particular breed of dog is right for you and your family is to look at that breed’s temperament.  Understanding this will tell you whether the dog breed will fit in with your family or not.  Of course, there are other factors you should evaluate—such as the breed’s size, for example—however, temperament is really one of the most important factors.

If you are considering a boxer, then, you need to understand boxer temperament.  Boxers may not be the right dogs for everyone, so while reading about boxer temperament below, think carefully about whether or not this sort of dog would be a good fit in your family.

Boxer Personality

While each boxer will have its own temperament to some degree, all boxer dogs do share some personality characteristics:

•    Boxers are boisterous and playful.  They are animated and excited when playing, and they love to run around and be active.  A large part of boxer temperament is that they are, as many boxer owners describe, ‘full of life.’  Boxer dogs can be feisty and mischievous and love to tease.

•    Boxers mature rather slowly.  In other words, they tend to stay puppy-like for several years, unlike many dog breeds.  They do start to settle down more once they reach age 3 or 4; however, they still tend to act rather playful and lively for pretty much all of their lives.

•    A very important factor to know about boxer temperament is that these dogs are people dogs.  Boxers need to be around people—they are happiest when they are with their human ‘family.’  When a boxer doesn’t get enough attention and affection, he can start to develop behavior problems.  Boxers must have human companionship for a good part of every day in order to be content.

•    Boxer dogs need to be house dogs—they do not thrive as yard dogs or dog house dogs.  This is because of their constant need for attention and companionship.

•    Boxers are quite protective of their ‘family,’ and will guard the home.  However, purchasing a boxer with the intention of training it as a guard dog is not a good idea, as boxers are more suited as pets.  Boxers will get aggressive when they feel threatened, though.

Boxer Characteristics

Along with boxer temperament, it is also important to know about a few key boxer characteristics.  These are attributes that some dog owners may find charming, but that other dog owners may find bothersome.
•    Boxers drool.  Some drool only a little, others may drool a great deal.  This varies from dog to dog.
•    Many boxer dogs also snore.  This will vary from boxer to boxer—some dogs may snore sporadically and lightly, in a way that is hardly noticeable; other dogs might snore every time they sleep, and loudly.
•    Boxers are typically strong-willed.  They can be well-trained; however, owners must be willing to put in time and effort.  Obedience classes are often quite helpful with this.  Owners must be firm and fair with boxers—otherwise, boxer independence will take over.

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When a person decides they want to have a pet, it’s important to find out about their diet. A boxer dog is no different in this aspect. When an owner decides to feed their boxer dog an all-natural, raw diet, they have the power to control what kind of food their beloved pet will get. This diet is called BARF (biologically Appropriate Raw Food). BARF allows them to give or take away appendages as they see fit. It consists mainly bones and raw meat.

What kind of raw foods make up the BARF diet? Listed below are some of the foods a boxer dog can intake easily.

- Raw meat
- Raw meaty bones
- Muscle Meats
- Raw processed vegetables
- Dairy products
- Eggs
- Fish
- Offal
- Fruits

Though it may not seem like it, this diet is very balanced. Some boxer owners will leave out the dairy or the grains, maybe even both. There have been situations where boxer dog owners have given yogurt treats to their dog to keep up their healthy lifestyle.

Why is it important for boxer dogs to have a healthy diet?

These kinds of dogs have plenty of food allergies. Using the BARF diet can help owners to avoid some of those foods that cause problems for their canine.

Foods such as grapes or raisins are very unhealthy for boxer dogs. It seems these foods can lead to acute kidney failure. Yet, this is new information and is still being investigated by the United States Animal Poison Control Center

There are three questions, which need to be answered, that concern boxer owners have regarding grapes and raisins. They are:

- How much of the two foods could be toxic for their dog?

- What, in these foods, is (are) toxic to the animals?

- How does the toxin affect the kidney?

If an owner is concerned about the amount of raisins or grapes their dog has ingested, then it is advised to send that pet’s veterinarian right away. The vet can run test to be sure the kidney is not suffering or what kind of damage it is suffering.

Boxer dogs are a wonderful addition to your family because they are well known for their loyalty, their magnificent disposition and lively will. These breeds of dogs are wonderful for children because of their energy and mischievous personality. If you have other pets, whether it is a cat, another dog or even a bird, boxer dogs can get along with them. If you need a partner to exercise with, as in jogging or running, these dogs can be your companions. The hot sun during the summer months is not good for your dog. They do much better with a cooler climate. However, if your dog is an outside pet, then they should have adequate amounts of shade, cover, food and water.

On days the temperature rises, you need to exercise more caution when dealing with your pet. Boxers are unable to control their body temperatures. For this reason, keeping an eye on them is imperative. Their short noses make it harder for them to breathe on the hot days. For this reason, boxers will pant more. This panting can cool them down. Be sure your pet has plenty of cool or cold water to drink. Never force your pet to play when it is obvious he does not feel like it.

You can help your pet deal with the scorching hot weather in a few others ways. Obtain a dog mat from the local pet store. Besides plenty of water in a bowl, water down your dog especially on its ears, eyes, mouth, paws and belly. Why not give him a bath to cool him down? It may be wise to let him stay in the tub for awhile. By doing so, he can relax further and get much cooler. Be sure to give your boxer meals that are wholesome. Doing this can help your boxer beat the heat.

There is no argument that boxer dogs are wonderful mates and admired. On top of all they do for you, boxers are well known for being alert, their dexterity and strength. Boxer dogs were used during the war and by police to be messenger and attack dogs. The German military especially bred these dogs to guard the perimeter. Boxer dogs are known for their keen sense of smell. They can smell things that are considered contraband. For all the reasons listed above, these dogs were initiated into the Working Dog Group. There is a slight drawback to all the advantages and love the boxer dogs have to offer. What may this be? It cannot give it if it’s poorly trained.