An Introduction to the Boxer Breed of Dog

By Nicholas Hunt
The Boxer is one of the oldest German breeds. He has become a staple in American Society as a family pet and protector. Developed in Germany, the Boxer is stocky, medium-sized, shorthaired dog. The coat is smooth and fawn or brindled, with or without white markings. Boxers have a square muzzle, physically powerful jaws and a powerful bite ideal for hanging on to prey of any size. The Boxer was bred from the original Bulldog and the now extinct Bullen beisser.

Overview

The Boxer first came into competition in 1895 along side St. Bernard's in Munich, Germany. The first boxer club was subsequently founded the following year in 1896.The breed was introduced to other parts of Europe late in the 19th century and to the United States approximately the turn of the century. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the first Boxer champion in 1915. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), in 2002 Boxers entered the list at 7th on the most popular breeds, and have maintained that position ever since. This position of popularity has been maintained through 35,388 new dog registrations annually.

Boxers live an average of 10-12 years. The have a small legs, and a physically powerful muscular build with an inquisitive look. The Boxer coat typically comes in white with some black or brown markings through out. Some liken the coat coloring to appear similar to that of a cow.

Temperament

He is celebrated for his love and faithfulness to his family. He is suspicious of strangers, but bright and friendly at play, and brave when need be. His intelligence and eager tractability, his modesty and cleanliness make him a sought-after family dog and companion. His honesty and loyalty, and is by no means false or treacherous even with age. Boxers are well behaved with children of all ages. The reputation of being "headstrong" can be correlated to inappropriate and lacking obedience training. Boxers are patient with smaller dogs but can feel the need to be dominant with larger dogs, especially of the same gender. Boxers react best to positive reinforcement techniques. He requires socialization early in life to tolerate other dogs well. Boxers are on the whole comfortable with companionship, from either human or canine.

Common Ailments

Boxers are prone to develop cancers, heart conditions; hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, and degenerative myelopathy; tendency to develop spondylosis deformans, a fusing of the spine. Before bringing a boxer home, ask about family medical history, as well as your dogs history to gage if the needed medical effort will be possible.

Grooming / Physical Needs

This dog requires proper exercise and conditioning for continued health and longevity; The Boxer is a clean canine with a short coat that needs little more than a wipe-down and an occasional bath. Due to the short hair on this breed, daily or weekly bathing will result in dry skin and possibly additional skin disorders.

Special Abilities / Talents

Companions; alertness, agility, and strength make them formidable guard dogs; used as service dogs, guide dogs for the blind, therapy dogs, police dogs; herding cattle or sheep; trainable for various other service positions. The Boxer is a renowned family pet, with great affection for every member of his family. He is not however known as a multifamily pet, as he is a dedicated, loyal dog.

Nicholas writes on insurance for pets, including specialist types of animal cover such as pet insurance for older animals.

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Dog Beds - How To Choose The Right One

By Denise Clement
One of your first purchases when buying a dog should be a bed for it to sleep in. It may seem a cute idea to have your four-legged friend join you on your bed, but it will become tiresome, and once the habit is formed it is hard to break.

A much better approach is to provide a suitable bed for your dog from day one.

What's In A Bed?

Dog beds come in all shapes and sizes, just like dogs. They also come in a number of different designs, some of which are more resilient and suitable for long-term use than others.

Here are the top five things to consider when buying a bed for your dog.

1. Where's Rover Going to Sleep?

The first thing to decide is whether your dog will sleep inside or outdoors – it may not be a consideration in colder climates, but in warm countries it is perfectly practicable for a dog to sleep outside on a terrace or in the garden.

Most beds are designed for indoor use, and we'll concentrate on those from now on.

2. Can It Be Washed?

Make sure you buy a bed that is completely machine-washable. Even if your dog is well-trained and regularly-washed, over time the bed will begin to smell and will need washing. You won't want to have to do this yourself with a scrubbing brush…

3. Not All Padding Is Equal

Fleas like nothing more than to make their home in a well-used dog bed. Help prevent this by ensuring that your dog bed's padding is good quality thick foam. Cedar shavings are another possible alternative.

4. Will He Fit?

Dogs like to stretch out and curl up just like humans do in bed. Make sure your new bed is going to be big enough for your dog to be comfortable in it, or it will never get used, and you'll be shopping for another one!

5. Any Special Requirements?

If your dog has any special needs or problem behaviours, you might want to remember these when choosing a bed. Examples include:

• Orthopaedic beds • Waterproof beds/sheets • Thermal/heated beds (like electric blankets) • Chew-resistant beds

Don't choose a wicker basket for a dog with a tendency to chew, for example – they will rapidly destroy it.

Other possibilities include travel/car beds for regular travellers and fashionable designer beds for the pooch about town.

It's a Personal Thing

Once you've found the right bed, you'll need to find the right place to put it. It may well be in a corner of your bedroom, or perhaps in the kitchen or living room – somewhere where your dog will feel safe and comfortable.

Once your dog gets used to his bed and its location, he should stop disturbing you at night and might well sleep better, giving you a chance to do the same!

Denise Clement is the co-owner of the successful online pet supplies website www.petsupply-store.com

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How To Train A Puppy: 7 Common Mistakes To Avoid2

By: Jason Turnbull
4. Hitting Your Dog Or Using Harsh Corrections

Quite simply put, this is a quick way to lose trust with your puppy. There is a big difference between your dog following your commands out of respect and trust as opposed to out of fear. The old ways of learning by hitting the nose of your puppy or spanking are out of date. In fact it is the cause of many dog attacks as irresponsible owners have hit their dogs as a teaching method. When another person attempts to pat the dog it becomes fearful and attacks the person out of defense. So if you want your dog to know they have done something wrong, correct them verbally and then show them the correct way of doing things. If you don’t know how to train a puppy without using violence then it might be a good idea to find a professional trainer to help.

5. Patting Your Dog Or Praising After Correcting Them For Doing Something Wrong

A very common mistake made when people learn how to train a puppy is to pat their dog after they have just corrected them for doing something wrong. In fact who can blame you for feeling bad about correcting your dog when they look at you with their gorgeous puppy eyes. However by patting your pooch directly after correcting them, it provides a mixed message. In fact your dog may associate doing something wrong with being patted after they are corrected. Instead it is better for you to correct your dog and then show them the right way to do things. Should they do this right, then it is a good idea to praise them so they associate the new behaviour with being rewarded. This doesn’t mean scolding your dog for misbehaving and then ignoring them for the rest of the day. Your puppy will know pretty quickly when you are displeased with them, just make sure you help them do the right thing and then offer praise.

6. Punishing Your Dog For Doing The Right Thing Without Knowing

You might look at this common mistake and think what on earth are we talking about? An example to use is when you walk your dog off lead and then for some reason you need them to come. You call your dog and then their reward is being put back on the lead. Obviously you are putting them on the lead for good reason however your puppy will associate being called with being told off. This is a problem. To counter this, use a similar solution to the rewards one mentioned above. If every time you call them they go on the lead, obviously they won’t come because they assume they will be put back on the lead. Instead call your dog on walks and when they come praise them and give them a pat. Maybe take a couple of treats with you and randomly give those as well. This way your dog doesn’t always think they will be put on the lead when called. This also applies for many other things so it is important to always think about how your dog would associate your commands.

7. Rubbing Your Dog’s Nose In His Latest Toilet Mishap
Shelley Davies and Jason Turnbull, passionate dog lovers and creators of http://www.suitable-puppies.com/how-to-train-a-puppy.html, are striving to educate people on the keys to owning a puppy. Knowing how to train a puppy, how to take care of your dog and how to have fun is essential for your new best friend.

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