There I was, at the border of the Principality of Liechtenstein, staring at a dun-colored boxer bitch. I had never seen a dog like her. 1 stared at her, and she stared at me. The guard commented that she usually didn't take as much interest in strangers as she had in me. I don't know exactly how she felt about it, but for me, it was love at first sight. I knew from that day in 1976 that I'd fallen in love with a new breed of dog. Sure enough, I'm now on my twelfth boxer.
If there's one thing I've learned through my experience with boxers, it's that they need a job. If you don't give them one, they will make one up for themselves, and chances are you won't like it. A beautifully athletic member of the dogs classified by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as the Working Group, boxers give life their all. This is why they need clear, consistent training early on and throughout their lives in order to be the good dogs they really, truly are. Once you get through the silly stages in your boxer's life, you will have a companion dog second to none. You'll also have a working dog that can compete in conformation, obedience, or agility; a search-and-rescue or therapy dog; an assistance dog; and just an all-round great pet.
Boxers were the original Seeing Eye dogs. The breed was developed to work, which originally meant anything from herding to hunting to guard work. As a “gentle” guard dog, boxers alert on sound, and they attack via a body slam rather than with jaws and teeth.
You will learn all you ever needed and wanted to know about boxers right here in this book. First, you'll discover the history of the breed — where they came from and why. Next you'll learn about their breed characteristics, including the features that distinguish the boxer from other dogs. This book also covers health problems. Like all purebred dogs, boxers have several genetic issues that breeders can avoid with careful screening. You'll read about training issues; although they are highly intelligent, boxers do belong to the Working Group, which means they tend to have a somewhat flat learning curve. You'll find out what makes this breed so lovable and loyal and where you can find your own healthy boxer.