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boxers are happy and affectionate dogs with an average life expectancy of 10-12 years. Still, a few older boxers have proven that this handsome breed can live even longer.
We will look at the traits of boxers, their origins in Germany and learn the stories of the oldest boxers ever recorded.
Features of Box Dogs
The boxer has a medium, muscular build and is up to 25 centimeters high. Its coat is short and smooth, with a fawn or brindle color (brown and brown stripes) plus white. Some boxer dogs are all white or have mostly white markings with small patches of other colors. Boxers also have square jaws and slightly wrinkled fur on their foreheads.
The boxer’s short, broad head has a distinctive shape known as brachycephalic. Boxer puppies have a temporary bony bump on top of their skull called an occipital protuberance to protect their developing brain.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) classifies the boxer as a workgroup breed. working dogs were originally bred to help people with various tasks, such as pulling sleds or guard property.
Boxers descend from mastiff dogs and were first used primarily for hunt-.
Origin of the Boxer breed
The boxer breed was developed in Germany in the 1800s by mixing mostly mastiffs with the now-extinct German bulldogs called Bullenbessier. However, it is possible that boxers also descended from Great Danes and terriers.
It wasn’t long after boxer dogs appeared on the scene that they were a favorite at exhibitions. The first Boxer Club for show dogs was founded in Germany in 1896. The American Kennel Club registered boxers in the United States in 1904.
The first boxer to win an AKC championship was a dog named Dampf vom Dom in 1915.
Why are they called Boxers?
Although it cannot be confirmed, many believe that Boxer dogs got their name from their habit of moving their front legs in a boxing motion while standing on their hind legs. It is also possible that the word boxer is derived from the German word Boxl, which is another name used for the Bullenbessier dog.
Charles Dickens called a dog a boxer in his novella The cricket on the hearth, published in 1845. However, because Dickens wrote his book before the modern boxer dog existed, some believe this story inspired the breed’s name.
The oldest boxer ever
The oldest ever boxer was a man named Maccabee, who lived to be 16 years and nine months old. Maccabee was born on October 28, 1999 and died on July 28, 2016. He was owned by Jessica Kolis and resided in Northern California.
Maccabee was healthy for the first 8-10 years of his life and then started to have health problems. He eventually lost much of his hearing and went blind before dying at nearly 17 years of age.
Jessica, the owner of Maccabee, believes the reason her boxer lived so long was that he was regularly checked and had dental treatments. Boxers are prone to dental problems, so Maccabee was lucky enough to have his owner brush his teeth often.
Another key to Maccabee’s longevity was providing him with plenty of physical activity and mental stimulation. Boxers are active dogs that need a minimum of 2 hours of exercise a day to stay happy and healthy for years to come.
Old Boxer Dogs: More Boxers Who Lived Long
The second oldest boxer ever was a man named Brewski, who lived 16 years, five months and 28 days. Brewski was born on February 7, 2001 and died on August 5, 2017. He was owned by Linda Klosterman and lived in Vancouver, Washington.
In his final years, Brewski developed arthritis in his lower back. Daily exercise and maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent boxers from developing arthritis unless caused by an injury.
The third oldest ever boxer was a woman named CeCe, who lived 16 years, four months, and 22 days. CeCe was born on December 1, 2000 and died on April 23, 2017. She was owned by Sophy Korm in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
In her later years, CeCe also developed arthritis and cataracts. In addition to cataracts, Boxers can develop other corneal and retinal eye problems. This is why it is essential to have a Boxer’s eyes checked regularly by a vet to prevent minor eye problems from eventually causing blindness.
Unique facts about boxers
Did you know that boxers are born with three eyelids? Their upper eyelid has two layers, creating a third eyelid that is not normally visible. However, the third eyelid can migrate and become misplaced over a Boxer’s eye, causing a condition called cherry eye. This condition is noticeable by the appearance of redness or a red film over the dog’s eye.
The boxer has prominent jaws and drools a lot. If you have boxers, follow them with a cloth to wipe their mouths every now and then!
Boxers have unusually long tongues. They may have the longest tongue of any dog breed. According to Guinness World Records, the dog with the longest tongue ever was a boxer named Brandy whose tongue was 17 inches long!
Can you guess which one has more energy, the boxer man or the woman? The female boxer is more hyperactive and needs several hours a day to play and practice.
Don’t let your boxer dog lie on the bed if you are trying to get a deep, restorative sleep! Boxers are known for their loud snoring. Sometimes they even snore while sleeping with their eyes open.
Despite their snoring, Boxers can be excellent cuddle buddies. Unfortunately, their short coat finds them colder in colder weather, so a boxer dog will look for a warm place to nest for a nap.
In general, the Boxer is a friendly, loyal dog and a nice family pet if it gets enough loving attention and daily exercise.
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