closed car on even a mild summer day. Likewise, in the winter, they can become chilled as they have no long hair or double coat to protect them from the elements. And most Boxers hate getting their feet wet in any weather—they can swim, but do not often enjoy it unless trained from puppyhood. A Boxer belongs with his human family, inside the house unless he is supervised by a sensible owner. He will not tolerate being tied to a stake or a tree, and needs a good fence to maintain a happy distance from those who might do him harm. Sadly, the breed is often mistaken for the much maligned Pit Bull—often with unhappy consequences for the Boxer. Just as the Boxer guards us, we must be his own human guardians in times of stress or drama that are none of his own making. Th ere are great strides being made in terms of Boxer health and longevity. Although the breed is sadly prone to can- cers in many forms, as well as to heart disease (usually electrical disturbances of the heart muscle that result in poten- tially fatal arrhythmias), many Boxers live into their teens. Our oldest was 14 when we lost him. Blood tests to detect sev- eral medical conditions, as well as cancer research, are helping breeders to produce healthy dogs who live longer than their relatives did in recent decades. And the American Boxer Club Charitable Foun- dation remains the largest single breed contributor to the AKC Canine Health Foundation, a testament to Boxer breed- ers and owners all across the nation. Living with the Boxer is an odyssey, full of adventure and fun. Such a jour- ney requires that the humans involved take complete responsibility for the wel- fare of the one creature on earth who will never offer criticism, never com- plain, and always stand ready to serve and to protect. The bond between the Boxer and his family is really no less than a remarkable, caring, and totally committed love affair. Some portions of this article have been excerpted from the author’s Howell books, Th e Boxer: Family Favorite and Th e Hap- py Healthy Boxer.
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Little babies are often the recipients of the Boxer’s best instincts, and they somehow know to be gentle around them. Th e Boxer is not only a great family companion, but also has been used very successfully as a guide for the visually impaired, a therapy dog, a seizure alert dog, a narcotics detector and a Search and Rescue animal. A Boxer was used as a cadaver dog after the 9-11 tragedy. Recently, the Boxer won the right to compete at AKC Herding trials, with excellent success. He truly is a dog for all reasons! Not always fond of other dogs, the individual Boxer may or may not be delighted to lend his toys to another canine. He is jealous of the human a ff ec- tions of his masters, and not always ready to share them. Having said that, many Boxers do get along nicely, but may be happier sharing the couch with a dog of the opposite gender. While I have known exceptions, in many homes two adult male Boxers do not play well with others. Although Boxers love to run outdoors, they are sensitive to extremes of heat and cold. On warm days, for example, they must not be allowed to race and play too hard, as they are prone to overheating. Th eir short muzzles make them espe- cially susceptible to the torrid heat of a
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196 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J UNE 2014
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