Most people are curious as to whether the black boxer dog exists.
Originally, the black boxer dog was a cross breed between the old English bulldog and the Bullenbeisser, which is now an extinct breed.
The black boxer originates from Germany hence is sometimes called the German boxer.
This dog is said to have gotten its name “boxer” from an English traveller who noticed that the dog had a tendency of using its paws when fighting, more like a real boxer.
The black boxer dog has since become rare and breeders who claim to have pure black boxers do offer them for really high prices.
Just to quench your curiosity, here is everything that you need to know about the black boxer dog:
Table of Contents
1. Black and White Boxer puppies
There are quite a number of myths about the color of the black and white boxer puppies.
The genetic combination of a black boxer puppy will play a huge role in determining its overall color. White boxer puppies lack melanin, the hormone responsible for the black pigmentation that ideally black boxer puppies ought to have.
Mostly, white boxer puppies are associated with some deformities like deafness and are more prone to sunburns due to the lack of melanin.
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2. Black Boxer puppies
Many dog lovers search for the pure black boxer puppy. It can be a bit hard to judge from photos of dogs that breeders claim to be pure black boxer puppies.
Black boxer puppies have a very dark coat naturally that is also very thick. In the case of getting pure black boxer puppies, you need to look very carefully because the color can deceive your eyes.
Never judge the color of the boxer in the first look. There are some black boxer puppies who are black in color and some just have a dark brindle.
3. Health of the black boxer dog
Just like any other dog breed, the black boxer dog breed is also prone to some health issues.
Some of the leading health issues that affect this breed is that they are likely to suffer from cancer, heart conditions like boxer cardiomyopathy, hyperthyroidism, hip dysplasia and even epilepsy.
According to research, about 22% of the black boxer puppies die before reaching 7 weeks. The main cause of death being stillbirth and infection.
Remember, the original black boxer puppy was a hybrid of the English bulldog and the Bullenbeisser, which is now an extinct breed. The sole cause of infections among the current black boxer dog is as a result of inbreeding with other dog breeds.
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4. Lifespan of the Black boxer dog
According to a health survey, at least 38% of black boxer deaths were caused by cancer. About 21.5% died as a result of old age, 6.9% died as a result of cardiac related issues and gastrointestinal illnesses.
The lifespan of the black boxer dogs was therefore estimated to be an average of 10 years.
Before you make your purchase from any breeder, make sure that you screen the black boxer dog to find out if he is likely to have any of these health conditions. This will greatly determine the lifespan of the black boxer puppy.
5. Diet and nutrition of the black boxer dog
The black boxer dog is a very energetic breed. This essentially means that you have to be very keen on the quality of dog food that you feed your furry friend.
High quality wet dog food is recommended for the black boxer dog. Their diet should generally contain high amounts of calories because of their energy expenditure.
You should mostly feed your black boxer dog meals which contain lean animal protein like lean chicken or fish which is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.
You also need to be aware of the fact that black boxers may be vulnerable to dental issues hence have a high likelihood of developing bad breath.
This is one of the reasons why you need to avoid dry dog food, especially cheap and low quality food. It will stick in the boxer’s mouth causing plaques.
Always give your dog plenty of clean and fresh water to help maintain good oral hygiene and to keep him well hydrated.
6. Weight and height of the black boxer dog
The black boxer dog is generally a medium-sized dog.
The male dog weighs approximately between 25-32 kgs and the female counterpart too.
The only difference between the male and female black boxer dogs is the height. The male can grow to a height of between 56-64 cm and the female between 53-61 cm.
7. Black boxer dog’s temperament
Since time immemorial, the pure black boxer dog breed was known for his great love and loyalty to his master.
The black boxer dog is quite a harmless one when it comes to family and has a very warm and social personality.
However, this dog can be distrustful to strangers. The black boxer dog is the perfect family dog because of their patience and protective nature, especially around children.
This dog breed is a very playful and energetic one hence a favorite of many children. Boxers can also be quite headstrong so you need to take them through thorough obedience training.
Naturally, boxers are not an aggressive breed and they have natural guardian instincts too.
Related: The Best Way to Train a Boxer Puppy (Ultimate Guide)
8. Socialization
The black boxer is a very friendly dog, which makes it easy for you to socialize your puppy.
The dog gets along well with both humans and other animals. They generally love companionship and will immediately get along fine with strangers once their natural instinct assures them it is okay to do so.
However, you need to know that black boxer dogs may not be very patient when it comes to larger adult dogs, especially those of the same sex.
Boxers are generally patient with smaller dog breeds. In case you take your boxer out the dog park, one that is frequented by smaller dog breeds will be a good place to begin socialization.
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9. What is the price of a black boxer puppy?
The price of the black boxer puppy is expected to be relatively higher than the price of other dog breeds.
This is because of the fact that the black boxer is a rare breed and they are not very easy to get.
Breeders who sell black boxer puppies sell them a bit expensive because this dog has a really beautiful black coat that is very thick and dark hence making him a very attractive breed.
You need to be prepared to dig deep in your pockets to get one of these lavish black boxer puppies.
10. Are black boxers rare?
Getting a pure bred black boxer dog can prove to be quite difficult due to the extinction of one of the parent species, the Bullenbeiser.
However, you can get black and white boxer puppies as well as crossbreeds of the black boxer dog.
Real black boxers do not exist anymore. The gene that is responsible for the rich dark color is extinct and not available in the existing breeds.
Never be misguided by some greedy breeders who claim to have the pure black boxer dog breed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the black boxer dog was one of a kind. The current breeds are a crossbreed between the black boxer dog and another breed.
This existing breed may have a fur coat that is a mixture of black and white, hence a black and white boxer dog or brown.
The boxer is a great family dog and has a warm temperament too. The breed is also a friendly one hence very easy to socialize with both humans and other canines.
Always give your boxer plenty of physical exercise because this dog is very energetic and needs the exercise to develop healthy and strong bones.
Good nutrition is also very important to lower the risk of your boxer suffering from illnesses that can be avoided.
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