5 Reasons to Run from the Boxer Breed.
1 - My Boxer is smarter than the honor student's teacher. Boxers can outwit you, and they frequently will. Way too smart for their own good. Mine have managed to figure out everything from the front door to the crate door.
2 - Social butterfly. These dogs LIVE to be around people and to do the kidney bean for them. When company comes calling - a Boxer is not going to be cooperative nor will they be happily kicked to the backyard. They love to be in your face. In fact, they like to jump for that sole reason.
3 - Ah, the bored Boxer. Glad we eventually learned how to avoid that. These dogs need vigorous mental stimulation. If not - say goodbye to Grandma Merle's couch. They will entertain themselves if you do not . . .and you can't afford 'em.
4 - Genetic health issues. Heart and cancer are the big concerns - and the most fatal. And it's positively devestating. They're also prone to cysts, skin tags, and skin issues. Right now I'm sitting next to one with all three.
5 - Boxers are REALLY exuberent, very active, and have a ton of zeal for life. While this is what endears them so much to me - many people cannot stand it. They are like little kids. Life is a bowl of cherries, let's have some fun. They will overturn you and your home. They are NOT the calm, stately dog that is associated with their looks.
6 - They like to bark. At the squirrel, at the leaf blowing across the driveway, at nothing at all. They are watchdogs, afterall. (WATCH, not GUARD)
7 - Under no circumstances are Boxers outside dogs. I don't care who the hell you are - if that's your intention for the breed, run, don't walk, away from this breed. They have difficulty dealing with cold weather. They have even more in hot weather. Like with Bulldogs - the latter can mean death.
8 - While they are family oriented dogs, they are very independent minded. If they do not see what's in it for them to do something - they won't. These guys tend to calculate every command. This also makes training difficult. You have to keep it fresh, creative, fun. Repetition doesn't work very well.
(Okay I lied - 8 reasons)
I could go on about their cons, and I often do. Nothing's worse than a misled owner of one that is unprepared to really deal with this breed. Boxer's are a fairly common dog, and many people don't look further than their looks before buying some BYB puppy.