Boxer

The Boxer descends from the Bullenbeisser, a mastiff-type hunting dog used in Germany to hold boar and deer at bay until hunters arrived, crossed in the 1890s with Bulldogs brought from England to add tenacity and a shorter muzzle. Munich breeders formalised the modern Boxer around this cross, and the breed's athleticism and trainability quickly saw it adopted for police work, and later, after both World Wars, for guide dog and military messenger roles.

Living with a Boxer means living with a high-energy, playful dog that keeps a puppyish enthusiasm well into adulthood, often called "the Peter Pan of dogs" by owners. They are affectionate and patient with children, generally sociable with other dogs when socialised early, and thrive on structured exercise and training; a bored Boxer becomes a destructive one. Their short coat sheds moderately but needs little grooming, and their flat-ish face, while less extreme than a Bulldog's, still leaves them prone to overheating in hot weather.

Today the Boxer remains a popular family and working dog, still used in some protection and detection roles. It carries a higher-than-average cancer rate, particularly mast cell tumours, and a notable rate of dilated cardiomyopathy and subaortic stenosis, so cardiac screening of breeding stock is one of the most important things a buyer can ask about.