You got a Boxer: congratulations!  Yet just reading the Wikipedia page on Boxers, or talking about this particular litter and lineage with the breeder, or even observing your new puppy for a few days, is not enough to really have any idea of what to expect when raising this dog. Dogs, like people, change as they grow older, their taste and interests and behaviors shifting to reflect their new perspective and experiences. Being prepared to handle these training and behavioral issues well before-hand is a great way to raise a great dog!

Young and Rambunctious

When boxers are young, they are… rambunctious, to say the least! From six to twelve months they can be compared to the age of a human adolescent behaviorally speaking. While your Boxer may get quite larger while in this stage, he is in fact not yet quite mature, at least not yet; he will suddenly become quite mature indeed, but for a long time he will just try to be independent and strong on occasion and, when he fails, become a fearful puppy again.

At two to three years, your Boxer is finally an adult, and tend to be confident, devoted, and protective. Additionally, adult boxers are not rash, though they have a reputation for it; rather, they tend to be very even-tempered and, if you’ve trained them well, quite obedient. Their intelligence will have finally come into full bloom, and that training will reflect that.

The Golden Years

Finally, as your Boxer moves from adulthood into their older years, you will find that your dog is actually remarkably healthy, strong, and active! The breed is a very physical breed and, while not aggressive or violent, nevertheless very eager to play and maintain an active lifestyle. Their average life expectancy ranges from between eight and ten years, and while they can become quite set in their ways, they are still great companions if they have been well-trained. They can have a little less patience for puppies and children at this age, but then, who has the patience for their kind of thing in their golden years? Not your Boxer, that’s for sure!