Boxer Archives - Page 3 of 3 - myamericanbully.com

As a proud pet parent, watching your boxer pup grow into a gorgeous adult dog will give you a great deal of pleasure. But is your fur baby growing as it ought to? Use our Boxer growth chart to get an idea of what you should expect. Of course, there will be variations, and we’ll look at these and the reasons why they occur too. After all, you get relatively small boxers and unusually big ones. But it’s also possible that you’re raising an over-or-underweight pup. Knowing why variations occur will help you to figure out if you should change anything or whether you should consult your vet just to make sure that everything’s OK. Let’s get started! When Do Boxers Stop Growing? When you brought your boxer puppy home, you knew you were going to end up with a large dog. But Boxers grow so fast that you might just be wondering when it will all end. You can consider your dog to be a young adult at about one year old. But most boxers still bulk out and keep growing for as long as 18 to 24 months. The growth curve does become less steep as your pup gets closer to adulthood, however, so you’ll notice a slowdown in his development. Boxer Weight & Growth Chart Where do you weigh a whale? At a whale weigh station (groan). Seriously, though, how do you weigh a puppy? Of course, you could go past your veterinarian’s office and get your pup to step on a very accurate digital scale that’s made for dogs. Chances are, however, that you’d prefer to weigh your pup at home - easier said than done when you’re dealing with a squirming puppy. While they’re still small, it’s actually quite a simple business. Step on a scale and weigh yourself. Now, pick up your pup and weigh the pair of you. Subtract your weight and boom! You’ve got a fairly accurate measurement of your boxer’s weight. Want to track their height as well? Use our Boxer height chart to guide your expectations. A dog’s height is measured at the shoulder. Since getting Boxer babies to stand still can be a bit of a trial, you can measure them against your body and then grab a measuring tape to see how tall your Boxy is getting. Our Boxer growth chart tracks the average boxer’s weight gain and height increase as they grow, so it’s really a combination of a Boxer weight chart and a Boxer height chart. We’ve provided a “small to big” range that indicates a healthy height and weight for most Boxers. Simply check your dog’s weight, measure its height, and follow the line that matches his or her age horizontally to look at the corresponding weights and heights for male and female Boxers. Do be sure you’re checking the right field on the Boxer male versus female growth chart. Female Boxers are generally smaller than males. Boxer Weight Chart AgeFemale Boxer lbsMale Boxer lbs 2 Months10-17 lbs15-20 lbs 3 Months21-26 lbs22-26 lbs 4 Months28-30 lbs30-35 lbs 5 Months32-37 lbs36-40lbs 6 Months40-44 lbs42-48 lbs 7 Months44-50 lbs48-55 lbs 8 Months50-52 lbs50-57 lbs 9 Months52-59 lbs52-60 lbs 10 Months53-60 lbs55-63 lbs 1 Year53-61 lbs57-66 lbs 2 Years55-65 lbs60-70 lbs Boxer Growth Chart AgeFemale Boxer Male Boxer 2 Months7 inches7 inches 3 Months11 inches12 inches 4 Months14 inches14 inches 5 Months15 inches16 inches 6 Months17 inches18 inches 7 Months18 inches20 inches 8 Months19 inches21 inches 9 Months21 inches22 inches 1 Year23 inches24 inches Boxer Puppy Development Stages Of course, size and weight are just part of your Boxer’s development. In this section of our article, we’ll look at the other physical and behavioral changes you can expect your puppy to go through. Birth - 2 Weeks In the first two weeks of a puppy’s life, he or she is wholly dependent on their mother. They suckle, sleep, and grow at a rapid pace. They have no teeth (a mercy for the momma dog) and their eyes are closed. They draw comfort from their littermates and mom, cuddling up close. If a newborn Boxer loses its mom, you’ll have your work cut out just pulling it through these first two weeks. Begin at your veterinarian’s office to get professional support and advice. 3 Weeks - 12 Weeks During this magical time of your Boxer puppy’s life, they begin to wake up to the world around them. They still need their mothers, and until they’re four to six weeks old, they aren’t ready to eat solid food just yet. At around four weeks, Boxer puppies’ teeth erupt through the gums, their eyes open, and they begin to hear and respond to sounds. And, at five weeks, the fun really begins as your puppies begin to play with each other and are keen to socialize with you too. Keep those interactions positive! Save the date. Your Boxer puppy is born with his mother’s immunities, but by the time he’s six to eight weeks old, he’s ready for his first vaccinations. There are some really nasty doggie diseases out there, but most of them are preventable with vaccination and parasite control. Don’t miss that first trip to the veterinarian! Adopting a Boxer puppy or getting ready to home out your litter? Ideally, you should wait until they reach 12 weeks old, but it’s feasible to adopt an eight-week-old. 4 Months - 9 Months A four-month-old Boxer is still very much a puppy, but you can begin with some gentle, positive reinforcement training. Don’t expect too much of him just yet - his attention span is short. Expect chewing and mouthiness. The permanent teeth are beginning to appear. Gently teach your Boxer puppy to take out that itch on chewy toys and not people or older household pets. Make sure your puppy gets plenty of exposure to other people and animals in positive settings. It’s the start of their socialization training that will make them a pleasant pet that you can trust around other people and animals. Getting to be a bit of a handful? Your Boxer puppy isn’t deliberately naughty, but it does need guidance. Attend puppy classes if you aren’t coping. It’s also time to consider spaying. A six-month-old female Boxer is approaching her first heat, but her body is not strong enough to cope well with pregnancy. If you do want to breed her, be ready to protect her from pregnancy until she’s at least a year old. 10 Months - 18 Months By now, your Boxer, though playful and full of energy, is beginning to mature. He or she should know some basic obedience commands and have some control over that overwhelming puppy energy. Still struggling to raise a good canine citizen? Training your dog takes time, repetition, and positivity. Get help if you aren’t getting it right. Your dog wants to please you, so you can’t really blame him. Besides this, remember that large dogs often mature slower mentally than smaller breeds. Your dog is still growing up and is really still a pup until they are 18 to 24 months old. Adult A well-raised young adult boxer is incredibly loyal, affectionate, and - you guessed it - still very playful. Remember, it’s a working dog breed and needs lots and lots of exercise, and Boxers are intelligent, which means they can get bored if they don’t get enough stimulation. Good nutrition, exercise, and play continue to be important throughout his adult life. How Big Do Boxers Get? Female Boxers are a little more daintily built than their male brothers. Males usually grow to be around 25 inches tall at the shoulder, weighing between 60 and 70 pounds. Females will be 21 to 25 inches tall, and weigh between 55 and 65 pounds. Of course, you might like to make a prediction for your puppy. Size is genetic, so if you know how your Boxer’s parents look, there’s a good chance that their offspring will grow to a similar size. You can also use our Boxer weight chart as your puppy grows to see whether you’re dealing with an unusually large or small boxer. However, be careful of letting your Boxer puppy get overweight. They won’t grow bigger because of it, and it’s a serious health risk for the adult dog. Then, of course, you can look at their paws. If they look too big for the body, your puppy still has some growing to do. If they look about the right size, there isn’t much growth on the way. However, that doesn’t really tell you just how big your pup might be - if that’s what you want to do, try this simple formula: Determine your Boxer puppy’s weight at 6 months. Multiply that by two. The answer should be a good estimate of its adult weight. Looking for something more precise and scientific? DNA testing can help you by giving you a more accurate prediction and an indication of your Boxer’s ideal weight. Will Neutering/Spaying My Boxer Affect Its Growth? There’s a myth that neutering or spaying can stunt a dog’s growth. The truth is that your Boxer will be no smaller if you spay or neuter. However, spaying or neutering too young can cause serious health issues. An interesting fact, however: spaying or neutering can affect the closure of growth plates, so a spayed or neutered adult Boxer may be taller. At the same time, they’re more prone to joint diseases. So, what’s the right age to spay or neuter a Boxer? There actually has been a breed-specific study covering various health risks associated with spaying or neutering a Boxer. It’s led people to suppose that spaying or neutering a Boxer before the age of two years increases the risk of cancer. A look at the figures recorded during the study, however, reveals a different picture. Female boxers have no greater risk of cancer after spaying. Males neutered after the age of 6 months have exactly the same cancer risk as dogs who haven’t been neutered. Veterinarians recommend neutering male Boxers at six to twelve months old. For females, it can be best to hold out until two years old, but here you should weigh your risks. Dealing with a female on heat is intensive, and if she gets pregnant too young, that can cause health issues. If you don’t feel equal to handling heat cycles with your Boxer, spay her at six months before her first heat. American Bulldog Vs Boxer Size There are many similarities between American Bulldogs and Boxers. How do they stack up size-wise? It’s a bit of trivia, but nevertheless interesting. A boxer can get fractionally taller than an American Bulldog although both fall within the 22 to 25 inch height range. However, American Bulldogs are much heavier! An American Bulldog weighs between 75 and 100 pounds in adulthood. Boxers only weigh between 55 and 70 pounds. Factors That Affect Boxer Growth We’ve already determined that spaying or neutering doesn’t really have a major effect on a Boxer’s growth. So, what does? Here’s a full list. Genetics & Gender We touched on this earlier. Female dogs of almost any breed are usually smaller and daintier than males. But of course, one does get unusually big female dogs too, and if a big female is bred with a big male, the genetics are likely to result in bigger-than-usual offspring. All the same, genetics are variable - grandparents’ genes are also involved, so this isn’t sure-fire unless you opt for actual DNA testing. Nutrition Nutrition is always important in reaching genetic potential. Undernourished creatures of any kind never get as big as their genes would otherwise allow. Over-nourishing is equally bad, so the trick is to get the feeding balance exactly right. Boxers are very active dogs, so they might need a little more food than more restful breeds do. Choose good quality, high-protein dog food that’s been made to match the life stage your Boxer is in. Physical Activity & Health Physical activity means muscle development, but while your puppy’s growth plates are still open, you must be careful about over-exercising. Too much exercise and high-impact activity can increase the chances of joint problems. Health, on the other hand, really does affect both height and weight in the long term. Once again, it’s a case of a limiting factor preventing your puppy from reaching its genetic potential. Keep up those vaccinations and remember that a listless Boxer puppy is probably a sick puppy. How Much To Feed A Growing Boxer Puppy? The right amount to feed your Boxer puppy depends on their age, metabolic rate, and the specific dog food you choose. As a rule of thumb, you can use your Boxer size chart to calculate the right amount of food, provided you’ve chosen a nutrient-dense feed. Check the packaging for the calorie value of the food. For each pound of a puppy’s weight, the right amount to feed will be 55 calories. So, your puppy’s weight multiplied by 55 should give you a good guideline. For most dog foods, this comes to one to three cups per day. Feed puppies at least three times a day and divide the servings to match your calculations. When your Boxer puppy stops growing, you can reduce the calories to 40 per pound of body weight. Not sure of your math? Chat with your veterinarian to get expert recommendations. Do Boxers Experience Growing Pains? Giant breeds are the most prone to growing pains, but Boxers can get them too. However, if your dog seems to be experiencing pain and discomfort, it’s never a good idea to shrug it off, even if you suspect that a growth spurt is to blame. Your dog may have a bone or joint issue, and the best person to decide on treatment will be your veterinarian. If it really is “growing pains” the problem will sort itself out, but in the interim, your pet may need pain relief. What To Do If My Boxer Is Not The Right Weight? If your dog is just a little underweight or overweight, you can easily adjust its feeding, and if your Boxer is old enough and seems overweight, up the ante on his exercise. Boxers do go through a skinny, gangly stage as they lose their puppy fat and get taller, but if you think your dog is abnormally thin or is gaining a lot of weight for what appears to be no reason, do get a veterinarian’s opinion. Use our Boxer weight chart as an indicator of what’s normal, but also check out your dog’s condition. Does it have a good appetite? Is your Boxer’s coat in good condition? Does your pup seem to be unusually lazy? Don’t confuse illness with a need to adjust feeding. Being overweight isn’t necessarily caused by your dog eating too much. Thyroid issues are quite common in Boxers. They’re easy to treat, and the first sign you might notice is weight gain. Let’s look at common Boxer health issues next. Boxer Genetics And Common Health Problems All dog breeds have their strengths and weaknesses. Knowing them can help you to spot problems quickly and ensure that your pet gets treatment. Unfortunately, Boxers are somewhat prone to various cancers. If they’re caught early, cancers can often be treated effectively, but do remember that your dog shouldn’t just live, but also be able to enjoy life. As with many other big, active breeds, heart issues can also develop. These include dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) which is a degeneration of part of the heart muscle. Sometimes, it can be treated effectively, but some Boxers will always have a weak heart as a result of the condition and its aftereffects. Almost unique to boxers, a condition called ARVC or “Boxer Arrhythmia” means that the heart’s rhythm isn’t steady. It’s genetic, but although boxers can develop it, not all of them do. Bloat, or GDV happens very suddenly. The stomach fills with gas and the pressure can cause the stomach to turn right around. This condition can be fatal if you don’t get treatment for your dog fast. Reduce the risk by feeding twice a day (not once) and placing the bowl on the floor and never from a bowl that’s placed above ground level. There’s also a preventative surgery that can be done at the same time as spaying or neutering. Discuss this with your vet. Hypothyroidism in Boxers is pretty common. Treatment is a must, and your Boxer will have to use meds throughout its life. However, if the condition is treated, your dog will be in excellent health. The thyroid gland becomes inactive, so veterinarians prescribe a pill to replace the hormones the thyroid can’t secrete. Finally, we have CCL disease or cranial cruciate ligament disease and hip dysplasia. Most large breeds of active dogs including Boxers can get hip dysplasia, which means that the socket of the hip bone, and the top of the leg bone don’t fit together as they should. This causes arthritis and can seriously affect your dog’s ability to move around. Make sure that your puppy has been screened for hip dysplasia, and don’t overfeed it, even when your Boxer is a puppy, since this can cause hip dysplasia later on. The CCL is a ligament and it can break down for a number of reasons including obesity. A weakened CCL can tear, causing the knee to become disjointed. This can be repaired with surgery, but once your dog has CCL disease, it can occur again. Maintain your Boxer’s weight at a healthy level to help reduce its risks. Boxer Weight, Height, And Age: Metrics To Track For A Healthy Boxer Boxers are very special dogs, and you’re going to love your Boxer almost as much as he or she loves you. That’s because it would be hard for us to love our Boxers as much as they love us. They’re incredibly focused and dedicated. A healthy diet, and keeping an eye on your puppy’s development can help you to spot signs that all is not as it should be. Early intervention is always the best - and even if that means you visit a veterinarian with your dog over a minor worry, that’s better than waiting until your dog is seriously ill. Given that you read this article, we can tell that you’re a genuinely caring pet parent. We wish you a long and rewarding relationship with your “dog in a million.”