When considering a Boxer dog vs German Shepherd, there are various considerations to make. How about having these dogs at home? Do you think either of these dogs is suitable for your household? Let’s find out in this article.
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Boxer Dog vs German Shepherd
The boxer dog and the German shepherd are two working dogs in almost the opposite end of the spectrum. The boxer is an adaptable family dog that is capable of living even in apartments. As of writing, there have been no breed-specific bans for the boxer dog. On the other hand, the German shepherd is a working dog that needs a lot of space and a small apartment space might not be enough.
The German shepherd is a highly active breed that needs plenty of exercises. Furthermore, if enough stimulation is not provided to the German shepherds, they may have aggressive tendencies due to pent up energy. Moreover, if you are renting and you are planning to get a dog, the German shepherd is banned in certain areas. Nevertheless, the German shepherd is still the 2nd most popular dog breed in the US, while the boxer is the 11th most popular dog breed.
Overall Appearance
The boxer dog is a muscular and elegant short-haired breed. They stand 21.5-24 inches tall and weigh 65 to 80 pounds. These dogs are compact, muscular yet elegant. You even have the option to have your boxer tail docked or ear cropped. Moreover, the boxer dog has plenty of coat colors and patterns to choose from.
The German shepherd dog comes in different types. Moreover, through the years, different lines have been developed within the German shepherd breed. Generally, the German shepherd stands 22-26 inches tall and weighs about 50-90 pounds. They have very dense coats that may vary in color.
Health
In choosing a dog breed, health is always an important consideration. Moreover, some breeds are predisposed to certain health problems that have to be avoided with selective breeding. Obtain either of these breeds from a responsible breeder or animal shelter. Regular health checks are important in owning any dog breed.
Boxer dog potential health issues
The boxer is a relatively healthy breed with proper diet and exercise. However, some of these health problems can be inherited from one or both parents and the breed is generally more susceptible to the following health problems:
- Heart problems
- Hip or elbow dysplasia
- Thyroid problems
- Cancers
- Hearing problems attributed to genes that give white coats
- Degenerative disease (myelopathy)
German Sheperd potential health issues
The German shepherd dog has been bred for various works for many years. However, years of selective breeding has not yet eliminated potential health issues of the German shepherd dog:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Perianal Fistula
- Osteoarthritis
- Degenerative Myelopathy
- Panosteitis
- Progressive Renal Atrophy
- Epilepsy
- Hemophilia
Grooming
The boxer dog is a short-haired breed that regularly sheds. You have to give the boxer regular bathes to groom them properly. Moreover, you have to brush their short fur regularly to minimize shedding. On the other hand, the German shepherd is a breed with a long and dense double coat. The German shepherd dog constantly sheds and you have to bathe and brush its fur more frequently. You may want to check out the best brushes for German shepherd dogs in this review. Both of these breeds are not hypoallergenic.
Temperament
The boxer and the German shepherd dog are both working dogs, so they are very energetic. However, when they are left with nothing to do, this can lead to destructive behavior or anxiety to any of these breeds.
Boxer
The boxer dog is very intelligent and active. They love playing and exercise. Moreover, if they have a job to do, they can be really courageous and focused on their tasks. Also, the boxer dog is naturally protective, so you can depend on them to protect your family and property as protection or watchdog. However, the boxer dog is a very good family dog that can also live well with cats once socialized properly.
German Shepherd
The German shepherd dog is a popular working dog breed. You probably see them a lot as bomb detection dogs, police dogs, and war dogs. They perform really well in the field and even in herding, too. However, when not given a task to perform male German shepherds might be too energetic that they end up with aggressive behavior due to the pent up energy. Moreover, if you are experiencing some behavioral problems in your male dog, you might want to consider neutering your dog to help manage the behavior.
Trainability
The boxer and the German shepherd are both working dogs. This means that they are very trainable for various tasks that you might need them for. Moreover, as long as you handle them correctly and remain assertive during training sessions, you can get them to do a lot of things really well. If you are having difficulty in training either the boxer or the German shepherd training collar might keep them on track during training. Both of these dogs are very versatile working dogs.
The Verdict
Choosing a breed in Boxer dog vs German shepherd seems like a difficult choice. Both of them are very popular breeds in the US and they have very similar strength and versatility as a working dog. However, there are some breed-specific restrictions set in some areas for the German shepherd, so you might want to check your local laws about them.