Many Boxer owners will say that behind the fierce and majestic appearance of this dog hides a gentle soul that adores people. However, the appearance of this dog can sometimes make us not think this way. They can seem intimidating, but are Boxers banned in USA?
The Boxer is an extremely sweet and loyal dog. He is also a strong, athletic, and active dog who never rests. Boxer has an athletic and striking posture and defined muscles, which makes it the perfect dog for a variety of activities.
Boxer is a truly affectionate pet that makes special connections with children. However, the Boxer is also a guard dog that, if it perceives a certain danger, will react instinctively to protect its owners.
Does this feature make the Boxer a dangerous dog? Are Boxers banned in some parts of the United States?
Let’s find out everything related to this topic.
Are Boxers Banned In USA?
For now, there is no breed-specific legislation referring to Boxer dogs. So, none of the United States prohibits people from owning a Boxer puppy.
This is something you should always check before you decide on a certain dog breed, since some states have restrictions regarding dogs such as Pitbulls, Mastiffs, Dogo Argentino, Cane Corso dogs, etc.
So, legally, you can own a Boxer dog. But, why would these dogs even be under the question of whether people should hold them as family pets?
Well, there are some reasons for this question. According to the Forbes list of most dangerous dog breeds, the Boxer ranks as number 9. Pitbull and Rottweiler are two dogs considered as the most dangerous dogs to own.
Bites and aggressive behavior are something many will associate with Boxers. Therefore, we are not surprised that many people wonder if Boxers are actually banned in any country.
However, we believe that it is necessary to ask another important question: why does Boxer behave like this? In order to find the right answer, we first need to know the temperament of this dog well.
What Is Boxer’s Temperament Like?
Just like they can be the best dogs possible, Boxers can also be the worst dogs you can have. This is not only related to this dog’s temperament, but also to your approach to this dog’s training and socialization.
However, your dog’s temperament will be determined by its nature in high percentages.
Let’s start with this dog’s wonderful traits – we think there are more of these than the bad ones. A Boxer is a fearless, loyal, energetic, and cheerful dog. This dog adores its humans, and will be eternally loyal to them.
At the same time, a Boxer dog has high-energy levels. So, this dog will need a lot of physical and mental exercise on a daily basis.
Also, this dog is stubborn and might be challenging to train. A Boxer is a low-maintenance dog for first-time dog owners only in the grooming aspect, since this dog has short hair and does not require bathing often.
Boxers are quite demanding dogs in all other aspects. These dogs need a firm, experienced dog owner that will know how to teach them to become well-behaved and obedient dogs.
Why Boxers Might Be Considered Dangerous?
Since Boxers make wonderful family dogs for many owners, how come some people consider them as dangerous dogs?
There are some justified reasons for this belief. Many Boxer dogs can indeed show destructive behaviors. Let’s see why this happens.
1. Natural Instincts
Boxer dogs belong to the AKC group of working dogs. These dogs are nowadays known as police dogs, but also as favorite family pets.
Boxer’s ancestors were used for bear, wild boar, and deer hunting. So, many Boxers retained this characteristic until today. This is why you might have seen a Boxer chasing after a smaller dog, cat, or any other animal.
This is also the reason why many people consider Boxer as dangerous, and do not want to have this dog if they already possess other animals.
Dog’s natural instincts are usually something we can never completely erase from our furry friends, no matter how hard we try.
2. Protective Instincts
Boxers are patient and protective with their family members, so they make wonderful watchdogs. This is a great trait, but can also be dangerous when it comes to other people and dogs outside your home.
When the Boxer sees or hears a potential threat, he will alert his owners, but he might also try to resolve the situation himself. In moments like these, the Boxer can show aggressive behavior and can even attack intruders in its territory.
Here it is very important to emphasize that every dog can show aggression in a certain situation, especially if it is not adequately socialized and trained.
Since Boxers are very intelligent dogs, experienced and resourceful owners can train them to be obedient and never show aggressive behavior.
3. Physical Appearance
If you have been sharing your life with a Boxer, you probably find it as the most gentle and sweet dog ever.
However, other people might not share your opinion, especially considering this dog’s looks.
This is a medium-sized dog, but very muscular and solidly built with a characteristic head and muzzle shape.
Some owners still crop Boxer’s ears and dock its tail. There are no confirmations that these processes have a positive effect in any way on the dog, therefore, we would not recommend them to Boxer owners.
According to some opinions, people used to do this to make a dog look more intimidating.
Many people will judge a dog’s character by its appearance. And the appearance of the Boxer could indicate that it is a dog with which one should be very careful around!
Conclusion
If you would like to become a Boxer owner, then the answer to the question: are Boxers banned in USA, will satisfy you. There is no prohibition against owning these dogs in any part of America.
However, one can never be careful enough. Boxers are wonderful pets, loyal and in love with their owners. But, we have to be realistic and admit that there must be a reason why this dog is regularly on the lists of the most dangerous dog breeds.
Therefore, attacks on people and animals, as well as the display of other aggressive behaviors, are not unknown to Boxers.
However, every dog owner should work to ensure that aggressive behavior does not occur, rather than thinking about how to fix the consequences when dog aggression already occurs.
Boxers are demanding dogs – they need a lot of physical exercise as well as mental stimulation. A Boxer who is bored, neglected, and whose owner does not pay enough attention can very easily show aggression and become dangerous to the environment.
Boxers do not have to be dangerous dogs, but only on the condition that they are regularly worked with and never left to their own devices.
