Boxer Dog Adoption – 5 Proven Keys to Determining if Adopting a Boxer Dog is Best For You

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Boxer Dog Adoption

Boxer dogs have been one of the most popular dog breeds for the past several decades.  While they are a popular breed, they are also among the most common breeds found in rescues and shelters.

You may be considering Adopting a Boxer dog. There are a number of considerations you need to take into account first.

Boxer Dog Adoption  – Adoption Considerations

• Pros and Cons of Boxer Dogs
• Finding A Reputable Boxer Dog Rescue
• Preparing for Adopting A Boxer Dog
• Understanding the Boxer Dog Temperament
• Tips for Training and Bonding with a Boxer Dog

Before we discuss the key considerations, we wanted to share our personal experience of Adopting Boxer dogs. This will provide some insight into the adoption considerations and whether adopting a Boxer dog is right for you.

Our Personal Experience with Adopting Boxer Dogs

We have been adopting Boxer dogs through Adopt-A-Boxer-Rescue, an all-volunteer organization housing, caring for, placing, and transporting Boxer dogs surrendered to the rescue in the Northeast US for the past 17 years.

Throughout the majority of this time, we have two adopted Boxers in our household.  During this time we have adopted 5 Boxers, 4 female, and 1 male, helped with transporting Boxers and conducted in-home assessments of potential adopters.

The table below provides details on each of our adopted boxers.

Boxer’s Name	Gender	Background	Age at Adoption (Usually Estimates)	Dates owned before passing away
Cookie	Female	An Amish Puppy Mill Dog.  She lived confined to a crate having multiple litters of puppies before being surrendered	5 years old	2005 – 2011
Duke	Male	Fell through a trampoline and had a severe wound requiring 50 staples to close.  Surrendered by their owners to AABR for medical attention	1-year-old	2014 – Present
Chloe	Female	Bait Dog – Tied to a pole and other dogs were trained to attack her to train for dog fights	6 years old	2014 – 2018
Hazel	Female	An Amish Puppy Mill Dog.  She lived confined to a crate having multiple litters of puppies before being surrendered	6 years old	2017 – 2022
Katie	Female	An Amish Puppy Mill Dog.  She lived confined to a crate having multiple litters of puppies before being surrendered	7 years old	2022 – Present

Boxer Dog Adoption – Key Learnings

• It is important to set a routine and schedule for your adopted boxers.  Take them for a morning walk when waking, have their food and water bowls in a designated location, spend time playing with them, etc.  They adapt to their new home much more quickly.
• The female was almost always dominant.   Duke always looked up to his older sisters (Chloe and Hazel) and would be submissive when they showed dominance.
• There was never any fighting when we had two Boxers in the home. 
• Senior Boxers are excellent dogs to adopt.  They have a calmer demeanor but are very loving.
• Based on their backgrounds, Puppy MillMom, and Bait dog, they can be very skittish when first coming to your home.  However, with the appropriate love and attention and a routine, they quickly calm down and become loving family pets.
• They are very loving and thankful dogs for the great life you provide after their horrendous early life experiences.

If you are interested in learning the exact age of your Boxer, get the Dog Age Test from Embark Vet

Before we focus on the Adoption considerations, let’s look at some statistics for why adopting a Boxer dog is important in helping alleviate the current crisis in Boxer rescues.

We used MustLuvBoxerRescue.com’s published adoption statistics to come up with a 5-year  average for their rescue.

Averages for Years 2018 – 2022

• Intake – 120
• Adoption – 113
• Forever Foster Dogs – 7
• Year Ending with Boxers Still in Foster Care – 24

Looking at these figures show there is an imbalance between intake and adoption.  When including dogs in foster care this gap widens.

According to published statistics by the ASPCA 

• 34% of dogs are purchased from a breeder
• 23% are adopted from shelters
• 20% come from Family and Friends 
• 6% are taken from the streets as strays

Boxer Dog Adoption – Pros and Cons

When making important decisions in life it’s important to look at the pros and cons to help you in your decision-making process.  

Adopting a Boxer dog is no different because there are both Pros and cons to consider before you decide to adopt.

Boxer Dog Adoption – Pros

• Loyal and want to please their family
• Full of energy and love to play
• Intelligent and loves to solve problems
• Protective of their family, especially children
• Funny personalities and they like to make people laugh
• Always want to be near you which gives them the nickname “Velcro dog”  
• A loving breed that loves to lick and kiss you
• Exceptional Family Dog

Of course, things aren’t always positive and there are cons associated with owning a Boxer dog.

Boxer Dog Adoption – Cons

• Highly energetic – not recommended for frail people or families with very small children who may get scared if the boxer jumps on them.
• Can show dominance issues if not properly socialized.  
• Boxers are intelligent and need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom, which can lead to destructive behaviors, chewing, digging, etc.
• Can be aggressive if they are not properly trained and socialized.  Need a strong leader in the home.
• Prone to skin issues and allergies
• Don’t like to be left home alone for extended periods of time
• Very protective of their family

Looking at these two lists there are points listed as Pros that could be considered Cons and vice versa. Presenting these Pros and Cons is designed to help you evaluate whether Boxer dog adoption is right for you.

Boxer Dog Adoption – Finding A Boxer Dog Rescue

So, how do you find a Boxer Dog Rescue to contact with questions and for applying to adopt a Boxer dog?

Yes, you will have to fill out an application with references because the rescues want to ensure the safety of the dogs so they are not being adopted into puppy mills or dog fighting operations.

Local Search

• Ask your veterinarian for recommendations
• Ask other Boxer owners if they are aware of local rescues
• Internet search

If you reside in the Northeastern US we recommend using Adopt A Boxer Rescue. They are great at caring for the Boxers in the rescue and helping you find the best available Boxer based on your family situation.

National searches can be conducted over the internet. There are over 50 Boxer rescues throughout the US.

Adoption is a two-way Communication Process. As a potential adoptee ask the rescue questions to ensure that

1. Adopting a Boxer is right for you
2. You are adopting a Boxer dog that fits your current living conditions, family situation, and lifestyle.
3. You get the appropriate gender of Boxer based on your family situation.

The Boxer Rescue may ask you a series of questions to help you determine if A Boxer Dog is right for you.

These include

1. Why do you want to adopt a Boxer dog
2. Are you looking for a male or female and why?
3. Do you currently own a Boxer dog or other breeds of dogs and/or cats? If so, what breeds and genders are for each?
4. Do you have a fenced-in yard or secure area to exercise your Boxer?
5. What are your current living conditions? House, apartment, Condominium
6. Where will you exercise your Boxer and how often?
7. Where will you provide food & water for your Boxer? What type of food will you be feeding your Boxer?
8. Where will the Boxer sleep?
9. Do you plan to crate them?
10. What age range of Boxer are you looking to adopt? Puppy, Adult, or Senior

It is important to keep in mind that the rescue is trying to help you adopt the Boxer that is a good fit for you and the Boxer.

Unfortunately, if people rush the adoption process they often adopt a Boxer that isn’t a good fit for Both your situation and the Boxer and they end up being surrendered back to the rescue.

The Boxer Rescue wants you to have the loyal companion you are looking for and to provide a wonderful forever home for the Boxer,

Boxer Dog Adoption – Preparing for Adopting A Boxer

To provide the best experience for you and your new Boxer it is important to be prepared and have the house ready and plans in place to allow a smooth transition into a new unknown environment.

Boxer Dog Adoption – Things to consider

1. What Veterinarian will you be using for your Boxer’s check-ups, immunizations, and sick visits?
2. Does the new Boxer have all the required immunizations? If not, who is responsible, you or the rescue?
3. Where will your new Boxers food and water Bowls be in the house? Will they have free access to them throughout the day?
4. What Type of food will you be feeding your Boxer? Dry Kibble, Wet Food, Homemade Food, and Fresh/Frozen Foods from a Subscription Service.
   • Try the Large Breed Variety Pack at Just For Dogs for fresh/frozen food for your Boxer.
5. Where will your Boxer be sleeping? Will you be providing a dog bed, in a crate in the bed?
   • Visit Rover Store for The Original Donut Shag Calming Pet Bed
6. Where will you get your preventative and prescription medications? The Vet, an online pharmacy. We purchase some of our medications at the vet and also through an online pharmacy. We recommend Pet Care Rx (see Savings link below, they provide prompt accurate service).
7. We recommend a harness and leash when walking your Boxer. It gives you more control if they become excited and a collar and leash tend to compress their windpipe when they are pulling resulting in hacking and coughing.
   • We recommend quality harnesses and leashes from Joyride Harness. Check out the Joyride Bundle Deals which include the Harness and leash or harness leash and walking Kit.
8. Grooming – will you be grooming your Boxer yourself or taking them to a groomer?
9. Dental hygiene – How often will you brush your Boxer’s teeth to keep them clean? Will you be providing dental treats to help prevent tartar buildup?
10. Training & Socialization – Will you be conducting training at home yourself, working with a trainer, or using group or online training? Visit Rover.com
11. Do you plan on getting pet insurance to help defray the costs of the veterinary bills? Odie Pet Insurance Company offers a broad range of coverage plans. Visit Odie Pet Insurance.
12. Who will be walking and exercising your Boxer? Do you need a dog walking service while you are working?
13. What toys or puzzles will you use to mentally stimulate your Boxer?

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The intent was to provide an overview of areas you need to consider as part of the Boxer Dog Adoption process. This is not all-inclusive but a good starting point.

Boxer Dog Adoption – Boxer Dog Temperament

As mentioned earlier, Boxers are high-energy dogs that require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom. A bored Boxer dog can get into trouble with destructive behaviors such as digging and chewing.

It’s important that they get an appropriate amount of exercise based on their life stage.

To learn more about exercises for different life stages read our articles on

Boxer Dog Exercises – 3 Best Types of Exercise From Boxer Puppy to Senior Boxer Dog

How to Tire Out a Boxer Dog – 5 Best Ways to Have A Calm, Happy Boxer Dog

Boxers are also known to be stubborn and want to do things on their own time. It’s best to have a strong presence in the house to help with training & socialization.

For additional information read our article Are Boxers Easy to Train? We Tested Our Boxer’s Abilities to Uncover the Answer

Boxer Dog Adoption – Tips for Training and Bonding with your Boxer Dog

One of the best recommendations we can provide is to get your boxer into a regular routine for daily walks, feeding, and playtime. They seem to transition into the home a lot easier this way.

In addition, it helps to ensure they are getting adequate exercise and mental stimulation.

Finally, spend time playing with your Boxer, they love being around the family and being praised. My adopted Boxers would let us pet them all day long if we would. They just love the attention. You will develop an unbreakable bond with your new loyal companion,

Boxer Dog Adoption – Summary

There are 5 key areas to help decide whether or not to adopt a Boxer Dog. Use The to help guide your decision-making process.

The 5 Key Areas or Considerations are

• Pros and Cons of Boxer Dogs
• Finding A Reputable Boxer Dog Rescue
• Preparing for Adopting A Boxer Dog
• Understanding the Boxer Dog Temperament
• Tips for Training and Bonding with a Boxer Dog

Hopefully, you will be able to Adopt one of these wonderful Boxer dogs. It gives them a forever home and helps reduce the burden on the rescues.

Discoverboxerdogs.com are Mary and Chris Kustanbauter.  We reside in Red Lion, PA with our two Boxers, Duke and Katie, who are both rescue dogs.  We have been working with Adopt A Boxer Rescue for the past 17 years and have adopted 5 Boxers from this fine organization. To learn more visit our Home, Boxer Dog Family, and Blogs Pages  Visit us on social media on Facebook – Discoverboxerdogs.com, Instagram, and Pinterest.