If you’re looking for a playful dog that makes a great companion, you can’t go wrong with a Boxer dog. However, after seeing the size of these muscular dogs, a lot of parents are asking “are Boxers good with kids?“
Don’t be intimidated by a Boxer’s large size, because these gentle giants are great with children. Boxers are well-known as good family dogs because they love people (of all ages). However, the dog does need to be trained and socialized to be a good family dog.
Are you curious about how your child and Boxer will act together? You’ve come to the right page. Today, we’re going to discuss if boxers are good with kids and everything else you should know about bringing one of these dogs into your household. Keep reading to learn more.
Are Boxers Good With Kids?
Boxers are good with kids. Even though they are large dogs, they are safe to bring into a household with children. For the most part, a Boxer will be very playful and get along fantastically with the kid. After all, they are both full of energy and eager to have a fun time. This is why Boxers are so popular as a family pets.
Of course, every Boxer dog should be judged as an individual. There are rare cases in which a Boxer may not have the right temperament to be around small children. This could happen when families adopt adult Boxers from shelters that have previously been abused. If the dog has past trauma or its training was neglected in its early years, it may not be compatible with kids.
However, if your family decides to adopt a Boxer puppy or an adult Boxer that was previously in a loving household (even if children weren’t present) there is a possibility that you could have a great furry companion, for you and your kids.
Adjusting to Boxers With Kids
Your child and your Boxer have the potential to be the best of friends. While their relationship will form naturally, you as the Boxer’s owner will need to make sure the dog will have to provide the necessary training. A Boxer that has been trained and socialized from an early age is typically very friendly.
Boxers have unfairly earned a reputation as being aggressive when this couldn’t be further from the truth. If a Boxer is raised in a single-person household and was never socialized, then it may be more fearful when new faces approach. However, if the owner started socializing the dog between the ages of 6 to 16 weeks, the Boxer will be happy to be around people.
Without the right level of training and socialization, a Boxer could become destructive. In this case, it won’t have the same playful nature around children and may be more prone to roughhousing.
Why Children and Boxers Are a Great Match
Boxers are a very energetic breed. They also have tall figures with a lot of muscle. In order to keep a Boxer healthy and happy, it needs to exercise every day. To be specific, a healthy Boxer needs at least 90 minutes of physical activity every day.
As an adult, there may be days when you are too tired or busy to keep up with the activity level of a boxer. Do you know who does have the right energy level to keep up with a Boxer? Your children! This is part of the reason that kids and Boxers get along so well.
If your Boxer is trained and socialized, you likely don’t have to worry about its behavior when playing with your kid. Not convinced? Let’s take a further look at some of the reasons Boxers and kids are compatible.
Matching Personalities
Your Boxer is usually at its happiest when it has someone to romp around and play with. If you watch your kids play then watch your Boxer play, you may notice that they have similar levels of energy. Both children and Boxers love to play and have a lot of energy to go with it. That is why kids and Boxers make excellent playmates.
Boxers are Very Patient
Let’s be real for a moment, kids have some very strange and annoying habits. This is why a lot of parents are skeptical about letting their kids be around dogs, especially dogs they aren’t familiar with. The last thing they want is for their kid to do something that triggers the dog to snap.
This is something parents don’t have to worry about with Boxers because this breed is outstandingly patient. We know a kid’s curiosity can push the buttons of most dogs, but Boxers are a lot more tolerant. If your kid gets too loud or handsy with the Boxer, the dog won’t try to be the dominant one.
Boxers Don’t Mind Rowdiness
Some kids have more energy than others. If your child likes to play rough, then a Boxer is the right breed for your household. Boxers can tolerate roughhousing more than other breeds. While some breeds are known to snap back or hurt the rough child, a trained Boxer will remain content.
A lot of dog owners were surprised by just how durable their beloved Boxer really is. Even though these dogs are big enough to show small children who is in charge, they let the kid be. Since the Boxer enjoys the child’s company, it remains cool and collected while the child acts wild.
Your Kid’s Private Bodyguard
One of the reasons that people admire Boxers is that they are very protective. When a Boxer loves a person, it will act as their guard dog. Basically, what this means is that when your Boxer is with your kid, it’s watching out for them. If they are outdoors together, and a threat approaches, the Boxer’s instinct is to keep it from getting near the kid.
A Boxer will act very aggressively towards another person or animal that it believes is posing a threat to a loved one. Boxers can sense when someone has threatening intentions.
Be Present When Children and Boxers Play
Parents of young children should always be present when their kid is playing with the Boxer. If you have a school-aged kid, then you likely don’t have much to worry about. However, if you have toddlers or small children, you will need to keep an eye on them playing with the dog.
Boxers may be loveable, but they aren’t small. Male Boxers can grow to be as large as 80 lbs. If your Boxer weighs more than your kid, for safety reasons, you will want to be nearby when they play. While a Boxer won’t intentionally hurt your kid, if they are both energetic, an accident could occur.
As long as a parent or babysitter is present, the dog and small child can have a lot of fun together. You will have the opportunity to call a timeout if it looks like the dog and kid are getting too rambunctious. When you are cautious, you can prevent an injury before it occurs.
What Type of Family is a Good Fit For Boxers
Boxers are a great family dog, but it takes a certain type of family to keep this dog happy. You see, Boxers require a lot of exercise, so they are always happiest when placed with a family that can keep up. Ideally, Boxers are best-suited for active households.
If your family likes to stay indoors and participate in mellow activities, you might not have the right lifestyle for a Boxer. These dogs need activity. They are a great fit for families that enjoy:
- Hiking
- Camping
- Long walks
- Jogging/ running
- Swimming
- Participating in sports
- Frisbee ; more
Boxers are a great fit for active families, especially those with children. When kids are around to play, a Boxer is more likely to get all of its physical activity needs met in a day. This results in a happy dog that is well-behaved. When a Boxer has a playmate (such as a kid), it’s less likely to become bored and destructive.
Final Thoughts
Are Boxers good with kids? Boxers are known to be very good companions with kids. They are energetic dogs that love to play and can stand a bit of rowdiness.
One of the personality traits that make parents feel more comfortable about this breed is how patient the dogs are. They never snap or get aggressive with a kid that may be acting too energetic. These gentle giants actually enjoy having an energetic child in their company as Boxers are likely to form a good bond with kids.
Keep in mind, that every Boxer dog is an individual. There may be cases where trauma from the dog’s past may cause it to be more aggressive. In this case, the dog may not have the same level of patience with kids. Parents are advised to always supervise when their kid and Boxer are playing together. In most cases, the Boxer will love its young playmate.