Boxers are definitely quite bouncy in the beginning, but as time goes by you’ll definitely notice a different attitude. Are boxers lazy or do they just get a little more dignified as the years go by?
Your Boxer is definitely not lazy, but at around 1 to 2 years of age, they will definitely start spending their energy a little more efficiently. If they aren’t getting their recommended 90 minutes of exercise daily, this could be the problem, or they might need you to ‘spice up’ their daily activities if things have become a little ‘routine’.
In this article, we’re going to tell you a little more about this breed’s temperament when it comes to playtime vs. leisure time. We’ll tell you how you can know if your Boxer is bored, as well as when laziness could be a red flag, and more. Are Boxers lazy? Not really… and we’ll tell you why!
Are Boxers Lazy?
If we are talking about an older Boxer, then they tend to be more conservative about their energy, but they still have quite a lot of it. The end result is basically that your Boxer is animated sometimes, but it’s generally more on a schedule, rather than the constant bouncing you see with a younger Boxer.
Their energy levels are really consistent with what you’d expect when you take a bird’s eye view over time. As pups, they like to jump and to ‘box’ with you the most and have trouble containing all of that energy. As ‘teens’, they are still quite bouncy but starting to get a little more reserved.
Once they mature around 2 to 2 years, then they tend to develop a bit of a stubborn streak, along with quiet dignity about them. You’ll sometimes still see a bit of bouncy behavior, but only if you surprise them with something that they like or if your backyard squirrel does something truly fantastic to get their attention.
Like us, they age, and when your Boxer has matured then they will have active time and they will have ‘layabout’ time — tending to be a little more stubborn about the latter as the years go by. Make sure they still get plenty of exercises and switch out their toys frequently, and you should see a little more ‘bounce’.
When ‘laziness’ is actually a red flag
If laziness is a new thing, then you want to bring your Boxer in for a checkup just to make sure that they are okay. Boxers need about an hour and a half of exercise every day, so if they are not getting this much in the first place, then that is the first change you need to make.
Secondly, consider if you have switched out their toys lately. Like us, your Boxer can get bored, and if this is a constant thing then they might be sleeping their days away on purpose. That’s not good, but some new toys and maybe switching up their schedule a bit can make for some very positive results.
A trip to the dog park is a good idea and can help your Boxer to make some play buddies, which inn turn is going to make for a much more active Boxer at home. The simplest way to put it is ‘keep your dog entertained if you want to chase-off the ‘lazies’’.
If your dog still seems lethargic, however, then a vet visit is definitely a good idea. These dogs have ‘moderate to strong’ energy levels, as they were bred to be ‘working dogs’ originally, so too much lying about could be a sign of a bigger problem!
Signs your Boxer could be bored
Since your dog can’t exactly tell you outright when they are bored, it is useful to know a few of the signs. Once you do, you might realize that they have been broadcasting their boredom to you for a long time – it’s all a matter of interpreting their actions and their body language. Here are some signs to look for:
- Destructive activities in the yard, such as knocking things over, especially trash cans or storage items that end up everywhere when their bin is tipped.
- Digging furiously in the backyard when they weren’t doing this before. It’s not necessarily an escape attempt, but this action takes a lot of energy and may be viewed as ‘venting’ or demonstrating a desire to go on some more interesting walks instead of spending so much time in the yard.
- Seeming very needy all of the sudden when you get home is another sign that they might want to spend a little more play and quality time. After all, they associate you as being the pack leader and their provider, so this is their way of getting your attention and asking for a little more ‘action’.
- Taking extra naps during the day is another common sign of boredom, as they are basically ‘sleeping through the boring parts of the day’.
Daily exercise requirements of a Boxer
Your Boxer needs about 90 minutes of exercise daily and that’s the MINIMUM. If they aren’t getting it, then ‘lazy behaviors’ might simply be the result of your dog being easily tired, because they aren’t getting enough exercise.
If you think that this might be the case, then don’t instantly switch to 90 minutes, but rather work your way up by adding 5 to 10 minutes to your current outings to slowly build up their endurance. You should start noticing a little spring in their step as your dog builds up to their required daily exercise levels again.
Remember, these dogs were bred for herding animals, pulling carts, and generally a fairly physical lifestyle, so if they aren’t getting enough exercise then they can definitely end up a bit on the lethargic side for it, like a human bodybuilder that has decided to take a year off watching Netflix!
Your dog might even start getting a little on the obese side if you aren’t careful, so make sure that your dog starts getting at least the minimum 90 minutes of exercise that they need and see if they are still looking ‘lazy’ from your perspective – they probably just need a more active lifestyle if they haven’t met their minimums!
Is swimming good exercise for a Boxer?
While Boxers are considered to be a ‘moderately strong to strong’ breed from a physical perspective, they aren’t really geared for swimming and their physique reflects this. Take a good look at your dog and you can see what we mean.
Boxers are broad chested, with very short tails, and this doesn’t exactly streamline them for swift movement in the water. That’s not the biggest problem though, so draw your attention to your dog’s distinctive mug. Boxers have a fairly flat face and vets refer to this trait as being ‘brachycephalic’.
Brachycephalic dogs include such breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Mastiffs, Shih Tzus, and more, and you’ll notice that each of the dog breeds have fairly distinctive faces. These looks have been bred into them over generations and while they are cute, they simply don’t make for good swimmers.
Some of the dogs can certainly swim, but with a flatter face it’s much harder for the dog to keep their nose out of the water, making swimming an exercise that is not recommended without a flotation device and 100% supervision –preferably with the owner swimming right along with their dog!
Can Boxers go hiking?
Long walks are okay for Boxers, but it’s something that you should build them up to, and you want to wait until they are at least 1 year old. Long walks and fast runs are bad for them in that first year, because Boxers can develop joint problems if you push them during this time.
After 1 year of age, the chances of this go down, as your Boxer has had time to develop their legs a little more and it’s less of a strain on them. That said, you want to work up to it, slowly extending their walking time by 5 to 10 minutes for each session.
Even with the additional exercise, it’s not good for your Boxer to walk more than 3 miles at a time, so if you want to take your Boxer hiking with you than you will need to bring a tent and work up a sort of ‘compromise’ with your dog. This means hiking 3 miles before setting up a ‘rest stop’.
If you can do this, then you can take a paced hiking day with your dog, followed by snack and nap time, while you get to enjoy the nature around you and still get a little healthy hiking in the bargain! It’s a compromise, but it’s a good one, and you’ll both have a wonderful time together in Nature.
Some last words on ‘lazy’ Boxers
Boxers aren’t lazy, but they do get older just like we do and their exercise requirements are actually well known. Make sure that your Boxer is getting their needs met in this regard as a solid first step. After that, switch things up a little – Boxers can view ‘routine days’ with the same attitude that we do.
A little change can definitely help, but avoid adding swimming to the menu — your Boxer isn’t built for that – but you can hike together if you are willing to compromise.
Ultimately, some napping is expected, as your dog sleeps 12 to 14 hours a day, but if you mix things up then your dog can certainly live a more active lifestyle!