Why Boxers

Ever since I was very young, my family has owned boxers.  We got our first one when my dad became a firefighter and would have to be gone a full 24 hours at a time for his shifts.  Since he didn’t want to leave my mom alone with my brother and I, he wanted to get a dog that was both intimidating and a good family dog.  After some research, Bruno was brought into our family. My parents have had pets growing up so they thought it wasn’t going to be that much of a new thing, but having a boxer is still a whole new experience.  Bruno was always getting into something whether it was opening drawers to get food, knocking over the garbage can and spreading it across the house, or his constant getting out of the yard which was more of a game for him.  Even with his mischievous nature, he left a huge impression on all of us and from then on we knew boxers held a special place in our hearts.

Our next boxer, Buster, started out the same way as Bruno and was always ripping stuff up as a puppy.  Then after my mom had a surgery that took some time for her to recover, it was like a switch flipped. He settled down a lot and spent most of his day lying by her making sure she was okay.  After her recovery, Buster became the most well behaved dog anyone could ask for. Other than when we got him all riled up to play, he was always very calm and just wanted to be hanging out with someone.

Our current boxer Hugo…is a trip to say the least.  He is filled with love, energy, and mischief. He may not destroy many things around the house, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t find ways to cause trouble.  He’s been known to steal your stuff just so you chase him, tackle you if he doesn’t want you to leave, and “open” up packages that are delivered because he thinks they’re his.  You would never be able to tell any of this by how calm and cool he is when he is in the pool.

Boxers not only hold a special place in my heart, but they have also taught me a lot.  I try to be more mindful like them and enjoy living in the moment. There are many times I may not feel like playing or going on a walk, but when I see them there, I think to myself how little I actually get to enjoy their company.  After the fact I’m always glad I spent the extra time with them and just feel better in general. Along with helping me be more mindful and enjoy life a little more, boxers share some characteristics that set good examples for us.

Compassion - Loyalty - Strength

Compassion

Boxers are known for being great family dogs because of their gentle temperament when it comes to their owners and children despite how muscular and energetic they are.  2 out of the 3 boxers I’ve had love to jump up and give actual hugs to people. If you rub their ears or give them a treat, you will have made a forever friend.

We can copy boxers’ compassion by being kind to everyone we meet, especially when people need a few kind words to help them get through whatever their struggles may be.  I talk to so many people that have negative thoughts about their body image or themselves in general and find that a lot of times they are afraid to start their fitness journey because of what others think.  I do my best to encourage these people to see that it’s their own self-doubt and they are capable of achieving great results. I try to reassure them most people are more worried about how they look rather than go out of their way to judge someone else.  

Not every day of your fitness journey is going to be “just starting”.  As we move through our own fitness journeys, it’s our duty to be compassionate and offer some kind words or a helping hand to those just starting.

Loyalty

Boxers are one of the most loyal dog breeds.  They are known to be very protective of their family and like to do “the lean”.  This is when your boxer will literally push their whole body into you while they are standing next to you, just so they can be as close as possible and act as your guard.  This also applies to when they are laying down and need to be touching you at least with a little paw. I often wake up to mine jumping on my bed, then literally just falling over like deadweight on top of me.  It doesn’t matter if you have been gone all day or just left the room for a minute, boxers get genuinely excited to see you return and will often wiggle uncontrollably with excitement.

Many people already know they should be loyal to their loved ones, but many people forget to be loyal to themselves.  This means following through on goals you have set for yourself and aiming to be the best version of yourself that you can be.  Fitness is a great way to help add structure into your life and teach you how to set attainable goals in the long and short run.  Starting with being loyal to the goals you have set for yourself will help you become a stronger person that is able to be there for your loved ones even more.  Not only will they see you as reliable, but you will become a role model for those around you.

Strength

Most people that have not interacted with boxers are often intimidated by their muscular build.  Those who know boxers very well are often cautious as well because they know boxers don’t know their own strength and will often accidentally tackle you when trying to give you a hug and lick your face.  On top of being very muscular and lean, it seems like they have endless energy. Even when they are dead tired from playing, they will keep going if you are continuing to give them attention. Boxers are always ready to play, go for a walk, go swimming, or pretty much anything that gets them moving.

I realize not everyone is looking to be as muscular as possible.  I know plenty of people that only partake in exercise just to be “healthy”.  But regardless of your level of commitment to fitness, you can still aim to be strong.  It’s both mentally and physically tough to adhere to your goals and stay consistent. By having perseverance and continually aiming to do your best, you become stronger through each endeavor whether you succeed or fail.