Boxer Food and Health
When it comes to the right nutrition for your boxer, there are lots of things that you need to keep in mind. Just like with any other dog out there, you need to make sure that whatever dog food you choose has meat as the primary ingredient. Not only will making meat the primary ingredient make sure that your dog will eat the food and enjoyed the taste, but it also make sure that they get the protein that they need. Experts recommend that your dog get at least 18 percent of their diet from protein. However, you also need to be concerned about fats. The right blend of omega fatty acids will make your dog much healthier in several areas, and you need to make sure that your dog is getting at least five percent of their diet from fats.
You also need to be concerned about whether your dog is getting all of the proper nutrition that he or she needs. Whether or not this is the case will likely depend upon which dog food you choose. That’s because it is extremely difficult to calculate manually how many nutrients your dog is getting and whether they are getting the full amount of the recommended daily allowance of those nutrients for dogs. This is especially challenging because certain breeds require higher levels of nutrients, as do particular age groups. If you choose a premium dog food brand, then you are almost certain of getting the right nutritional profile as far as vitamins and minerals that your dog needs.
Boxers are extremely energetic even when they are seniors. They need lots of exercise and that means that they need a diet that is higher in calories than is perhaps recommended for a less energetic dog at the same age or of a similar breed. Lean animal protein should be the main source of these calories. Healthy snacks may include lean protein, but you want to be aware of the calories that you are adding with the dog treats, and you want to make sure that they include plenty of fruits and vegetables as well.
There are a few health problems that you need to be aware of when it comes to owning a boxer. One of them is dental problems. Boxers are prone to dental problems and bad breath because dry dog food can get into the crevices of their teeth and start to remove the enamel and make their teeth rot. You want to make sure that you choose kibble that is going to remove plaque and tartar from teeth or make use of any of the dental products out there that will keep your dog from having their teeth turn unhealthy.
There are some other health conditions that are specific to boxers, but the main thing that you want to make sure you do is get pet health insurance. Pet insurance is health insurance for your pet that allows you to take them to the vet when they are sick without having to pay out of pocket for it. Many veterinarians accept pet health insurance, and you will love the safety net that you have of knowing that if your pet ever needs surgery or major treatment by a veterinarian that you are covered financially.
Leashes and Collars for your Boxer
When it comes to dog leashes and dog collars for your boxer, there are certain things that you want to keep in mind. First of all, the dog collar or control device that you use should never cause your pet discomfort or pain. Dog owners that think that causing your pet discomfort or pain is a good teaching tool are just plain wrong. There has been a ton of research proving this over and over. That means that shock collars, choke collars and prong collars are going to be completely out.
However, while some dog experts will recommend that you avoid dog collars completely and use dog harnesses like ruffwear harness for dog, the fact is that dog collars can actually be more effective for training for your boxer. You have a choice when it comes to choosing the right sort of restraint for your dog, and if you have a boxer, then you may want to consider using a solid nylon or leather dog collar that will let them know that they are not in control.
Dog harnesses can sometimes backfire on boxers, because they have a lot of strength in will tend to pull and be aggressive. A dog collar can be more effective because it shows that you are in charge. There are lots of dog collars out there to choose from, as well as harnesses and various other types of restraints that will send different messages to your dog. You can try a dog harness if you want, but if it does not seem to be effective, then you may want to try a standard dog collar like hecmoks anti bark collar instead.
Best Crates, Beds, and Doghouses for Boxers
As for crates, dog houses and dog beds, there are definitely some things to keep in mind. First of all, you have to decide what you are planning on using the dog crate for. If you are using the dog crate for training, then you do not need to have as much room as those that are using the dog crate to keep your dog secure while they are at work. In the case of a dog crate that you leave your dog in for several hours at a time it needs to have food and water and it needs to be big enough for them to feel as if they have some freedom.
If you are using a dog crate for training, or if you’re getting them a dog house or dog bed, you want to make sure that with a dog house they are able to stand up and turned around completely in a circle before they lay down facing the front. With a dog bed, you simply want to make sure that it fits in your dog house or that they are able to lay down on it with most of their body on the bed. These are good guidelines when it comes to choosing dog beds, dog houses and dog playpens for your boxer puppy or adult dog.
Boxer Toys
When it comes to toys there are lots of things to keep in mind when it comes to boxers. Boxers are fairly intelligent, and they do like a challenge, so you may be able to involve them in a game to get dog treats out of the dog puzzle or other interactive device. Boxers also love to chase things, so an automatic fetch machine may be the best option for this.
There is lots of choices out there when it comes to toys for your boxer and both young and old boxers will enjoy playing with toys although they do tend to slow down their activity once they reach the age of seven or eight. You want to look at your toys as tools that will your dog’s needs. Don’t just choose toys randomly; make sure that you know that a toy is for a specific purpose. For example, if you have a puppy, then at some point you’re going to experience teething. Dogs that are teething are often uncomfortable and giving them dog chew toys that will allow them to alleviate this discomfort is vital during this stage.
Sometimes the purpose of a toy is physical or mental stimulation. If you want your dog to exercise, then you want toys that will motivate them to run around. For example, a ball like idog ball launcher is a great example of a toy that promotes physical activity because it rolls around when your dog drops it and makes them want to chase it. There are also interactive puzzle toys like trixie pet products that dispense treats and come in all sorts of sizes and shapes with various learning levels. These help stimulate your dog mentally.
Some toys are meant to help you build a bond with your dog. These are toys that you and your dog will play with together. An example of this might be a bit of rope that you can have a tug-of-war with or any of the throw or launch toys that are out there these days. Dog toys have become quite advanced, and you can find plenty of them on the market that are based upon science and are intended specifically for certain types of dogs or even for certain breeds.
Grooming Insights for Boxer Owners
Boxers are unique when it comes to grooming because they have short, tight coats that do not mat or get tangled. That means that boxers are about as low-maintenance as you can get out of all dogs except perhaps the hairless breeds. What this means for you is that while you should take care of your dog and groom him or her regularly, boxers do not need to be bathed as much as some of the other dog breeds out there. In fact, you can actually over-bathe your boxer. You should restrict yourself to bathing about once every two or three weeks. Of course, that assumes that there are no skin conditions, fleas, ticks or other problems that require bathing.
As far as regular grooming, you can use a rubber curry brush as safari Slicker brush for dogs to remove dead hair and skin cells. Just make sure that you brush gently because it can be easy to press the times of the brush into your dog’s skin if you’re not careful because there is not much fur to protect them. In addition, your boxer should his or her nails trimmed about once every couple of months. Although there are products on the market these days to allow you to trim your dog’s nails yourself, many people prefer to go to the groomer to have this done. This is useful because you can be giving your dog treats and petting him or her while the groomer does the actual work of trimming the nails.
Boxer Accessories
There are lots of accessories out there for boxers as they are one of the most popular breeds in the United States and around the world. The accessories that you get may be useful for yourself or for your dog, and there is no reason why they cannot be both. Some common accessories include bike trailers, car seat covers and dog seat belts for transportation; dog playpens and kennels for restricting access or giving them a place to exercise outdoors; personalized dog bowls and water bowls or automatic dog feeders and water dishes as bergan standard dog bowl size that refill themselves; and much more.
There are also accessories for those who love boxers. You can find lots of boxer accessories on every retail site out there, but there are actually quite a few specialized sites or personal websites like Etsy mini-sites that are devoted to boxers. You may find some accessories that you cannot live without that will remind you of the bond that you have with your dog. Just a few of the accessories that you might want to consider include T-shirts, hats, hoodies, cups and mugs or computer accessories like mouse pads. There are a lot of boxer accessories out there to choose from.