AboutJennifer Walker Expertise I can answer questions on breeding and genetics, including coat colors and white markings; breed-specific issues; general health and genetic disease; nutrition and raw diet; behavior and training; conformation showing; and basic obedience and agility competition.
Experience I have owned Boxers for over a decade; I bred my first litter (which produced my first AKC Champion) nine years ago; I am an officer of my local Boxer Club and a Committee Member and Committee Chair of the American Boxer Club; I answer all e-mail inquiries from the American Boxer Club website; I moderate several Boxer-related message forums and mailing lists, and administrate one of each, as well as actively participating on many others.
Organizations Michigan Boxer Club
American Boxer Club
American Boxer Charitable Foundation
Midwest Boxer Health Alliance
Publications The Boxer Ring
Boxer Champions - 1988-2004
Education/Credentials I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Michigan State University; since graduation I have taken online seminars on nutrition, breeding, and health.
Expert: Jennifer Walker Date: 7/5/2008 Subject: 6 yr old Female boxer
Question I have a Jacquet female boxer- she was my x-mas present 5 1/2 yrs ago. The best breed ever. She is loved today as much as the day we got her. She is MY baby.
My question: She was trained by trainer one on one and socialized with other dogs. My husband wouldn't let me train her to react to a command to look like she would attack. Since she is so friendly, "IF" myself or a family member would be attacked or treatened in some way, would she protect us. (when we joke around like we will hit each other, she will back into me and look at my husband or kids and bark)
Answer Generally speaking Boxers are quite talented at discerning a true threat; many people who thought their Boxers would lick an attacker to death are surprised, but grateful, when their dogs do in fact feel threatened and respond appropriately. (A note - for a Boxer, this does not mean lunging, barking, or biting; a Boxer will first step in front of you, stand firm, and give the attacker a hard stare, perhaps with a growl or lift lip - often this itself is enough to cause someone to back off! From there it will progress accordingly, if necessary, even to grabbing and holding, but Boxers are a "bite-last" rather than "bite-first" breed; typically they can intimidate most would-be attackers without resorting to tooth contact.)
