The Honorable Bartholomew Winchester Milholen

Little Barley has only been with us on this earth for 8 weeks. He is about 10 lbs but in a few years he'll be pushing 90lbs if all goes well. He's very smart and energetic and loves to play all day. He is a purebred boxer pup with AKC pedigree to 4 generations. His dad is an AKC champ. We were lucky enough to meet the mom and dad. He had 8 pups in his litter and he was the biggest and best looking of the bunch. I can't wait until this dog gets big enough to run with. He's going to be a great frisbee dog as well. Here's what the AKC says about the boxer breed:

With family and friends, his temperament is fundamentally playful, yet patient and stoical with children. Deliberate and wary with strangers, he will exhibit curiosity, but, most importantly, fearless courage if threatened. However, he responds promptly to friendly overtures honestly rendered. His intelligence, loyal affection, and tractability to discipline make him a highly desirable companion.

Boxers are one of the few breeds that are not only good guard dogs but also excellent protective dogs. This means they have the physical and mental ability to protect their owners rather than just warn their owners of danger. Boxers were used in World War I and II as guard and attack dogs. Despite this, boxers are a bright, energetic and playful breed and tend to be very good with children.

To summarize:

Although not right for everyone, the Boxer can make most a loving addition to their family and provide years of joy. The key is to properly socialize and train the Boxer at an early age and set limits for your Boxer baby. If these simple guidelines are followed, you can look forward to one of the funniest, loyal family member you could imagine.