Guide on Deciding Betweeen the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon.

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Boxer Versus Brussels Griffon: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Boxer and for the Brussels Griffon. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Boxer or the Brussels Griffon.

Boxer versus Brussels Griffon: Overview

A very important difference between the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Boxer is a medium-sized dog while the Brussels Griffon is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Boxer belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, the Brussels Griffon belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Boxer versus Brussels Griffon: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Boxer to the Brussels Griffon based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon

Factor Boxer Brussels Griffon
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 2/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 3/5
General Health 2/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 3/5
Height 21 to 25 inches at the shoulder 7 to 8 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 60 to 70 pounds 7 to 12 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1620 $2430
Price Range $1200 – $2000 $1899 – $3000
Temperament Score 83.9 percent 91.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Syringomyelia – Recommend MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) – no database registration
  • Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Boxer in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Brussels Griffon. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Boxer is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Brussels Griffon is 72 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Boxer is a better pet than the Brussels Griffon. So, you should get the Boxer!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Similarities Between the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon

    The Boxer and the Brussels Griffon are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon are most similar:

    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon are not prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon are very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon are very easy to train.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon are very playful.

    Size Comparison of Boxer versus Brussels Griffon

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon.

    Boxers weigh 60 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Boxers are 21 to 25 inches at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Brussels Griffons weigh 7 to 12 pounds when fully grown. Brussels Griffons are 7 to 8 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Boxer versus Brussels Griffon

    The lifespan of Boxers is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Boxers is 11.0 years.

    The lifespan of Brussels Griffons is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Brussels Griffons is 13.5 years.

    Brussels Griffons live longer than Boxers.

    Temperament of the Brussels Griffon Versus the Boxer

    The Brussels Griffon has a better temperament than the Boxer.

    This is because the temperament score for the Brussels Griffon is 91.7 percent while the temperament score for the Boxer is 83.9 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 83.9 percent, the Boxer has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 91.7 percent, the Brussels Griffon has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon by measuring the temperaments of 472 Boxers and 12 Brussels Griffons.

    Price of Boxer versus Price of Brussels Griffon

    The average price of the Boxer puppy is $1620. The price of the Boxer typically ranges from $1200 – $2000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 636 Boxer puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Brussels Griffon puppy is $2430. The price of the Brussels Griffon typically ranges from $1899 – $3000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 124 Brussels Griffon puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Brussels Griffon is more expensive than the Boxer.

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Boxer and Brussels Griffon. For different price points, the charts show how many Boxer puppies or how many Brussels Griffon puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Boxers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Boxers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Brussels Griffons

    A breakdown of the prices of Brussels Griffons

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Boxer puppy or the Brussels Griffon puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Boxer versus Brussels Griffon

    Boxers do not like to be left alone.

    Brussels Griffons do not like to be left alone.

    Do Boxers shed more than Brussels Griffons?

    Boxers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Brussels Griffons shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Boxer or the Brussels Griffon

    Boxers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Brussels Griffons drool moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Boxer or the Brussels Griffon?

    Boxers are very easy to groom.

    Brussels Griffons are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Boxer Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Brussels Griffon?

    Boxers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Brussels Griffons have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Boxers Bark and Howl? What about Brussels Griffons?

    Boxers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Brussels Griffons are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Boxers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Brussels Griffons Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Boxers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Brussels Griffons cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Boxer vs. Brussels Griffon

    Boxers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Brussels Griffons have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Boxers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Brussels Griffons Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Boxers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Brussels Griffons cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Boxer or the Brussels Griffon?

    Boxers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Brussels Griffons get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Boxers good family dogs? What about Brussels Griffons?

    Boxers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Brussels Griffons are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Boxers and Brussels Griffons?

    Boxers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Brussels Griffons get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Boxer Easier to Train than the Brussels Griffon?

    Boxers are very easy to train.

    Brussels Griffons are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Boxer Better for Apartment Owners than the Brussels Griffon?

    Boxers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Brussels Griffons adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Boxer or the Brussels Griffon?

    Boxers are OK for new dog owners.

    Brussels Griffons are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Boxer versus Brussels Griffon. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Boxer and the Brussels Griffon better suits you and your family.