Boxer vs Golden Retriever
Compare the Boxer to the Golden Retriever. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Boxers and Golden Retrievers.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - The Golden Retriever is a good choice for new owners, whereas the Boxer is not recommended for new/inexperienced owners.
- Children - Both the Boxer and Golden Retriever are great with children.
- Grooming - The Boxer is easier to groom than the Golden Retriever.
- Barking - Both breeds will bark frequently, but the Boxer has the highest tendency to bark between the two.
 |  | |
| Breed Name | Boxer | Golden Retriever |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 10-12 yrs. |
| Height | 21-25 in. | 21-24 in. |
| Weight | 53-70 lb | 55-80 lb |
| Intelligence | Average | High |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Germany | UK (Scotland) |
| Origin Year | 1894 AD | 1865 AD |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
|
| |
| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Medium Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Large Yard | No | Yes |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 60°F to 80°F | 30°F to 80°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High | High |
| Exercise Required | High | Medium-High |
| Top Running Speed | 27 mph | 25 mph |
| Strength | High | High |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Medium | Medium-High |
| Shedding | High | Medium-High |
| Dander | Low | Medium |
| Drool Amount | None | None |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Boxer | Golden Retriever |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | No |
| Family/Pack | Yes | Yes |
| Independent | No | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | Yes | No |
| Average | No | No |
| Focused & Patient | No | Yes |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Average | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Very Low | Below Average |
| Chasing | Average | High |
| Follow Commands | Below Average | High |
| Fighting | Average | Below Average |
| Guarding | High | Below Average |
| Herding | Very Low | Below Average |
| Hunting | Average | High |
| Protection | Average | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | Very Low | Below Average |
| Sledding | Very Low | Below Average |
| Watch | Average | Below Average |
| Breed Name | Boxer | Golden Retriever |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 10-12 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Allergies | Yes | Yes |
| Aortic Stenosis | Yes | No |
| Bloat | Yes | Yes |
| Boxer Cardiomyopathy | Yes | No |
| Cancer | Yes | No |
| Cataracts | No | Yes |
| Corneal Dystrophy | Yes | No |
| Deafness | Yes | No |
| Demodectic Mange | Yes | No |
| Elbow Dysplasia | No | Yes |
| Epilepsy | No | Yes |
| Hemangiosarcoma | No | Yes |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | Yes |
| Hypothyroidism | Yes | Yes |
| Osteochondrosis Dissecans | No | Yes |
| Osteosarcoma | No | Yes |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | No | Yes |
| Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis | No | Yes |
| Von Willebrand's Disease | No | Yes |
| Breed Name | Boxer | Golden Retriever |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Single Coat | Yes | No |
| Double Coat | No | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Straight | Yes | No |
| Wavy | No | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Short | Yes | No |
| Medium | No | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Brindle | Yes | No |
| Fawn | Yes | No |
| White | Yes | No |
| Dark Golden | No | Yes |
| Gold | No | Yes |
| Light Golden | No | Yes |