Well honestly, I'd be scared to death of that dog, even if it was just mildly trained to be a protector. I don't know about when you should start training her, but you shouldn't have to worry. It's an intimidating-looking dog, at least to me.

Developed in Germany, the Boxer is a breed of stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog. The coat is smooth and fawn or brindled, with or without white markings. Boxers are brachycephalic (they have broad, short skulls), and have a square muzzle, mandibular prognathism (an underbite), very strong jaws and a powerful bite ideal for hanging on to large prey. The Boxer was bred from the English Bulldog and the now extinct Bullenbeisser and is part of the Molosser group. Boxers were first exhibited in a dog show for St. Bernards at Munich in 1895, the first Boxer club being founded the next year. Based on 2008 American Kennel Club statistics, Boxers are the sixth most popular breed of dog in the United States for the second year in a row—moving up in 2007 from the seventh spot, which they'd held since 2002—with 33,548 new dog registrations during the year. You have to see there history....they are made with english bulldog ( american bulldog is the same thing,...)

Older post...almost a year old now and evidently the poster dropped into the witness protection program a month after joining AB! But...the question remains.... Two points to consider, if YOU have a new puppy and hope it will grow into a dog you can count on for protection. ONE: It is best to start training your puppy immediately! No one wants a dog that goes potty in the house! So we start with that! Anyone here can e-mail me, my addy is on my profile, if you would like a FREE copy of Potty 101. It is positive reinforcement training based, and encourages you to SET YOUR PUPPY or dog UP FOR SUCCESS in NOT having accidents in the house! TWO: As for protection... ALL DOGS from the biggest to the smallest breed or mutt is pretty much geared to be a great "early warning system" against anyone coming on your property...they BARK when they hear, see or smell someone who does not register as an accepted FRIEND. And most dogs will even bark when a friend shows up..but in a different tone of voice! In over 30 years of being a trainer, I've never once trained any of my dogs, or client's dogs to be a "protection, or aggressive dog." Yet almost all of my dogs and the dogs of my clients HAVE BEEN protective when the need really counted... Why...how? Because good training with the use of positive reinforcement creates a positive BOND not only of companionship, but also trust, accountability and responsibility between the animal and the humans. I've had HORSES (a prey animal whose first instincts tell them to RUN FIRST, FIGHT LATER if you can't out run "it") that acted in my defense against a wild animal, or an aggressive human! Why? For the same exact reason a natural predator, a DOG would. When we train with +R the animal learns that we are a TEAM...we have each other's best interests at heart, we COUNT on each other to each bring our best abilities to the relationship. We stand together in joyful moments, and in stressful moments too... Granted, some dogs will be fearful more than they are likely to put themselves between you and an aggressor...not all dogs are bold or fearless in a crunch...but generally speaking MOST DOGS already WILL do their best to try and stop or warn off someone seeking to hurt YOU...if you have bothered to train them with Positive Reinforcement, and have made them a MEMBER of your family. Such training is also designed to encourage the dog to be confident, and mentally/emotionally strong! This helps a lot to develop the type of personality that is less likely to be fearful! Specifically trying to train a dog to become MORE AGGRESSIVE is usually an open door to a law suit. Dogs are brilliant at being dogs...but they do not always make the very best decisions when it comes to interactions with humans in a stressful situation. What if you are having a lively debate with someone who is a friend, but your dog misunderstands the heightened emotions...and so BITES your friend? Or you just had a major disagreement with your spouse or your boss on the phone and your child comes into the house with a new friend...the dog is upset, the new kid does not know the signs of an upset dog, it's not growling...and suddenly snap, the dog attaches itself to the child's face? oops! doesn't quite cover the problem now does it? The dog makes a bad decision, someone is bleeding, you get sued and the dog gets put down....not what you were originally aiming for at all.... I say train your dog to be well behaved, social, comfortable trusting you...comfortable in many different situations...confident, happy, relaxed...and you will also help to support your dog being confident, strong, and able to take your cue quickly when there is a need for the dog to act in your defense! You don't have to TRAIN the dog to ATTACK! The dog will smell your fear, and the fear of the person who intends to do harm...THAT will be your dog's TRIGGER, to step into place between you and the aggressive person. My Hannah, who is trained for Search and Rescue and who is pretty much generally concerned with HER OWN well-being (can you say mercenary dog...what's in it for me?) recently and unexpectedly placed herself between me and a poor male jogger in the dark of night on a training trail we were running (walking). I wasn't afraid of the guy, I was surprised by him, and I think he was surprised by us! The unexpected guy came around the bend on the trail at a local park, it was dark, night trail practice, and Hannah gave a big woof, followed by several smaller (nerves) woofs, and just got between him and I as he approached. Scared HIM to bits...and she is a medium dog only about 45 to 50 pounds, a Shepsky! (GSD/Husky cross) The poor fellow moved off of the pathway, apologizing profusely for being there...(which he was just as rightful to be there as we were!) Would Hannah have bitten him, if he tried to grab me? I don't know! I would expect her to yip and get behind me...but then I didn't expect her to get between us in the first place, she was working a scent, and she's capable of being a bit of a chicken if she even thinks someone is pissed off about something...but she DID get between us, so I have to accept that there is just as much of a chance that she MIGHT HAVE gone for him as not, based upon her warning him off and away from us... The moment he was well gone, she went back to working with no prompt from me, and I'm happy with her response, she made her point, without being overly aggressive or trying to bite a stranger who was not threatening us in any way...THIS is the type of protection I like to see in a dog...willing to take some action as needed...but NOT over the top with a plan to bite without ample provocations!