Boxer Info

Blunt face, steady gaze with a hint of mischief, an undeniable joy of life, and incredible grace, the Boxer is affectionate to children and a steadfast friend and guardian to the whole family.

Low maintenance? The Boxer is a clean canine with a short coat that needs little more than a wipe-down and an occasional bath.

Versatility? The Boxer does well in obedience, agility, and therapy work and has served credibly as a war dog and a police dog.

The talented Boxer is another gift to dog owners from Germany. He is cousin to many breeds developed from the massive Molossian Hound, an ancient Greek guarding, fighting, and herding dog. From Greece to Rome to Europe and Britain, these dogs gave birth to a number of large, square-headed breeds that assisted men in the hunt and at war.

In Germany, the Molossian type became the Bullenbeisser, a courageous dog that hunted the fierce aurochs, a wild progenitor of domestic cattle. The Bullenbeisser diverged into two types, known as Danzigers and Brabanters after their areas of origin. The Brabanters were the smaller of the two; the Boxer developed from this branch of the family tree.

By the end of the 18th Century, the great hunts organized by noblemen had all but faded into history. Brabanters moved from castles and great manors to butcher shops, cattle farms, and theaters to ply their new trades of cattle management and acting. Somewhere along the way, dogs of this type became known as Boxers, perhaps for the manner of play that resembles a pugilist's sparring, perhaps for their box-like head.

Late in the 20th Century, German breeders took charge and established guidelines for improvement of the breed. In 1895, they founded the first Boxer club in Munich, and in 1904 held their first show.

The Boxer is a muscular, short-coated, square-headed dog with tight skin and a docked tail. Males stand 57-63 cm at the withers and weigh about 35 kg. Females are a bit smaller at 53-59 cm and about 30 kg.

The Boxer nose is broad, and the top of the muzzle appears slightly pushed in, leaving the jaw a bit undershot — the lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper jaw and curves slightly upward. The blunt muzzle leaves him susceptible to hot, stuffy conditions and can cause wheezing and snorting.

The only acceptable body color in the standard is fawn, and the only acceptable pattern is brindle. White markings on muzzle, chest, belly, feet, neck, and inner legs are permitted to cover up to one-third of the body. The face must have a black mask, but a white blaze-line is permitted from the muzzle upward between the eyes.

The fawn can range from light tan to mahogany; the brindle must show clearly defined black stripes on a fawn background. White, mostly white, are disqualified from the conformation ring but can be registered and can compete in obedience and agility.

The Boxer is an athletic dog with a smooth, graceful, ground-eating stride. He has a well-angulated rear with long haunches for great power. His back remains level when he moves for efficiency and endurance.

Although the Boxer is a loyal and intelligent family companion, his somewhat stubborn and self-confident character and high prey drives require careful consideration. He must be obedience-trained to control his exuberance and guide his mettle into acceptable channels. He is, after all, a big, strong dog.

He is also good-natured, suffering the pokes and prods of children with stoicism, accepting friendly strangers, and always ready for a romp or a game. Left to his own devices, he can get into trouble. Writer and gentleman farmer Louis Bromfield had several Boxers in his home at Malabar Farm outside Mansfield, Ohio. These dogs learned to open the French-handled doors and, so the story goes, managed to escape the house, climb in a visitor's automobile, release the brake, and roll the car into a pond across the road.

Above all, a Boxer should be even-tempered, dignified but with a touch of impish spirit, and full of courage. Aggression, extreme shyness (not to be confused with independence), and hyperactivity are unacceptable in the breed; those who are considering a Boxer should al least check the parent dogs for these undesirable traits before even looking at the puppies.

Although the Boxer needs exercise and play to stay in shape and satisfy his nature, he can do well in an apartment with daily walks and a frolic in the park several times a week.

His short, hard coat does shed and needs some grooming with a soft brush. His coat's natural sheen can be enhanced with occasional rubdowns with a chamois cloth. His short coat all but requires that he be a house dog in cool or cold climates, and his shortened muzzle makes hot humid weather uncomfortable for him.


	Tyler's Boxer Page \| home Boxer History \| Boxer Info \| Boxer Breeding Info \| Bailey- The Boxer \| Rocksy- The Boxer \| Pics Of All Kinds Of Boxers Boxer Info Introduction Blunt face, steady gaze with a hint of mischief, an undeniable joy of life, and incredible grace, the Boxer is affectionate to children and a steadfast friend and guardian to the whole family. What more could a dog owner ask of his best friend? Low maintenance? The Boxer is a clean canine with a short coat that needs little more than a wipe-down and an occasional bath. Intelligence? The Boxer scores well in the smarts department. Versatility? The Boxer does well in obedience, agility, and therapy work and has served credibly as a war dog and a police dog. The talented Boxer is another gift to dog owners from Germany. He is cousin to many breeds developed from the massive Molossian Hound, an ancient Greek guarding, fighting, and herding dog. From Greece to Rome to Europe and Britain, these dogs gave birth to a number of large, square-headed breeds that assisted men in the hunt and at war. In Germany, the Molossian type became the Bullenbeisser, a courageous dog that hunted the fierce aurochs, a wild progenitor of domestic cattle. The Bullenbeisser diverged into two types, known as Danzigers and Brabanters after their areas of origin. The Brabanters were the smaller of the two; the Boxer developed from this branch of the family tree. By the end of the 18th Century, the great hunts organized by noblemen had all but faded into history. Brabanters moved from castles and great manors to butcher shops, cattle farms, and theaters to ply their new trades of cattle management and acting. Somewhere along the way, dogs of this type became known as Boxers, perhaps for the manner of play that resembles a pugilist's sparring, perhaps for their box-like head. Late in the 20th Century, German breeders took charge and established guidelines for improvement of the breed. In 1895, they founded the first Boxer club in Munich, and in 1904 held their first show. Appearance The Boxer is a muscular, short-coated, square-headed dog with tight skin and a docked tail. Males stand 57-63 cm at the withers and weigh about 35 kg. Females are a bit smaller at 53-59 cm and about 30 kg. Boxer ears are sometimes cropped , but more and more pet owners opt for the uncropped, hang-ear look. The Boxer nose is broad, and the top of the muzzle appears slightly pushed in, leaving the jaw a bit undershot — the lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper jaw and curves slightly upward. The blunt muzzle leaves him susceptible to hot, stuffy conditions and can cause wheezing and snorting. The only acceptable body color in the standard is fawn, and the only acceptable pattern is brindle. White markings on muzzle, chest, belly, feet, neck, and inner legs are permitted to cover up to one-third of the body. The face must have a black mask, but a white blaze-line is permitted from the muzzle upward between the eyes. The fawn can range from light tan to mahogany; the brindle must show clearly defined black stripes on a fawn background. White, mostly white, are disqualified from the conformation ring but can be registered and can compete in obedience and agility. The Boxer is an athletic dog with a smooth, graceful, ground-eating stride. He has a well-angulated rear with long haunches for great power. His back remains level when he moves for efficiency and endurance. Character and temperament Although the Boxer is a loyal and intelligent family companion, his somewhat stubborn and self-confident character and high prey drives require careful consideration. He must be obedience-trained to control his exuberance and guide his mettle into acceptable channels. He is, after all, a big, strong dog. He is also good-natured, suffering the pokes and prods of children with stoicism, accepting friendly strangers, and always ready for a romp or a game. Left to his own devices, he can get into trouble. Writer and gentleman farmer Louis Bromfield had several Boxers in his home at Malabar Farm outside Mansfield, Ohio. These dogs learned to open the French-handled doors and, so the story goes, managed to escape the house, climb in a visitor's automobile, release the brake, and roll the car into a pond across the road. Above all, a Boxer should be even-tempered, dignified but with a touch of impish spirit, and full of courage. Aggression, extreme shyness (not to be confused with independence), and hyperactivity are unacceptable in the breed; those who are considering a Boxer should al least check the parent dogs for these undesirable traits before even looking at the puppies. Care and maintenance Although the Boxer needs exercise and play to stay in shape and satisfy his nature, he can do well in an apartment with daily walks and a frolic in the park several times a week. His short, hard coat does shed and needs some grooming with a soft brush. His coat's natural sheen can be enhanced with occasional rubdowns with a chamois cloth. His short coat all but requires that he be a house dog in cool or cold climates, and his shortened muzzle makes hot humid weather uncomfortable for him.