Boxer

Boxers are a breed of stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog with a smooth fawn or brindled coat and square-jawed muzzle. Boxers have very strong jaws and a powerful bite.

Boxer Appearance

An adult boxer typically weighs between 55 and 70 lbs (25 and 32 kg). Adult male boxers are between 23 and 25 in. (57 and 63 cm) tall at the withers; adult female are between 21 to 23 ½ in. (53 and 60 cm). Docking of the tail remains popular, although cropping of the ears is gradually declining in popularity. Both cropping and docking are now prohibited in most European breed standards and are slowly being banned in many countries, though cropped ears are still more common in the United States than uncropped. As of March, 2005, the AKC changed its standard to allow the showing of uncropped Boxers, but penalizes an undocked tail.

The head is the most distinctive feature of the Boxer. The breed standard dictates that it must be in perfect proportion to his body and above all it must never be too light. The greatest value is to be placed on its muzzle being of correct form and in absolute proportion to the skull. The length of the muzzle to the whole of the head should be as 1:3. Folds are always indicated from the root of the nose running downwards on both sides of the muzzle and the tip of the nose should lie somewhat higher than the root of the muzzle. In addition a Boxer should have a slight under bite i.e. lower jaw should protrude beyond the upper jaw and bend slightly upwards.

Boxers are typically either fawn or brindle, often with a white underbelly and white on the front or all four feet. These white markings, called flash, often extend onto the neck or face. Some brindle Boxers are so dark that they give the appearance of "reverse brindle", fawn stripes on a black body, however the breed standards state that the fawn background must clearly contrast with or show through the brindling. The Boxer does not carry the gene for a solid black coat colour - purebred black Boxers do not exist. In the UK, fawn boxers are typically rich in colour and are called "red".

Boxers with white markings covering more than one-third of their coat do not meet the Boxer breed standard. "White" Boxers are neither albino nor rare, and make up approximately 20-25% of the breed. Genetically, these dogs are either fawn or brindle, with excessive white markings overlying the base coat colour. These excessive markings mean the white Boxer is more prone to certain health conditions than their coloured counterparts. Like fair-skinned humans, white Boxers have a higher risk of sunburn and associated skin cancers than coloured Boxers. They are also more prone to congenital deafness caused by lack of pigmentation in the inner ear. It is estimated that 18% of white Boxers are deaf in one or both ears, though shelters and rescue organizations see about double this number. In the past, breeders often euthanized white puppies at birth; today, most breeders place white puppies in pet homes with spay/neuter agreements. White Boxers are disqualified from conformation showing by the breed standard, and are prohibited from breeding by every national Boxer club in the world. They can compete in non-conformation events such as obedience and agility, and like their coloured counterparts do quite well as service and therapy dogs.

Boxer Temperament

The character of the Boxer is of the greatest importance and demands the most careful attention. He is renowned for his great love and faithfulness to his master and household, his alertness, and fearless courage as a defender and protector. The Boxer is docile but distrustful of strangers. He is bright and friendly in play but brave and determined when roused. His intelligence and willing tractability, his modesty, and cleanliness make him a highly desirable family dog and cheerful companion. He is the soul of honesty and loyalty. He is never false or treacherous even in his old age.

The Boxer by nature is not an aggressive or vicious breed but needs socialization to tolerate other dogs well. He is sometimes over-protective, territorial and dominating attitude, most intense in males, can be problematic. Boxers are generally patient with smaller dogs but can be dominant with larger dogs of the same sex. A poorly bred or trained dog is capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals.

Boxer History

The name "Boxer" is supposedly derived from this breed's tendency to begin a fight by standing on its hind legs and "boxing" with its front paws. According to Andrew H. Brace on his "Pet owner's guide to the Boxer" this theory is the least plausible explanation. He claims "it's unlikely that a nation so permeated with nationalism would give to one of its most famous breeds a name so obviously anglicised".

The ancestors of this breed were the German Bullenbeisser, a dog of Mastiff descent, and the English Bulldog. The Bullenbeisser had been working as a hunting dog for centuries, employed in the pursuit of bear, wild boar, and deer. Its task was to seize the prey and hold it until the hunters arrived. In later years, faster dogs were favoured and the Bullenbeisser grew smaller and was then called the Brabanter, Boxers are a extremely strong breed sometimes used to take on the American Pit Bull Terrier.

The breed was introduced to other parts of Europe in the late 1890s and to the United States around the turn of the century. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the first Boxer champion in 1915.

During World War I, the Boxer was co-opted for military work, acting as a valuable messenger dog, pack-carrier, attack dog, and guard dog and fighting. It was not until after World War II that the Boxer became popular around the world. Boxer mascots, taken home by returning soldiers, introduced the dog to a much wider audience and it soon became a favourite as a companion animal, as a show dog, and as a guard dog.