Country of origin: Germany
Dog Group Kennel Club : Working
General appearance:
Boxers are certainly a distinctive breed.They have a smooth coat and are of medium build.
They are muscular dogs with a short nose. Particular attention is paid to the balance of the muzzle and head as despite its short length, it should never appear too small. The head and muzzle have wrinkly skin, which gives the boxer its unique appearance. The boxer is built to cover many types of ground.
Colours:
Fawn or bridle with white markings but should these not cover over one third of the dog's body.
There are a great number of white boxers but these can not compete in various breed classes and can have health problems.
Size:
Bitch 53cm - 59cm
Dog 57cm - 63cm
Weight:
Min Max
Bitch 25kg (55lbs) 27kg (60lbs)
Dog 30kg (66lbs) 32kg (71lbs)
Temperament:
Boxers are lively and strong but are obedient and friendly. They are loving and faithful to their owner and household but are distrustful of strangers. Boxers demonstrate a fearless approach to defending their family and are also intelligent and clean making them desirable family pets.
The boxer is a hardy dog full of stamina, not quick to pick a fight, but more than able to defend themselves if they have to. They remain puppy like throughout their lives, making them quite a handful, and unintentionally creating havoc where they go. They can be very destructive if they are left alone at home for long periods of time.
Movement:
Strong and powerful with ground covering strides.
Care and Training:
Boxers with their short coat need minimal grooming or bathing Occasional brushing with a firm bristle brush is recommended. This breed has some major health concerns such as cardiomyopathy, sub-aortic stenosis, and hip dysplasia. They may also be prone to tumors, epilepsy, allergies, and skin problems. The Boxer is an indoor pet as their short coat cannot protect them from cold climates.
Boxers are quick to learn but do need dominant training. They do not respond well to harsh training methods. They need to know that their owner knows best as they can be quite willful.
Boxers do well in competitive obedience and love to learn and perform tricks.
Overall Exercise > 2 hours per day The boxer does require plenty of exercise, they love to go charging around wide open spaces, chase balls and frisbees.
Feeding Requirements:
This breed is not very greedy but will need to be fed twice daily as they are very active so require it for energy. Some boxers have sensitive digestive systems, this will mean that they have to stick to a strict diet, with no treats. There is a specific diet formulated for this breed.
Exercise: High
Grooming: Low
Noise: Low
Personal Protection: High
Suitability As Guard Dog: High
Level of Aggression: Medium
Compatibility With Other Animals: High
Suitablity for Children: High
Often docked? Yes
Average Litter size: 6
Life Expectancy (yrs): 11
History: The Boxers origins stem from as far back as the sixteenth century in Europe. His ancestors are thought to involve mastiff-type dogs called Bullenbeissers (translating to "bull-biter"), English Bulldogs, Great Danes, Boston Terriers, French Bulldogs, and some type of terrier. The general consensus of the Boxers' genetic make up is that around the 1830s, German hunters created the Boxer from mating a small Bullenbeisser (mastiff-type breed) female to a native, possibly Bavarian, male dog, by which the two produced a female who was then mated to an English Bulldog. Boxers were first used as hunters to the Germans and Nederland residents to hunt boar and deer. Later in Germany, the breed was used in bull baiting and the popular sport of dog fighting. When dog fighting was banned in Germany in the mid-nineteenth century, the Boxer was then put to use as a guard and for controlling cattle at slaughterhouses. This may have been where the Boxer received its current name, being called "boxl" in the slaughterhouses. Another theory states that the name "Boxer" was formed due to their use of front legs when in the fighting ring, resembling a boxer. In 1895 the Boxer breed was exhibited in Munich, by then making a reasonable standard by which to judge. After World War II these dogs became more popular, and has since received steadily rising praise. Boxers were among the first to become military and police dogs. Although originally bred and raised in a bull-baiting and fighting environments, over the years they have been refined to have a non-aggressive temperament, which certainly shows.
