T
he Boxer is of intermediate build, close clinging, short fur, brawny, tight, even muscles, and his back is short. His legs are powerful. He has a strong, smooth gait; a lithe, well-designed body. The head is sculpted and the muzzle wide and rounded. The muzzle should be in perfect ratio to the skull. The Boxer desires interaction and closeness to people. He particularly likes kids. He defends children and has staying power with them—a kind of patience. This breed needs plenty of exercise each day.
Height, Ratio, Essence
The male is 23-25 inches and the female 21 1/2-23 ½ on the withers. The size disqualification is naught. The ultimate point is the dog’s balance and excellence. The contour is square in proportion—thinking of an imaginary line traveling from the fore-chest’s front to the upper thigh’s rear point. This line’s length should be vertically equal to a line from the withers peak to the ground. He is robust with a balanced set of muscles. The females have smaller bones than the males.
Coat
It is close fitting, short, and sleek. The fur colors are reddish-brown, tan, and brindle. The brindle deals with the black stripes over a fawn color. White marks should improve the boxer’s looks, though they shouldn’t be over a third of the coat. The torso proper and flanks aren’t good spots for white marks. White can be on the face, though it shouldn’t derail the Boxer countenance. Dogs are disqualified for having over a third of white fur and colors besides brindle or fawn.
Locomotion
The rear legs should appear unhindered and give potent thrust to the gait. The back should be level seen from the side. The front legs should have enough reach to keep from impeding the power thrust of the hind legs; problems are crabbing, overlapping, and other interference.
The front view shows neat shoulders and the elbows don’t poke out. The legs shouldn’t transverse each others path, even when the dog speeds up his gait. The dog’s buttock’s should not roll, as seen from the back view. The rear paws should be treading in agreement with the front.
Personality
The Boxer shows confidence, and he pays attention to his surroundings. When being shown, he should appear animate with a certain excitement that is restrained. He is loving and playful with family members and cautious around strangers.
History
This breed had its beginning in 1865 and as a fighting canine. A canine called Judge that was half English Terrier and half English bulldog was bred with a female Bulldog called Gyp. Their descendents were bred by stablemen of the Boston upper class and were called stableman’s dogs, but they got their present name in 1891.
