The Boxer wants to meet you, your children, and other members of your family
The Boxer's most notable characteristic is his desire for human affection. Through his
spirited bearing, square jaw, and cleanly muscled body suggest the well-conditioned
middleweight athlete of dogdom, the Boxer is happiest when he is with people--especially
children. His short smooth coat, handsome chiselled head, and striking silhouette never
fail to excite comments from passersby as he trots jauntily by your side with neck arched
and tail held erect. Yet the Boxer's greatest wish is to be with children, watching
protectively over their play. He is truly a dog for all seasons, suiting the
need for household guardian, attractive companion, and children's playmate and loyal
friend.
Origin: The Hunter
The Boxer's historical background begins in feudal Germany. Here, a small, courageous hunting dog with mastiff-type head and undershot bite was used to secure a tenacious hold on bull, boar, or bear--- pending the hunter's arrival. He became a utility dog for peasants and shop owners. His easy trainability even found him performing in the circus.
In the 1880s, descendants of this type of dog were bred to a taller, more elegant English
import, and the era of the modern Boxer had begun. Imported to America after the first
World War, his popularity really began in the late 1930s. His appeal in the show ring led
to four Best in Show awards at prestigious Westminster Kennel Club between
1947 and 1970.
Physical Appearance
A few specifics. The Boxer is a medium-sized dog ranging from 21 inches high at the
shoulder in a smaller female up to 25 inches (sometimes even taller) in a large male.
Adult weight may reach 65-80 pounds in the male, with females about 15 pounds less. There
are no miniature or giant varieties. The short, close-lying coat is found in two equally
acceptable and attractive basic colors-fawn and brindle. The fawn may vary from a tawny
tan to an especially beautiful stag red. The brindle ranges from sparse, but clearly
defined black stripes on a fawn background, to such a heavy concentration of black
striping that the essential fawn hackground color barely, although clearly, shows through
(which may create the appearance of "reverse brindling").
White markings should be of such distribution as to enhance the dog's appearance, but
may not exceed one-third of the entire coat. It is not uncommon to have a totally white
Boxer born in a litter. An all-white coat, or a predominantly white background (known as a
check) may occur. In order to retain the beauty of the true fawn and brindle
colors, American Boxer Club members are pledged not to register, sell, or use these
whites for breeding.
Breed Characteristics: Beauty and Brains
The Boxer's official classification in the Working Group of dogs is a
natural. His keenest sense, that of hearing, is enhanced by the cropped, erect ears and
makes him an instinctive guard dog, always alert. He has also been used as a courier
during war time, and as a seeing-eye dog for the blind. Although always vigilant, the
Boxer is not a nervous breed, and will not bark without cause. He has judgment, and an
uncanny sense of distinguishing between friend and intruder. One of the delightful
qualities that sets the Boxer apart is the unique mobility of his expressive face. The
skin furrowing of the forehead, the dark, soulful eyes, and at times almost
human attempts to converse, make his replacement by another breed difficult
for one who has owned a Boxer. He mimics the mood of his master and can spend hours
quietly lying at his feet.
Buying Your Puppy
From the Breeder
The conscientious breeder plans a breeding to reproduce the best characteristics of an
outstanding sire or dam. His guide is the official AKC Standard of the breed---the written
blueprint that helps keep the breed uniform for generations to come. The more
common disappointments for pet purchasers come from commercial sources---especially pet
shops that often buy puppies from the infamous pup mills that take little
notice of the quality or health they are producing. The reputable breeder, on the other
hand, will not only be able to demonstrate the pedigree and registration papers, but will
also show you either the sire or dam themselves, or pictures of the parent who may be
owned elsewhere. Though the mere presence of papers does not guarantee good
health, conformation, or temperament, you will most often find these attributes in the
puppy who has been raised with loving care in the home or kennel of a conscientious
breeder.
The serious breeder often strives to produce a potential champion or show
prospects. Since not all of the litter can quite reach this goal, the breeder will able to
offer you a good-looking brother or sister of the show prospect at a reasonable price.
Sometimes the distribution of white markings alone (often referred to as
flash) may make the difference between the so-called pet and
show-potential puppy. The pet puppy will have benefited from the same proven bloodlines,
nutrition, and medical care as its champion littermate. Here is your best buy.
Care of your Boxer
Should he be confined?
The Boxer requires relatively little care, but ownership of any dog is a definite
responsibility. Your Boxer should not be allowed to run loose. Exercise
within a fenced area or on a leash should be adequate. It also prevents a potentially
unpleasant encounter with a neighbor's dog or an overly effusive greeting that may
frighten the small child who may not have had the chance to know how instinctively
tolerant the Boxer really is. Death from automobiles, poison, or a myriad of other causes
may await the Boxer who run loose in the neighborhood. Remember, too, that improperly
protected screen doors are a common mode of unexpected house exit.
What about a crate?
A crate is an invaluable asset to your puppy's training and well-being. It is not a
prison. A crate is a safe haven for the puppy when his owners go to work or the grocery
store, a place where his owners don't have to worry about his chewing of electrical cords
or furniture. Since a puppy is loathe to soil his crate, it is a great aid in
housetraining. If you leave the crate door open, you will find that the puppy will
probably enter the crate voluntarily when he wants to rest or retreat. Be sure to put the
crate in a warm place. The Boxer is sensitive to temperature extremes and does not enjoy
drafts, summer heat, or cold. He should definitely not be kept outdoors.
How Much Grooming?
The Boxer requires very little, and it can easily be done by the owner. Nails must be
trimmed regularly unless naturally worn down on a hard surface. An occasional currycombing
and/or bath should suffice---the Boxer has a natural tendency to keep himself clean.
Tartar may have to be removed from the teeth periodically, especially as the Boxer grows
older. You can learn to do this yourself, or use the services of your veterinarian.
What About Obedience Training?
Many Boxers are great successes in the obedience ring. However, that same innate
intelligence that makes him quick to learn also gives the Boxer a mind of his own. The
trainer must be purposeful and patient. The puppy should be at least six months old before
any serious work is begun. The well-trained Boxer is a glorious picture going through his
paces in the obedience ring, such trials usually being held in conjunction with most dog
shows.
Staying in Touch
It is very advisable to maintain a relationship with your puppy's breeder. The breeder
can be an invaluable ally to you throughout your Boxer's life, and can advise you about
care and health matters that are unique to the breed.
Bringing a puppy or even an older dog into your home and your life is a major
decision. It brings with it responsibility and commitment, but it also renders supreme
joy, laughter, and sadly, but inevitably, tears. No one of us who has ever shared his life
with a Boxer would have it any other way.
The American Boxer Club
A member of the American Kennel Club, the American Boxer Club is the parent
organization of over fifty clubs throughout the United States. Individuals belonging to
these clubs are dedicated to preserving the desirable qualities of the Boxer as set forth
in the breed Standard. Your local club may be found through this Website or by contacting
the secretary of the American Boxer Club whose name and address may also be found at this
Website.
This information was prepared under the auspices of The American Boxer Club as part of
its educational services to Boxer breeders and owners.
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