Posted by Jeanne on May 6, 2009
Like many other dogs that are popular today, the Boxer has its origin in Germany. It isn’t certain what he owes his compact muscular form to; some breeders claim he is a cross between the English Bulldog and the Great Dane. Another group says it wasn’t the Dane at all but one of the Terrier family. One thing is sure, the Boxer has some Bulldog in him.
He not only looks somewhat like the Bulldog, but he also has his courage and strength. Most Boxers today are as gentle as lambs under ordinary conditions. But, if they have to fight, they usually win. Because of their gentleness, their reserve of power, they are good companions for children.
It was from his manner of lighting that the Boxer got his name. It comes from his habit of using his front paws like a prize-fighter when playing or fighting. Of course, he doesn’t punch, his blow is more like a slap. And, if the going gets rough, he’ll use his teeth like all other dogs.
Like the Spaniels, the Dobermans, and some of the Terriers, the Boxer has a docked tail. This is a tail that has been cut off so that only a few inches of it remain. Today, dogs’ tails are cut off for appearance more than anything else. But at one time, people in Europe cut off the tails of dogs – all dogs – because they thought it would prevent rabies.
Another superstitious reason for cutting off dogs’ tails was that the owners believed it gave the dog courage. A more logical explanation is that tails were cut so that the dogs wouldn’t catch them on briars and underbrush when out hunting.
Posted by Jeanne on November 29, 2008
Boxers are a breed of dog popular in Germany. Although distinctly devoted to their masters, they are numbered among dogs that have descended from fighting ancestors. They are excellent ratters and make the most faithful and alert of watchdogs and guards. They are active, muscular, and hardy, have short coats, and require little care.
- General Appearance – The Boxer is a medium-sized, short-haired dog of stocky build. He is lively, active, and muscular and proud and noble in carriage. He is used as a protector of property and as a companion and should be an excellent jumper. The distinguishing feature of the Boxer is his head, which must be in good proportion, and above all, not too light. Great stress is laid on the proper shape of the muzzle and its proportion to the skull.
- In judging the Boxer, the general appearance has to be considered to determine the proper proportions of the body which, combined with a pleasing color, is desired.
- Head – The muzzle and skull should be in proper proportion to each other. The head must be clean-cut and show neither folds nor deep flews, and lips as these are often accompanied by dewlaps. Naturally folds will occur on top of the head when the ears are carried erect. They are also always indicated running from the stop down both sides. The dark mask is confined strictly to the muzzle and must contrast clearly with the color of the head so that the face does not appear somber. The muzzle should be well developed and neither pointed nor too narrow nor too short.
- Jaws – The jaws are not level in front but the lower protrudes beyond the upper and curves slightly upward and therefore undershot. The upper jaw should be set broad against the skull, decreasing only slightly to the front, both jaws being very wide in front. The canine teeth should be spaced as far as possible from each other, the incisors in a row and the middle ones not projecting. The teeth in the upper jaw are slightly curved to the front. In the lower, they are in a straight line. The upper lip is thick and in front fills in the space formed by the projection of the lower jaw and is carried by the canine teeth of same. The teeth of the lower jaw must not be visible when the mouth is closed. Seen from the side, the front line of the muzzle does not form an absolutely straight line, but it first runs vertically down the front nose surface, then turns in a curve slantingly to the front and follows the rounding of the lower jaw, running towards the back on a line nearly parallel to the bridge of the nose. The upper lip, therefore, only cuts the front of jaw slightly but side-wise it covers the lower jaw entirely and lies close to it and does not form low-hanging flews.
- The skull is slightly domed, neither ball-like nor too flat and not too broad. There is a plainly marked stop. The bridge of the nose should not be bulldog-like driven into the forehead but also not falling off. It is slightly dished, that is, the point of the nose is higher than the root. There is a furrow between the eyes which, however, must not be too deep. The cheeks are strongly developed but should not stand out like bumps from the head but should go into the muzzle with a slight curve.
- The ears are set high (the German standard calls for them to be cut pointed with the shell not too broad and to be carried erect).
- The eye is dark and not too large nor too small nor too deep set. It shows energy and intelligence but must not appear somber, scowling, or staring. The lids must have dark edges, the nose broad and black, slightly turned up, nostrils wide. The proper proportion of the skull to the muzzle in figures is as follows: From the point of the nose to the inner corner of the eye should be one-third of the entire length of the head from the tip of the nose to the occiput. The distance from the eyeball to the furthest point on the curve of the lip should be the same as from the eyeball to the base of the ear. The depth of the root of the muzzle should be greater than the length of the muzzle. The breadth of the muzzle should be two-thirds the width of the skull at the jawbone.
- Neck – Should be round, of good length, strong and muscular without throatiness and should be well set on in a curve to the back.
- Structure – He is square, that is the same distance from the breastbone to the rump as from the ground to the top of back. Legs straight with good bone. (A bit more length of body is allowed in bitches.)
- Chest and Foreguarters – As seen from the front, the width measured at the elbows is two-thirds of the length of the leg from the elbow to the ground. The breadth of chest must not be very much in excess of the breadth of head. Chest deep, reaching to elbows. The depth of chest is half the height of the dog measured to the withers. Ribs well curved, not barrel-shaped, reaching well to the rear. The loins short and slightly tucked up.
- Shoulders long and sloping and not covered too strongly with muscles. Upper arm long and as near level as possible and at right angles to shoulder-blades. Front legs straight and with good bone. Elbows neither in nor out. Lower arm vertical, long and firmly muscled. Pasterns short and almost vertical. Small cat feet and hard soles.
- Back – Withers shall be plainly marked, the whole back short, straight, broad, and strongly muscled.
- Hindquarters – Firmly muscled, thighs broad and curved and with strongly developed muscles. The rump slightly curved, broad, with tail set rather high and docked, carried slantingly upward. Pelvis should be at an angle of about 35° to the horizontal, long and especially in bitches, broad. Upper and lower thighs long, hip and knee joints with as much angle as possible. The hock angle about 140°. Seen from behind, the hindlegs are straight, coming slightly closer toward the bottom. Hocks clean-cut and strong, not bumpy, the hind toes usually a little longer than front toes.
- Size – Dogs, 21 -1/4 to 23-3/4 inches at shoulder (22-1/4 to 23 inches most desirable); bitches 19-1/2 to 23 inches.
- Coat – Short, flat and shiny.
- Color – The original colors are fawn and brindle; different shades of fawn from the dark deer red to light fawn, but the colors lying midway between are most to be desired. The mask is necessary for solid color dogs. Its color varies from a dark shading to the deepest black, but must be confined strictly to the muzzle so that the expression does not become somber and unfriendly.
- The brindle variety has on a fawn background the above variations of dark or black stripes running in the direction of the ribs and must be clean-cut, fine, and distinct and should not be too dark. Slight white marks are permissible but there must not be too much. Besides these varieties, there are black and white Boxers with or without markings. The fawn and brindle, however, are preferred.
- The character of the Boxer is of extreme importance. His love and faithfulness to his master and household, his alertness and his fearless courage as defender and protector are characteristic. He is distrustful of strangers, lively and friendly in play but fierce when aroused. He is noted for his intelligence, tractability, and cleanliness, which make him a pleasant family dog and a cheerful companion. He is sedate without deceit or sneakiness.