The boxer breed is well-known as being a strong, powerful, and intelligent breed. The breed originated in Germany in the mid 1800's and has since developed into the boxer as we know it today. There are breed standards, though -meaning that a boxer dog is supposed to meet certain criteria in order to be considered an ideal representative of the breed.

Breed Standards of Boxers

While boxer owners may not always care if their boxers meet all of the breed standard criteria, if owners intend to show a boxer dog, the dog does need to meet certain standards.

o Proportion and Size of a Boxer Dog: Boxers are medium-sized dogs. Size is considered to be very important in the balance of a boxer dog. Males are expected to be about 22.5 - 25 inches in height, whereas females are expected to be about 21 - 23.5 inches in height. There is no specific size disqualification when showing; however, it is considered to be undesirable when males are below the minimum height or females are above the maximum height.

As far as proportion goes, a boxer dog has a square-shaped body. There should be an equal length when measured horizontally from the front of the chest to the back leg as well as vertically from the withers to the ground.

o The Head of a Boxer Dog: The muzzle length should be a third of the length from the eye to the nose tip. The width of the muzzle should be two-thirds of the width of the dog's skull.

A boxer dog's eyes should be quite alert and they should be a shade of brown. The ears should be cropped and set high on the head. A boxer's broad, square jaw line helps to shape the face.

o The Body of a Boxer Dog: Ideally, the neck should have strong musculature and be without extra hanging skin. The chest should be muscled with noticeable definition. The ribs should smoothly arch toward the rear of the dog; however, the ribs should not be barrel-shaped.

o Color of a Boxer Dog: In showing, a boxer dog is accepted in two colorings-fawn or brindle. Fawn boxers can be anywhere from light tan to a dark, deer-colored red. Bridle boxers have a fawn background (in any shade) with black tiger-like stripes overlaying the fawn color. Brindle boxers can have varying amounts of the stripes, from very little black to so much black that the fawn can barely be seen. (It is this type of brindle boxer that people sometimes confuse for black boxers; in fact, boxers cannot be black at all, as it is not genetically possible.)

Boxers also have varying degrees of white markings on their bodies, called flash. For showing, boxers with more than one-third of their bodies covered in flash are considered to be at fault. A boxer dog that is completely white is not allowed to compete in showing; however, many people are protesting this.

These standard characteristics can, of course, vary from boxer to boxer. If you do not plan on showing your boxer, many of these factors matter little.