Mary Allen
Shoulder height: 53 – 63 cm
Weight: 25 – 35 kg
Age: 12 years
Colour: yellow or brindle, with or without white markings, black
Use: Companion dog, protection dog, service dog
The German Boxer belongs to the group of Great Dane dogs and is – in contrast to its rather fierce appearance – a very friendly and peaceful dog. Bred as a hunting dog, and used as a guard and service dog, he is now a popular family companion dog. However, the intelligent and docile dog requires active sporting activities and clear guidance.
Origin and history
The German Boxer is a descendant of the medieval Bullenbeisser, which was bred to hunt well-fortified game such as bears and wild boar. Their task was to grab and hold the game that was provided. Due to the shortened upper jaw, they were able to hold the game well and breathe at the same time.
After crossing with the already-known and bred bulldog, the first breed standard for the German boxer was set up in 1904. The Boxer has been recognized as a service dog breed in Germany since 1924.
Appearance
The German Boxer is a medium-sized, powerfully built, wiry dog with a smooth, short coat and strong bones. Its physique is square overall. Ear and tail cropping has been banned in most of Europe since the late 1990s. The Boxer’s ears, which are left in their natural state, are attached to the highest point of the head and hang down towards the cheeks. Overall, the shape of the head is slim and angular, while the snout is wide. A typical feature of the Boxer is its underbite: the lower jaw protrudes over the upper jaw, with the lips still lying on top of each other. The arched flies with the thick upper lips give him his typical boxer appearance.
The boxer’s skin is elastic and without wrinkles, and the coat is short, hard, and close-fitting. The basic color of the fur is yellow, ranging from light yellow to dark deer red. In brindle boxers, breed standards require the dark or black brindle (stripes) to be distinguishable from the ground color. White markings are also possible. The black mask is also typical.
The boxer’s short coat is very easy to care for but offers little protection in extreme weather. Therefore, it does not tolerate strong heat particularly well; Wet and cold only when it’s moving.
Nature
The German Boxer is considered to have strong nerves, self-confidence, willingness to work, intelligence, and docility. Due to these characteristics, the Boxer was one of the internationally recognized service dogs for the police, customs, and military. As a puppy and young dog, he is full of temperament and very exuberant, he does not lose his friendly playfulness and clownery even in old age. In play and within their family, the Boxer is friendly, even-tempered, and peaceful. However, he is suspicious of strangers and very vigilant. In an emergency, he is fearless and ready to defend himself.
The German Boxer needs clear leadership and consistent training. The self-confident boxer likes to try to enforce his will with passive dominance. In any case, it needs a meaningful occupation and active sporting activities. The boxer is therefore not the ideal companion dog for very lazy people and couch potatoes.