The Boxer Standard as presented here is the result of the first poll published earlier in the BU. Those who responded to that poll clearly wanted the size limitations to remain as in the currently approved Standard. However, the survey indicated that the statement that "neither dogs nor bitches should go over or under the stated heights" should remain. All other poll questions received positive responses and those responses were honored and kept as is.

The only difference, other than that just mentioned, in this revision over the first revision is that it has been shortened by a few hundred words. The currently approved Standard contains 1711 words, the first revision published in the BU contained 1714 words, and this shortened version has a word count of 1443. No attempt was made in this shortened version to alter meanings but rather to make the Standard more concise and less redundant.

Bruce E. Voran
voran@futureone.com

Standard Survey Results

THE AMERICAN BOXER STANDARD

The ideal Boxer is a medium-sized, square built dog of sturdy, powerful well developed substance with short back, strong limbs, and short, tight-fitting coat. The musculature should be clean, hard and appear smooth. The gait should be firm, yet elastic and ground-covering, with economy of motion of a dog that originally hunted for dangerous large prey. A dog of strength, agility and courage and natural intelligence combined with athletic grace and style as well as a proud carriage, alertness and a steadfast and tractable temperament.

Judging First consideration is given to general appearance to which a chisled head, attractive color, arresting style and head carriage contribute. Next is overall balance and proportion. Special attention is devoted to the head. The individual component body parts are next examined for their correct construction, and efficiency of gait is evaluated. Lastly, correct temperament is evaluated.

Height: Adult males 22 1/2 to 25 inches, females 21 to 23 1/2 inches at the withers. Neither males nor females should go over or under these heights.

Proportion: The body in profile is square in that a horizontal line from the front of the forechest to the rear projection of the upper thigh equals the length of a vertical line dropped from the top of the withers to the ground.

Substance: Both males and females should be of sturdy proportion, although males should be larger boned than females.

The chisled head must be in correct proportion to the body The broad blunt muzzle must be in proper form and balance with the skull. Wrinkles on the head of the boxer should contribute to the facial expression of intelligence and alertness. Folds are always present from the lower edge of the stop running downward on both sides of the muzzle. They should not be excessively deep, neither shall the head appear to have no wrinkles.

The top of the skull is slightly arched, not rounded, flat nor noticeably broad and slopes downward from ociput to stop. The cheeks should be relatively flat and should mark the outer edge of the width of the skull. There should be a slight, graceful curve which tapers from the cheeks to the root of the muzzle. The root of the blunt muzzle attaches to the skull directly under the center of each eye and is 2/3 the width of the headpiece. The tip of the nose should lie slightly higher than the horizontal line of the muzzle which is 1/3 the length of the head measured from the tip-up of the nose which is black and broad to the slight indentation of the stop and the head measured from the occiput to the tip of the nose. The muzzle should be nearly the same in length and depth and have no wrinkles

The Boxer‘s bite is undershot, the lower jaw should protrude less than 1/4 inch beyond the upper and curves slightly upward. The upper jaw tapers slightly to the front. The upper incisors are slightly convex with the corner upper incisors fitting snugly back of the lower canine teeth. The upper canines which lean rearward together with the well padded upper lip form the width of the muzzle at the nose. The lips meet evenly in front and are supported by the lower canines. The texture of the lips (flews) should not be too thick or too thin nor excessive in length. The lower canines and incisors should be broadly set and in a straight line. When the mouth is closed, neither the tongue nor teeth should show.

The mood-mirroring character of the preferred dark brown eye is essential. The third eyelid in both eyes should be pigmented.

The ears are set at the highest points of the sides of the skull and when trimmed, cut rather long without too broad a shell, and are carried erect. If untrimmed, ears are moderate in size, thick to the touch, set wide apart at the highest points of the skull and lie flat and close to the cheek when in repose. When the dog is alert, the ears should fall forward with a definite crease.

The neck, with an elegant nape, is round, neither short nor heavy, clean without dewlap and blends into the withers.

The topline should be smooth, level (but not horizontal to the ground), firm, and slightly sloping. The chest is of fair width, and the forechest should be well defined and visible from the side. The brisket is deep, reaching down to the elbows. The length of leg as measured from the elbow to the ground is 1/2 the total height of the dog. The ribs extend far to the rear, and are well arched but not flat or barrel shaped.

The back is short, muscular and firm. The loin is short. The lower stomach line is slightly tucked up. The croup is flat, broad and slightly sloped. The tail is set high, docked and carried upward. Pelvis long and in females broad.

Forequarters: The shoulders are long, sloping and not heavily covered with muscle. The upper arm approaches a right angle to the shoulder blade and is of equal length. A line dropped vertically from the highest point of the shoulder falls immediately behind the elbow. The elbows should not stand out or press too closely to the chest wall.

The forelegs, with no dewclaws, are straight, well boned and firmly muscled and stand parallel to each other. The pastern is strong and slants slightly. The feet should be compact, turning neither in nor out, with well arched toes. The rear toes are slightly longer than the front toes.

Hindquarters: The hindquarters are strongly muscled with angulation and balance the forequarters. The upper and lower thighs are long, broad and curved. Leg well angulated at the stifle with a well let down hock joint. Viewed from the rear at a stance, the hind legs should be straight with hock joints leaning neither in nor out. A vertical line drawn parallel to the rear thigh should fall directly on the rear toes. The Boxer has no rear dewclaws.

Short, shiny, lying smooth and tight to the body-

Colors are light tan to dark mahongany fawn and brindle. Brindles range from sparse to deep black striping. No preference is given to either color.

White markings are unnecessary but if exist should be of such distribution as to enhance the dog's appearance. White markings that exceed one-third of the entire coat are a disqualification. White markings on the flanks or on the back of the torso are not desireable. The white marking on the face may replace part of the otherwise essential black mask, and may extend in an upward path between the eyes, but must not extend over the entire top of the head.

Gait

The gait should be effortless with economy of motion. Excessive energy in movement is not preferred. The front legs do not contribute impelling power. Adequate reach should be evident to prevent interference, overlap, or sidewinding. The Boxer does not truly single track. Legs are parallel or slightly wider in the rear until gaiting narrows the track in proportion to increasing speed, tracking relatively true with the front. The legs should come in under the body but should never cross. A line drawn from the joining of the shoulder and the upper arm projected to the hip joint should be a horizontal line to the ground as the dog moves. A Boxer's rump should not roll and the hind feet should dig in. As the speed of a Boxer’s gait increases to its fullest, the head should lower nearly to a horizontal line with the back and should never be carried in an extremely high (goose neck) posture.

Instinctively a "hearing" guard dog, his bearing is alert, dignified and self-assured. In the show ring, his behavior should exhibit constrained animation. Deliberate and wary with strangers, he will exhibit curiosity, but most importantly, fearless courage if threatened. He responds to friendly overtures honestly rendered. His intelligence, loyal affection and tractability to discipline make him a highly desirable companion and family dog. Boxers who exhibit a lack of dignity, alertness, shyness or unwillingness to be examined in the show ring should be excused.

The foregoing description is that of the ideal Boxer. Any deviation from the above described dog must be penalized to the extent of the deviation.

Boxers that are any color other than fawn or brindle. Boxers with a total of white markings exceeding one-third of the entire coat.