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General Appearance
The ideal Boxer is a medium-sized, square built dog of good
substance with short back, strong limbs, and short, tight-fitting
coat. His well developed muscles are clean, hard and appear smooth
under taut skin. His movements denote energy. The gait is firm, yet
elastic, the stride free and ground-covering, the carriage proud.
Developed to serve as guard, working and companion dog, he combines
strength and agility with elegance and style. His expression is
alert and temperament steadfast and tractable.
The chiseled head imparts to the Boxer a unique individual stamp.
It must be in correct proportion to the body. The broad, blunt
muzzle is the distinctive feature, and great value is placed upon
its being of proper form and balance with the skull.
In judging the Boxer, first consideration is given to general
appearance to which attractive color and arresting style
contribute. Next is overall balance with special attention devoted
to the head, after which the individual body components are examined
for their correct construction, and efficiency of gait is evaluated.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Height--Adult males 22½ to 25 inches;
females 21 to 23½ inches at the withers, preferably,
males should not be under the minimum nor females over the maximum:
however, proper balance and quality in the individual
should be of primary importance since there is no size
disqualification. Proportion--The body in profile is of
square proportion in that a horizontal line from
the front of the forechest to the rear projection of the upper thigh
should equal the length of a vertical line dropped from the top of
the withers to the ground. Substance--Sturdy with balanced
musculature. Males larger boned than their female
counterparts.
Head
The beauty of the head depends upon harmonious proportion of muzzle
to skull. The blunt muzzle is 1/3 the length of the head from the
occiput to the tip of the nose, and 2/3 the width of the skull. The
head should be clean, not showing deep wrinkles (wet). Wrinkles
typically appear upon the forehead when ears are erect, and folds
are always present from the lower edge of the stop running downward
on both sides of the muzzle.
Expression--Intelligent and alert.
Eyes--Dark brown in color, not too small, too protruding or
too deep-set. Their mood-mirroring character combined with the
wrinkling of the forehead, gives the Boxer head its unique quality
of expressiveness.
Ears--Set at the highest points of the sides of the skull are
cropped, cut rather long and tapering, raised when alert.
Skull The top of the skull is slightly arched, not rounded,
flat nor noticeably broad, with the occiput not overly pronounced.
The forehead shows a slight indentation between the eyes and forms a
distinct stop with the topline of the muzzle. The cheeks should be
relatively flat and not bulge (cheekiness), maintaining the clean
lines of the skull and should taper into the muzzle
in a slight, graceful curve.
Muzzle--The muzzle, proportionately developed in length,
width and depth, has a shape influenced first through the formation
of both jawbones, second through the placement of the teeth, and
third through the texture of the lips. The top of the muzzle should
not slant down (downfaced), nor should it be concave (dishfaced);
however, the tip of the nose should lie slightly higher than the
root of the muzzle. The nose should be broad and black.
The upper jaw is broad where attached to the skull and maintains
this breadth except for a very slight tapering to the front. The
lips, which complete the formation of the muzzle, should meet evenly
in front. The upper lip is thick and padded, filling out the frontal
space created by the projection of the lower jaw, and laterally is
supported by the canines of the lower jaw. Therefore, these canines
must stand far apart and be of good length so that the front surface
of the muzzle is broad and squarish and, when viewed from the side,
shows moderate layback. The chin should be perceptible from the side
as well as from the front.
Bite--The Boxer bite is undershot; the lower jaw protrudes
beyond the upper and curves slightly upward. The
incisor teeth of the lower jaw are in a straight line, with the
canines preferably up front in the same line to give the jaw the
greatest possible width. The upper line of incisors is slightly
convex with the corner upper incisors fitting snugly back of the
lower canine teeth on each side.
Faults-- Skull too broad.
Cheekiness. Wrinkling too deep (wet) or lacking (dry). Excessive
flews. Muzzle too light for skull. Too pointed a bite (snipy), too
undershot, teeth or tongue showing when mouth closed. Eyes
noticeably lighter than ground color of coat.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck--Round, of ample length, muscular and clean without
excessive hanging skin (dewlap). The neck has a distinctly
marked nape with an elegant arch blending smoothly into the
withers.
Topline--Smooth, firm and slightly sloping.
Body--The chest is of fair width, and the forechest well
defined and visible from the side. The brisket is deep, reaching
down to the elbows; the depth of the body at the lowest point of the
brisket equals half the height of the dog at the withers. The ribs,
extending far to the rear, are well arched but not barrel shaped.
The back is short, straight and muscular and
firmly connects the withers to the hindquarters.
The loins are short and muscular. The lower stomach line is slightly
tucked up, blending into a graceful curve to the rear. The croup is
slightly sloped, flat and broad. Tail is set high, docked and
carried upward. Pelvis long and in females especially broad. Faults--Short
heavy neck. Chest too broad, too narrow or hanging between
shoulders. Lack of forechest. Hanging stomach. Slab-sided rib cage.
Long or narrow loin, weak union with croup. Falling off of croup.
Higher in rear than in front.
Forequarters
The shoulders are long and sloping, close-lying, and not excessively
covered with muscle (loaded). The upper arm is long, approaching a
right angle to the shoulder blade. The elbows should not press too
closely to the chest wall nor stand off visibly from it. The
forelegs are long, straight and firmly muscled and when viewed from
the front, stand parallel to each other. The pastern is strong and
distinct, slightly slanting, but standing almost perpendicular to
the ground. The dewclaws may be removed. Feet should be compact,
turning neither in nor out, with well arched toes. Faults--Loose
or loaded shoulders. Tied in or bowed out elbows.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are strongly muscled with angulation in balance
with that of the forequarters.
The thighs are broad and curved, the breech musculature hard and
strongly developed. Upper and lower thigh long. Leg well
angulated at the stifle with a clearly defined, well "let
down" hock joint.
Viewed from behind, the hind legs should be straight with hock
joints leaning neither in nor out. From the side, the leg below the
hock (metatarsus) should be almost perpendicular to the ground, with
a slight slope to the rear permissible. The metatarsus should be
short, clean and strong. The Boxer has no rear dewclaws. Faults--Steep
or over-angulated hindquarters. Light thighs or overdeveloped hams.
Over-angulated (sickle) hocks. Hindquarters too far under or too far
behind.
Coat
Short, shiny, lying smooth and tight to the body.
Color
The colors are fawn and brindle. Fawn shades vary from light tan to
mahogany. 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 background 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.
They are not desirable on the flanks or on the back of the torso
proper. On the face, white may replace part of the otherwise
essential black mask and may extend in an upward path between the
eyes, but it must not be excessive, so as to detract from true Boxer
expression. Faults--Unattractive or
misplaced white markings. Disqualifications--Boxers
that are any color other than fawn or brindle. Boxers with a total
of white markings exceeding one-third of the entire coat.
Gait
Viewed from the side, proper front and rear angulation is manifested
in a smoothly efficient, level-backed, ground covering stride with
powerful drive emanating from a freely operating rear. Although the
front legs do not contribute impelling power, adequate
"reach" should be evident to prevent interference, overlap
or "sidewinding" (crabbing). Viewed from the front, the
shoulders should remain trim and the elbows not flare out. The legs
are parallel until gaiting narrows the track in proportion to
increasing speed, then the legs come in under the body but should
never cross. The line from the shoulder down through the leg should
remain straight although not necessarily perpendicular to the
ground. Viewed from the rear, a Boxer's rump should not roll. The
hind feet should "dig in" and track relatively true with
the front. Again, as speed increases, the normally broad rear track
will become narrower. Faults--Stilted
or inefficient gait. Lack of smoothness.
Character and Temperament
These are of paramount importance in the Boxer. Instinctively a
"hearing" guard dog, his bearing is alert, dignified and
self-assured. In the show ring, his behavior should exhibit
constrained animation. With family and friends, his temperament is
fundamentally playful, yet patient and stoical with children.
Deliberate and wary with strangers, he will exhibit curiosity but,
most importantly, fearless courage if threatened. However, he
responds promptly to friendly overtures honestly rendered. His
intelligence, loyal affection and tractability to discipline make
him a highly desirable companion. Faults--Lack
of dignity and alertness. Shyness.
The foregoing description is that of the ideal Boxer. Any
deviations from the above described dog must be penalized to the
extent of the deviation.
Disqualifications
Boxers that are any color other than fawn or brindle. Boxers with
a total of white markings exceeding one-third of the entire coat. |
General Appearance
The ideal Boxer is a medium-sized, square-built dog of
good substance with short back, strong limbs, and short,
tight-fitting coat. His well-developed muscles are clean, hard, and
appear smooth under taut skin. His movements denote energy. The gait
is firm yet elastic, the stride free and ground-covering, the
carriage proud. Developed to serve as guard, working, and companion
dog, he combines strength and agility with elegance and style. His
expression is alert and his temperament steadfast and tractable.
The chiseled head imparts to the Boxer a unique individual stamp.
It must be in correct proportion to the body. The broad, blunt
muzzle is the distinctive feature, and great value is placed upon
its being of proper form and balance with the skull.
In judging the Boxer first consideration is given to general
appearance and overall balance. Special attention is then devoted
to the head, after which the individual body components are examined
for their correct construction, and the gait evaluated for
efficiency.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size: Adult males 23 to 25 inches; females 21½
to 23½ inches at the withers. Proper balance and quality in the
individual should be of primary importance since there is no size
disqualification.
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 should equal the length of a vertical
line dropped from the top of the withers to the ground.
Substance: Sturdy, with balanced musculature. Males
larger boned than females.
Head
The beauty of the head depends upon the harmonious
proportion of muzzle to skull. The blunt muzzle is 1/3 the length of
the head from the occiput to the tip of the nose, and 2/3rds the
width of the skull. The head should be clean, not showing deep
wrinkles (wet). Wrinkles typically appear upon the forehead when
ears are erect, and are always present from the lower edge of the
stop running downward on both sides of the muzzle.
Expression: Intelligent and alert.
Eyes: Dark brown in color, frontally placed, generous,
not too small, too protruding, or too deep-set. Their mood-mirroring
character, combined with the wrinkling
of the forehead, gives the Boxer head its unique quality of
expressiveness. Third eyelids preferably have pigmented rims.
Ears: Set at the highest points of the sides of the
skull, the ears are customarily cropped, cut rather long and
tapering, and raised when alert. If uncropped, the ears
should be of moderate size, thin, lying flat and close to the cheeks
in repose, but falling forward with a definite crease when alert.
Skull: The top of the skull is slightly arched, not
rounded, flat, nor noticeably broad, with the occiput not overly
pronounced. The forehead shows a slight indentation between the eyes
and forms a distinct stop with the topline of the muzzle. The cheeks
should be relatively flat and not bulge (cheekiness), maintaining
the clean lines of the skull as they taper into the muzzle in
a slight, graceful curve.
Muzzle and Nose: The muzzle, proportionately
developed in length, width, and depth, has a shape influenced first
through the formation of both jawbones, second through the placement
of the teeth, and third through the texture of the lips. The top of
the muzzle should not slant down (downfaced), nor should it be
concave (dishfaced); however, the tip of the nose should lie
slightly higher than the root of the muzzle. The nose should be
broad and black.
Bite and Jaw Structure: The Boxer bite is
undershot, the lower jaw protruding beyond the upper and curving
slightly upward. The incisor teeth of the lower jaw are in a
straight line, with the canines preferably up front in the same line
to give the jaw the greatest possible width. The upper line of the
incisors is slightly convex with the corner upper incisors fitting
snugly in back of the lower canine teeth on each side. Neither
the teeth nor the tongue should ever show when the mouth is closed.
The upper jaw is broad where attached to the skull and maintains
this breadth, except for a very slight tapering to the front. The
lips, which complete the formation of the muzzle, should meet evenly
in front. The upper lip is thick and padded, filling out the frontal
space created by the projection of the lower jaw, and laterally is
supported by the canines of the lower jaw. Therefore, these canines
must stand far apart and be of good length so that the front surface
of the muzzle is broad and squarish and, when viewed from the side,
shows moderate layback. The chin should be perceptible from the side
as well as from the front. Any suggestion of an overlip obscuring
the chin should be penalized.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck: Round, of ample length, muscular and clean without
excessive hanging skin (dewlap). The neck should have a distinctly arched
and elegant nape blending smoothly into the withers.
Back and Topline: The back is short, straight,
muscular, firm, and smooth.
The topline is slightly sloping when the Boxer is at
attention, leveling out when in motion.
Body: The chest is of fair width, and the forechest
well-defined and visible from the side. The brisket is deep,
reaching down to the elbows; the depth of the body at the lowest
point of the brisket equals half the height of the dog at the
withers. The ribs, extending far to the rear, are well-arched but
not barrel-shaped.
The loins are short and muscular. The lower stomach line is
slightly tucked up, blending into a graceful curve to the rear. The
croup is slightly sloped, flat and broad. The pelvis is
long, and in females especially broad. The
tail is set high, docked, and carried upward. An
undocked tail should be severely penalized.
Forequarters
The shoulders are long and sloping, close-lying, and not
excessively covered with muscle (loaded). The upper arm is long,
approaching a right angle to the shoulder blade. The elbows should
not press too closely to the chest wall nor stand off visibly from
it. The forelegs are long, straight, and firmly muscled, and, when
viewed from the front, stand parallel to each other. The pastern is
strong and distinct, slightly slanting, but standing almost
perpendicular to the ground. The dewclaws may be removed. Feet
should be compact, turning neither in nor out, with well-arched
toes.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are strongly muscled, with angulation in
balance with that of the forequarters.
The thighs are broad and curved, the breech musculature hard and
strongly developed. Upper and lower thigh are long.
The legs are well-angulated at the stifle, neither too
steep nor over-angulated, with
clearly defined, well "let down" hock joints.
Viewed from behind, the hind legs should be straight, with hock
joints leaning neither in nor out. From the side, the leg below the
hock (metatarsus) should be almost perpendicular to the ground, with
a slight slope to the rear permissible. The metatarsus should be
short, clean, and strong. The Boxer has no rear dewclaws.
Coat
Short, shiny, lying smooth and tight to the body.
Color
The colors are fawn and brindle. Fawn shades vary from light tan
to mahogany. 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 background color barely,
although clearly, shows through (which may create the appearance of
reverse brindling).
White markings, if present, should be of such distribution
as to enhance the dog’s appearance, but may not exceed one-third
of the entire coat. They are not desirable on the flanks or on the
back of the torso proper. On the face, white may replace part of the
otherwise essential black mask, and may extend in an upward path
between the eyes, but it must not be excessive, so as to detract
from true Boxer expression. The absence of white markings, the
so-called "plain" fawn or brindle, is perfectly
acceptable, and should not be penalized in any consideration of
color. DISQUALIFICATIONS: Boxers that are any
color other than fawn or brindle. Boxers with a total of white
markings exceeding one-third of the entire coat.
Gait
Viewed from the side, proper front and rear angulation is
manifested in a smoothly efficient, level-backed, ground covering
stride with a powerful drive emanating from a freely operating rear.
Although the front legs do not contribute impelling power, adequate
reach should be evident to prevent interference, overlap, or
sidewinding (crabbing). Viewed from the front, the shoulders should
remain trim and the elbows not flare out. The legs are parallel
until gaiting narrows the track in proportion to increasing speed,
then the legs come in under the body but should never cross. The
line from the shoulder down through the leg should remain straight
although not necessarily perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from
the rear, a Boxer’s rump should not roll. The hind feet should dig
in and track relatively true with the front. Again, as speed
increases, the normally broad rear track will become narrower. The
Boxer’s gait should always appear smooth and powerful, never
stilted or inefficient.
Character and Temperament
These are of paramount importance in the Boxer. Instinctively a
hearing guard dog, his bearing is alert, dignified, and
self-assured. In the show ring his behavior should exhibit
constrained animation. With family and friends, his temperament is
fundamentally playful, yet patient and stoical with children.
Deliberate and wary with strangers, he will exhibit curiosity, but,
most importantly, fearless courage if threatened. However, he
responds promptly to friendly overtures honestly rendered. His
intelligence, loyal affection, and tractability to discipline make
him a highly desirable companion. Any evidence of shyness, or
lack of dignity or alertness, should be severely penalized.
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.
Disqualifications
Boxers that are any color other than fawn or brindle.
Boxers with a total of white markings exceeding one-third of the
entire coat. |
