Boxer (dog)

Other names	German Boxer Deutscher Boxer
Country of origin	Germany
Traits Weight Male 65–75 lb (29–34 kg) Female 50–60 lb (23–27 kg) Height Male 22-25 ins. (56-63 cms.) Female 21-23.5 ins. (53-60 cms.) Coat short, shiny, smooth, close-lying Color fawn or brindle, black mask, with or without white markings Litter size average 6-8 Life span average 10-12 years
Classification & standards FCI Group 2 Section 2 #144 standard AKC Working standard ANKC Group 6 (Utility) standard CKC Group 3 - Working standard KC (UK) Working standard NZKC Utility standard UKC Guardian standard

The character of the Boxer is of the greatest importance and demands the most solicitous attention. He is renowned from olden times for his great love and faithfulness to his master and household. He is harmless in the family, but distrustful of strangers, bright and friendly of temperament at play, but brave and determined when aroused. His intelligence and willing tractability, his modesty and cleanliness make him a highly desirable family dog and cheerful companion. He is the soul of honesty and loyalty, and is never false or treacherous even in his old age.
Boxers are known particularly for their solitary nature, which can lead them to not being trustful of strangers and other dogs. They get along well with children and the individuals they're habituated with, and trusting of, but can be quite suspicious or uncomfortable surrounded by any animals or humans they don't know.

Developed in Germany, the Boxer is a breed of stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog. The coat is smooth and fawn or brindled, with or without white markings. Boxers are brachycephalic (they have broad, short skulls), and have a square muzzle, mandibular prognathism (an underbite), very strong jaws and a powerful bite ideal for hanging on to large prey. The Boxer was bred from the English Bulldog and the now extinct Bullenbeisser and is part of the Molosser group.

Boxers were first exhibited in a dog show for St. Bernards at Munich in 1895, the first Boxer club being founded the next year. Based on 2008 American Kennel Club statistics, Boxers are the sixth most popular breed of dog in the United States for the second year in a row—moving up in 2007 from the seventh spot, which they'd held since 2002—with 33,548 new dog registrations during the year.