The Boxer comes from Germany and is descended from the Bullenbeisser,  which is closely related to the Mastiff. The Boxer was one of the first breeds to be used by the German police and were also successfully trained as guide dogs for the blind.

Naming & Development of the Breed

The present day Boxer was developed in Munich towards the end of the nineteenth century by George Alt who produced a girl called Alt's Schecken. Previously, Alt had mated Flora, a brindle coloured medium Bullenbeisser type to a local dog of unknown origin but known simply as 'Boxer'. This resulted in a fawn & white male that took his owner's name 'Lechner's Boxer'. He was in turn mated back to his own dam, Flora, and one of their offspring was called Schecken. Schecken was later mated to an English Bulldog called Tom who produced the historically significant dog called 'Flocki'   It was around this time that the name 'Boxer' (which also translates exactly into German) was given to the breed.

A popular breed with a broad jaw structure and a strong muscular physique. The Boxer is a great all-rounder that is strong and has plenty of stamina, they tend to retain their youth and thoroughly enjoy an active life for a lot longer than some breeds. They enjoy human company and are especially good with children. A non-aggressive but reliable guard dog.

Unfortunately Boxers are susceptible to a number of illness', particularly skin cancers and rheumatism. Eclampsia is also common during and after pregnancy, as is primary and secondary inertia during the whelping process.

In 191O the breed standard was formalised and the British Boxer Club was founded in 1936. The Boxers KC classification is 'Working Dog'.

The Legend

A much more charming account comes in the form of a legend which has been passed down through German peasants for generations. This is quoted in Herr Stockmann's book on the breed:

"In the beginning was the Creation, and on the Sixth Day, after the world and the heavens were made, God created the animals to inhabit it, in every possible variety for every possible purpose; and he created Man to have dominion over the animals,. But so that man should not be alone among the animals. He made one, Man's best friend - the Dog. And he made the dogs in many different forms so that every man could choose his favourite companion - large and small, tall and short, brown, black, white, spotted and stripped, shaggy and smooth. And God saw that they were good. So good that he said ' I will make one dog who is supreme, one above all other dogs, who shall have beauty, speed, strength and courage blended subtly with loyalty, nobility, watchfulness and friendliness.'

"So he took soft clay and fashioned the ideal dog, in the shape of a Boxer, except that , like other dogs, he had a long sensitive, elegant nose, the very acme of noses. As he put it aside to harden, God was pleased and said 'truly this is the perfect dog.'

"Now although the boxer had not hardened was in all other aspects complete, and he heard what God said about him, which made him very proud. Therefore, as he went his way, he said 'I am the perfect dog, because I heard God say so. Look at me and you must admit that I am a better dog than you.' The little dogs agreed at once; the medium dogs were not so sure but were not prepared to dispute the point; but the large dogs were decidedly annoyed, for were they not bigger and stronger than the boxer? They said as much, taunting the Boxer for his size , until in a rage the Boxer hurled himself upon the largest.

"But alas! He had forgotten that he was still soft, and his beautiful nose, the symmetrical perfection of all noses, was squashed flat, his smooth face was all wrinkled and when he saw this he was very worried.

"Then God, who had seen all that had taken place, smiled, and said, 'Because you are my favourite, you shall have only the punishment you have made for yourself. For all time you must wear your face as you have made it this day.'

"That this is true cannot be doubted, because to this day, the Boxer meets all small dogs with courtesy and will not harm them; but he has not forgotten the large dogs, and if provoked, will still hurl himself upon them in rage"

Whilst the content of this page gives a brief outline of the Boxers History a more in-depth account is given at Wikipedia.

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