Top Dog Breeds: The Boxer

Learn all about what makes the Boxer one of the most popular dog breeds.

The Boxer is loving, sensitive, athletic, inquisitive, playful, hardworking, calm, intelligent and a famously courageous breed. The Boxer is most recognizable as having a body of beautiful symmetry, his well-defined muscles seem sculpted to perfection, carrying his uniquely expressive head. Owning a Boxer will keep you entertained, and will also keep you fit and protected. The Boxer has a real personality and a passion for life.

Boxer Breed Story

The modern Boxer’s heritage traces back to the Brabant Bullenbeisser breed, used for hunting in Germany. They were strong, agile dogs with a fierce grip and the ability and courage to attack and hang on to the wild boar their masters hunted, but this breed has long been deceased.

It was around the mid 1800s that the modern Boxer breed emerged; the exact date is not recorded. It is suggested that the Brabant Bullenbeisser was crossed with local breeds and dogs imported from other countries, including the English Bulldog, to create the breed we now know as the Boxer. There are also theories regarding the origin of the “Boxer” name, such as the distinctive use of the dog’s front paws.
READ MORE > [links to the breed's ""Breed Story"" section in Breedopedia in appropriate country]

Boxer Temperament

The Boxer is fearless and trustworthy. A very intelligent dog that is loyal and protective toward his owners and reserved with strangers. This breed has boundless energy for work and play.
LEARN MORE > [links to breed's Temperament section in Breedopedia in appropriate country]

For Official Standards:

Official Standards

Dog Photos

Boxer Standards

• Country of origin: Germany
• Height approximately (at withers/shoulder): Male 57-36cm / 22.5 -25in; Female 53-59cm / 21-23in (standards may vary)
• Weight approximately: Male over 30kg / 66lbs when height at withers is approx 60cm / 23.5in; Female over 25kg / 55lbs when height at withers is approx 56cm / 22in (standards may vary)
• Coat: Short coat
• Color: Fawn (in various shades from light fawn to dark deer red) or brindle colors (fawn background with dark or black stripes running parallel to ribs).
• Markings: White markings typical
• Lifespan: Average, 10-12 years

Good to Know - Boxer

+ Makes a wonderful family pet and is excellent with children
+ Excels as a guardian and watchdog
+ Does not require trimming or stripping
- Not a dog recommended for novice owners
- Requires at least two one-hour exercise sessions daily
- Prone to heart disease and hip dysplasia