Boxer (Boxer dog, German bulldog)

Boxers are a muscular, short-haired, fawn-colored or brindled breed of dog descended from ancient German and Brabanter breeds.

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The Boxer's size may vary but its head is very recognizable with its relatively short nose, dark mask and a typical broad, deep and powerful muzzle. The short-haired, glossy coat is smooth and fawn or brindled in color, with or without white markings.

The Boxer's ancestors were the English Bulldog and Brabanter Bullenbeiser. The Brabanter Bullenbeiser was a smaller version of the German Bullenbeisser, used in Germany and Brabant for hunting boar, bear and deer.

The Boxer is an ideal family dog, gentle as a lamb with children, while also making a good guard, thanks to its intimidating appearance. He is determined, self-confident and courageous when faced with danger, but otherwise affectionate and docile. Do not expect him to be a full-time guard dog, tough. This would be not counting with his very sociable and fun loving nature. Strict training is recommended as his innate temperament is very playful, active and boisterous. Many boxers exhibit lifelong puppylike behavior. Some can also be very stubborn and disobedient.

The Bullenbeiser was solid fawn or brindle in color while the bulldogs they were crossed with were probably mostly white.
The breed was first exhibited in Munich in 1895, and the first Boxer Club was founded in 1896. However, the Boxer gained worldwide recognition only after World War I, during which it had been used as a war dog by the German Army.

Three Germans called Friederich Roberth, Erald Konig and Rudolf Hopner played an important role in standardizing the breed. The first Boxer registered in the first stud book in 1904, Mühlbauer's Flocki, whose father was a bulldog called Tom and mother probably a bullenbeiser. The next important name in the ancestry of the boxer is Meta V. D. Passage, considered the ancestral mother of all boxers.

Stockmann and Vom Dom are the most important names in the history of American Boxers.