BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: The small, so called Brabant
Bullenbeisser is regarded as  the immediate ancestor of the Boxer. In the past,
the breeding of these Bullenbeissers  was in the hands of the huntsmen, whom
they assisted during the chase. Their task  was to seize the game put up by
chasing hounds and hold it firmly until the huntsman  arrived and put an end to
the prey.
For this job the dog had to have as wide  jaws as possible with
broadly spaced teeth, in order to bite firmly and hold on  tightly. A
Bullenbeisser which had these characteristics was best suited to this  job and
was used for breeding. Previously only the ability to work and utilization  were
considered. Selective breeding was carried out which produced a dog with  a wide
muzzle and an upturned nose.


GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Boxer is a medium sized, smooth
coated, sturdy dog of compact  square build and strong bone. His muscles are
taut, strongly developed and moulded  in appearance. His movement is lively,
powerful with noble bearing. The Boxer  must be neither cumbersome or heavy, nor
light or lacking in body substance.


IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
a) Length of body / Height at
withers : Square build, which  means that the horizontal line of the back is
perpendicular to the vertical line  passing through the point of shoulder and to
the other vertical line passing through  the point of buttock, thus defining a
square outline.
b) Depth of brisket /  Height at withers : The chest reaches
to the elbows.
Depth of chest is half  the height at withers.
c) Length of
nose bridge / Length of head : Length of  nose bridge in relation to skull
should be 1 : 2 (measured from tip of nose to  inner corner of eye or,
respectively, inner corner of eye to occiput).


BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT: The Boxer should be fearless
self-confident, calm and equable.  Temperament is of the utmost importance and
requires careful attention. Devotion  and loyalty towards his master and his
entire household, his watchfulness and  self-assured courage as a defender are
famous. He is harmless with his family  but distrustful of strangers. Happy and
friendly in play, yet fearless in a serious  situation. Easy to train on account
of his willingness to obey, his pluck and  courage, natural keenness and scent
capability. Undemanding and clean, he is just  as agreeable and appreciated in
the family circle as he is as a guard, companion  and working dog. His character
is trustworthy, with no guile or cunning, even  in old age.


HEAD : This gives the Boxer his characteristic look. Must
be in good proportion to  the body and appear neither too light nor too heavy.
Muzzle should be as broad  and powerful as possible. The harmony of the head
depends on the balance between  muzzle and skull. From whichever direction the
head is viewed, from front above  or sideways, the muzzle must always be in the
right proportion to the skull i.e.  it must never appear too small. It should be
clean, not showing any wrinkle. However  natural folds are formed in the cranial
region when alerted. From root of nose,  folds are always indicated running in a
downward direction on both sides. The  dark mask is confined to the muzzle and
must be in sharp contrast to the colour  of the head so that the face does not
appear sombre.


CRANIAL REGION:

Skull: The cranial region should be as lean and angular as
possible.  It is slightly arched, neither round and short nor flat; neither
should it be  too broad. Occiput not too pronounced. Furrow in forehead only
slightly marked,  must not be too deep, especially between the
eyes.
Stop: The forehead forms  a distinct stop towards
bridge of nose. Bridge of nose must not be forced back  into the forehead as in
the Bulldog, nor should it be downfaced.


FACIAL REGION:

Nose: Nose is broad and black and only slightly turned up
with wide  nostrils. Tip of nose is placed slightly higher than root of
nose.
Muzzle: The muzzle is powerfully developed in three
dimensional volume, neither pointed  or narrow, nor short or shallow. Its
appearance is influenced by :
a) Shape  of jaw.
b) Position of canine
teeth.
c) Shape of lips.
The canines must be placed  as far apart as
possible and must be of good length, making the front of the muzzle  broad,
almost square and forming a blunt angle with bridge of nose.
In front,  the
edge of the upper lip rests on the edge of the lower lip. The part of the  lower
jaw with lower lip curved upwards, called the chin, must not markedly protrude 
over upper lip, seen from front. Nor should it be hidden by the lip but should 
be well defined from front and side.
The canines and incisors of the lower 
jaw must not be visible when mouth is closed, neither should the tongue show. 
Median groove in the upper lip (philtrum) is clearly
visible.
Lips: The lips  complete the shape of the muzzle.
The upper lip is thick and padded and fills  the space formed by the undershot
lower jaw; it is supported by the lower canines. 

Jaws/Teeth: The lower jaw exceeds the upper jaw and is
slightly curved upwards.  The Boxer is undershot. The upper jaw is broad where
it joins the cranial region,  tapering only slightly towards the front. The
teeth are strong and healthy. The  incisors are as even as possible, set in a
straight line. Canines wide apart and  of good size.
Cheeks:
Cheeks are developed in proportion with the strong jaws  without markedly
bulging. They merge with the muzzle in a slight curve.
Eyes:
The dark eyes are neither too small nor protruding or deep set. Their
expression  conveys energy and intelligence and must not be threatening or
piercing. Eye rims  must be dark.
Ears: The natural ears
are of appropriate size. They are set  on wide apart on highest part of skull.
In repose they lie close to the cheeks  and turn forward with a definite crease
especially when the dog is alert.


NECK: Topline runs in an elegant arch from the clearly
marked nape to the withers.  It should be of ample length, round, strong and
muscular.


BODY : Square body resting on sturdy straight
legs.
Withers: Should be marked.
Back:
Including loin should be short, firm, straight, broad and
muscular.
Croup: Slightly sloping, broad and only slightly
arched. Pelvis should be long and  broad, especially in
bitches.
Chest: Deep, reaching to elbows. Depth of chest  is
half the height at withers. Well formed
forechest.
Underline: Running towards rear in elegant line.
Short taut flanks slightly tucked up.

TAIL: Set on high
rather than low. Tail is left natural.


LIMBS


FOREQUARTERS: Front legs seen from front must stand parallel
and have strong bone.
Shoulders: Long and sloping, connected
firmly to body. Should not be too loaded.
Upper arm: Long,
making a right angle to shoulder blade.
Elbows: Neither too
close to side of chest nor turned out.
Forearm: Vertical,
long, clean muscles.
Carpus (wrist): Strong, well defined,
but not exaggerated.
Metacarpus (Pastern): Short, almost
perpendicular to ground.
Front feet: Small, round, tight,
well cushioned and hard pads.


HINDQUARTERS: Very muscular, the muscles brick hard and
visible under the skin.
Hindlegs: Seen from rear
straight.
Thigh: Long and broad. Angles of hip and knee are 
open but as little as possible.
Knee (Stifle): When dog is
standing, should reach so far forward that it would touch a vertical line from
point of hip to  ground.
Lower thigh: Very
muscular.
Hock: Strong and well defined but not exaggerated.
Angle approximately 140 degrees.
Metatarsus (Rear Pastern):
Short with slight inclination, 95-100 degrees to the ground.
Hind
feet: Slightly longer than front feet, tight; well cushioned and hard
pads.


GAIT / MOVEMENT: Lively, full of strength and nobility.


SKIN: Dry, elastic without any wrinkles.


COAT


HAIR: Short, hard, glossy and close fitting.


COLOUR: Fawn or brindle : Fawn comes in various shades from
light fawn to dark deer  red but the most attractive shades are in the middle
range (red fawn). Black mask.  The brindle variety : fawn background of varying
shades has dark or black stripes  running parallel to ribs. Stripes must
contrast distinctly to ground colour. White  markings should not be discarded.
They can be quite pleasant.


SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at the withers : Dogs : 57-63
cm.
Females : 53-59  cm.
Weight : Dogs : over 30 kg when height at
withers is ca 60 cm.
Bitches  : about 25 kg when height at withers is ca 56
cm.


FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault
and the  seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact
proportion  to its degree.

• Behaviour / Temperament : Aggressive, vicious, cunning, untrustworthy,  lack
  of spirit, overly shy.
  


• Head : Lack of nobility and typical expression,  sombre face, Pinscher or
  Bulldog type head. Dribbling, showing of teeth or tongue.  Muzzle too pointed or
  slight. Bridge of nose falling away. Leather or weather  nose, pale nose
  leather. So called, "hawk eye", lack of pigment in haw.  In uncropped ears :
  Flapping, half erect or erect ears, rose ears. Wry jaw, slanting  teeth,
  incorrect position of teeth, poorly developed teeth and unsound teeth due  to
  illness.
  


• Neck : Short, thick and throaty.
  


• Body : Front too broad and low to the ground. Sagging body, roach or sway
  back. Lean, long, narrow, sagging  loin, loosely coupled body. Arched loin,
  croup falling away. Narrow pelvis, hollow  flanks, pendulous belly.
  


• Tail : Low set on, kink tail.
  


• Forehand : French front, loose shoulders, loose elbows, weak pastern, hare
  foot, flat, splayed  feet.
  


• Hindquarters : Weak muscles. Too much or too little angulation, down  on
  hocks, barrel hocks, cow hocks, narrow hocks, dewclaws, hare foot, flat, splayed
    feet.
  


• Movement : Waddling, insufficient reach, pacing, stilted gait.
  


• Colour of coat : Mask extending beyond muzzle. Stripes (brindling) too close
  together  or too sparse. Sooty ground colour. Mingled colours. Unattractive
  white markings  such as a whole white head or white on one side of the head.
  Other colours and  white markings exceeding one third of the ground
  colour.

NB: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended
into  the scrotum.