Translation by: Mrs. C. Seidler
Origin: Germany
Date of Publication of the Valid Original Standard: 13
March 2001
Utilization: Companion, Security and Working Dog.
Classification F.C.I. : Group 2: Pinscher and Schnauzer type-
Molossian type and Swiss Cattle dogs. Section 2.1: Molossian
type-Mastiff type with Working Trial.
The Boxer is medium sized, smooth coated, sturdy dog of compact,
square build and strong bone. His muscles are lean, strongly
developed and moulded in appearance. His movement is lively, full of
strength and nobility. The Boxer must appear neither clumsy or
heavy, nor lacking in substance or weedy.
IMPORTANT MEASUREMENTS (PROPORTIONS)
a) Length of body: height at withers:
the build is square in outline, i.e. the horizontal line of the back
and the two vertical lines to the ground, one starting from the
point of shoulder and the other from the point of the buttock, from
a square.
b) Depth of brisket: height at withers:
the chest reaches down to the elbows. The depth of chest is equal to
half the height at withers.
c) Length of bridge of nose: length of head: the length of the nasal
bridge in relation to the skull should be 1 : 2 (measured from the
tip of the nose to the inner corner of the eye, or, respectively,
the inner corner of the eye to the occiput).
BEHAVIOR/TEMPERAMENT:
The Boxer should be free of nervousness, self assured, calm and
balanced. Temperament is of utmost importance and requires most
careful attention. Devotion and loyalty towards his master and his
whole own people, his watchfulness and fearless courage in defense
have long been famous. He is harmless with his family but suspicious
towards 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 sense of smell.
Undemanding and clean, he is just as agreeable and valuable in the
family circle as he is a guard, companion or working dog. His
character is trustworthy with no guile or cunning, even in the 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.
The muzzle should be as broad and powerful as possible. The beauty
of the head depends on the balance between the muzzle and skull.
From whichever angle the head is viewed, 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 lean, not showing any
wrinkle. However, wrinkles appear naturally in the cranial region
when the ears are pricked or, when the ears have not been cropped,
in heightened alertness. Creases are always indicated running from
the root of the muzzle downwards on both sides. The dark mask is
confined to the muzzle and must be in distinct contrast to the color
of the head so that the face does not appear grim.
CRANIAL REGION:
The skull should be as slender and angular as possible. Slightly
arched, neither rotund and short, nor flat. Not too broad and with
the back skull not too pronounced. The frontal furrow only lightly
defined, must not be too deep, specially between the eyes.
STOP:
The forehead forms a distinct stop with the top line of the muzzle.
The nasal bridge must never be forced back into the forehead
"Bulldog" fashion, neither should it be down faced.
FACIAL REGION
NOSE:
The nose is broad, black, very slightly turned up, with wide
nostrils. The tip of the nose is set slightly higher tan its root.
MUZZLE:
The muzzle is powerfully developed in three dimensional volume,
neither pointed, narrow, short or shallow. Its appearance is
influenced by:
- the shape of the jaws;
- the position of the canines;
- and the condition of the lips.
The canines must be of good length and set as far apart from each
other as possible so that the front surface of the muzzle is broad,
almost square, forming an obtuse angle with the top line of the
muzzle. In front, the edge of the upper lip rests on the edge of the
lower lip. The part of the lower jaw curved slightly upwards,
together with the lower lip, is called the chin. This may not extend
markedly beyond the upper lip or, even less, disappear under it, but
it must be well defined both from the front and side. The canines
and incisors of the lower jaw must not be visible when the mouth is
closed, nor must the Boxer show his tongue when the mouth is closed.
The naso-labial raphe is easily visible.
LIPS:
The flews complete the shape of the muzzle. The upper lips are thick
and padded and fill the space formed by the longer under jaw. They
are supported by the lower canines.
TEETH:
The lower jaw extends beyond the upper and is lightly curved
upwards. The Boxer is undershot. The upper jaw is broad where it is
attached to the skull, tapering only slightly to the front. The
teeth are strong and healthy. The incisors are as even as possible,
set in a straight line. The canines wide apart and of good size.
CHEEKS:
The cheeks are developed in proportion to the strong jaws without
markedly protruding. They merge in a gentle curve to the muzzle.
EYES:
The dark eyes are neither too small, nor are they protruding or deep
set. Their expression conveys energy and intelligence and must not
be threatening or hard. The eye-rims must be dark.
EARS:
Uncropped ears are of suitable size, smaller rather than
large, thin in texture. Set wide apart, at the highest points of the
sides of skull. Lying close to the cheeks in repose, falling forward
with definitive crease when alert.
NECK:
The top line runs in an elegant arch from the clearly marked nape to
the withers. It should be of ample length, round, strong, muscular
and clean cut.
BODY:
Square. The body rests on sturdy, straight legs.
WITHERS:
Should be marked.
BACK:
The back and the loin should be short, firm, straight, broad and
well muscled.
RUMP:
Slightly inclined, broad, flatly arched. The pelvis should be long
and wide, specially in bitches.
CHEST:
Deep, reaching to elbows. The depth of chest is equal to half the
height at the withers. Well developed fore chest. Ribs well sprung
but not barrel-shaped, extending well to the rear.
LOWER LINE:
Runs in an elegant curve to the rear. Short firm flanks, slightly
tucked up.
TAIL:
The set-on is high rather than low, docked short and carried upward.
Tail is undocked.
FOREQUARTERS:
The forelegs must be straight, parallel to each other when seen from
the front and have strong bone.
SHOULDERS:
Long and sloping, well attached to the body. Not excessively
muscled.
UPPER ARM:
Long and forming a right angle to the shoulders.
ELBOWS:
Neither pressed too closely nor standing off too far from the chest
wall.
FOREARM:
Vertical, long, with lean muscles.
PASTERN JOINTS:
Strong, clearly defined, but not knuckling over.
PASTERNS:
Short, almost vertical to the ground.
FOREFEET:
Small, round, tight with thick cushioned and hard pads.
HINDQUARTERS:
Very muscular. The muscles very hard with a moulded, plastic
appearance. When seen from behind, the hind legs should be straight.
UPPER THIGH:
Long and broad. Angle of pelvic girdle with upper thigh and stifle
as little obtuse as possible.
STIFLE:
When standing naturally, this should reach so far forward that it
forms a vertical line from the hip bone to the ground.
LOWER THIGH:
Very muscular.
HOCK:
Strong, well defined, the apex not turned up. The angle is
approximately 140 degrees.
REAR-PASTERNS:
Short, with slight incline of 95 - 100 degrees to the ground.
HIND FEET:
Slightly longer than front feet. Thight, with thick cushioned and
hard pads.
GAIT-MOVEMENT:
Lively, full of strength and nobility.
SKIN:
Tight, elastic, without wrinkle.
COAT
HAIR:
Short, hard, glossy and close fitting.
COLOR:
Fawn or brindle. Fawn color occurs in varying shades, from pale fawn
to dark deer-red, but the most beautiful is in between (red-fawn).
Black mask. The brindle variety in the above mentioned shades of
fawn has dark or black stripes running in the direction of the ribs.
The basic color and the stripes must clearly contrast. White
markings need not be completely rejected, they can be quite
appealing.
HEIGHT: Measured from withers past the elbow to their ground;
Dogs : 57 - 63 cm
Bitches : 53 - 59 cm
WEIGHT: Dogs : over 30 kg (at circa 60 cm height at withers)
Bitches : Approximately 25 kg (at circa 56 cm height at withers).
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.
BEHAVIOR / TEMPERAMENT:
Aggressiveness, viciousness, cunning, unreliability, lack of
temperament, cowardice.
HEAD:
Lack of nobility and expression. Grim face, Pinscher or Bulldog type
head. Slavering, showing teeth or tongue. Muzzle too pointed or
light. Sloping bridge of nose. Leather nose (glossy without grain
texture), weather nose (temporary loss of pigmentation due to
climatic factors), pale nose leather. So-called "hawk eye", third
eyelid (nictitating membrane) lacking pigment. Badly cropped ears.
In uncropped ears, flying, half erect or erect ears, rose ears. Wry
mouth, slanting row of teeth, faulty position of teeth. Weakly
developed teeth. Unserviceable teeth following illness.
NECK:
Short, thick, dewlap
TAIL:
Low set tail. Broken tail.
BODY:
Too wide or too low in front. Sway or roach back, back too thin.
Long, narrow or abruptly sunk-in or weakly coupled loins. Arched
lumbar region. Croup falling away, narrow pelvis, sagging abdomen,
hollow flanks. Low set tail.
FOREQUARTERS:
"Chippendale Front", loose shoulders, loose elbows, weak pasterns,
hare foot, flat, splayed feet.
HINDQUARTERS:
Weak muscles. Too much or too little angulations in hindquarters.
Bow legs, cow-hocks, narrow close hocks. Dewclaws. Hare feet, flat,
splayed feet.
GAIT-MOVEMENT:
Waddling, not covering sufficient ground, pacing, stilted movement.
COLOR:
Mask reaching beyond muzzle. Brindle stripes too close together or
only some single stripes recognizable. Dirty basic color. Colors
intermingling. Unattractive white markings such, as the whole, or
one side of the head, white. Other colors or dogs whose basic color
is exceeded by more than one third white.
N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.
