Boxer Breed Standard
Published with the kind permission of the Kennel Club
The Kennel Club Picture Library - © David Dalton
General Appearance
Great nobility, smooth-coated, medium-sized, square build, strong
bone and evident, well developed muscles.
Characteristics
Lively, strong, loyal to owner and family, but distrustful of
strangers. Obedient, friendly at play, but with guarding instinct.
Temperament
Equable, biddable, fearless, self-assured.
Head and Skull
Head imparts its unique individual stamp and is in proportion to
body, appearing neither light nor too heavy. Skull lean without
exaggerated cheek muscles. Muzzle broad, deep and powerful, never
narrow, pointed, short or shallow. Balance of skull and muzzle
essential, with muzzle never appearing small, viewed from any angle.
Skull cleanly covered, showing no wrinkle, except when alerted.
Creases present from root of nose running down sides of muzzle. Dark
mask confined to muzzle, distinctly contrasting with colour of head,
even when white is present. Lower jaw undershot, curving slightly
upward. Upper jaw broad where attached to skull, tapering very
slightly to front. Muzzle shape completed by upper lips, thick and
well padded, supported by well separated canine teeth of lower jaw.
Lower edge of upper lip rests on edge of lower lip, so that chin is
clearly perceptible when viewed from front or side. Lower jaw never
to obscure front of upper lip, neither should teeth nor tongue be
visible when mouth closed. Top of skull slightly arched, not
rounded, nor too flat and broad. Occiput not too pronounced.
Distinct stop, bridge of nose never forced back into forehead, nor
should it be downfaced. Length of muzzle measured from tip of nose
to inside corner of eye is one-third length of head measured from
tip of nose to occiput. Nose broad, black, slightly turned up, wide
nostrils with well defined line between. Tip of nose set slightly
higher than root of muzzle. Cheeks powerfully developed, never
bulging.
Eyes
Dark brown, forward looking, not too small, protruding or deeply
set. Showing lively, intelligent expression. Dark rims with good
pigmentation showing no haw.
Ears
Moderate size, thin, set wide apart on highest part of skull lying
flat and close to cheek in repose, but falling forward with definite
crease when alert.
Mouth
Undershot jaw, canines set wide apart with incisors (six) in
straight line in lower jaw. In upper jaw set in line curving
slightly forward. Bite powerful and sound, with teeth set in normal
arrangement.
Neck
Round, of ample length, strong, muscular, clean cut, no dewlap.
Distinctly marked nape and elegant arch down to withers.
Forequarters
Shoulders long and sloping, close lying, not excessively covered
with muscle. Upper arm long, making right angle to shoulderblade.
Forelegs seen from front, straight, parallel, with strong bone.
Elbows not too close or standing too far from chest wall. Forearms
perpendicular, long and firmly muscled. Pasterns short, clearly
defined, but not distended, slightly slanted.
Body
In
profile square, length from forechest to rear of upper thigh equal
to height at withers. Chest deep, reaching to elbows. Depth of chest
half height at withers. Ribs well arched, not barrel-shaped,
extending well to rear. Withers clearly defined. Back short,
straight, slightly sloping, broad and strongly muscled. Loin short,
well tucked up and taut. Lower abdominal line blends into curve to
rear.
Hindquarters
Very strong with muscles hard and standing out noticeably under
skin. Thighs broad and curved. Broad croup slightly sloped, with
flat, broad arch. Pelvis long and broad. Upper and lower thigh long.
Good hind angulation; when standing, the stifle is directly under
the hip protuberance. Seen from side, leg from hock joint to foot
not quite vertical. Seen from behind, legs straight, hock joints
clean, with powerful rear pads.
Feet
Front feet small and cat-like, with well arched toes, and hard pads;
hind feet slightly longer.
Tail
Customarily docked.
Docked: Set on high and carried upward.
Undocked: Set on high and carried gaily, not curled over back. Of
moderate thickness. In overall balance to the rest of dog.
Gait/Movement
Strong, powerful with noble bearing, reaching well forward, and with
driving action of hindquarters. In profile, stride free and ground
covering.
Coat
Short, glossy, smooth and tight to body.
Colour
Fawn or brindle. White markings acceptable not exceeding one-third
of ground colour.
Fawn: Various shades from dark deer red to light fawn.
Brindle: Black stripes on previously described fawn shades, running
parallel to ribs all over body. Stripes contrast distinctly to
ground colour, neither too close not too thinly dispersed. Ground
colour clear, not intermingling with stripes.
Size
Height: dogs: 57-63 cms (221/2-25 ins); bitches: 53-59 cms (21-23
ins). Weight: dogs: approximately 30-32 kgs (66-70 lbs); bitches:
approximately 25-27 kgs (55-60 lbs).
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 and its effect upon the health and
welfare of the dog.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.
Last Updated - July 2001
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