Size
Adult males 23 to 25 inches; females 21½ to 23½ inches at the withers.
Proper balance and quality in the individual should be of primary
importance since there is no size disqualification.
Proportion
The body in profile is square in that a horizontal line from the front
of the forechest to the rear projection of the upper thigh should equal
the length of a vertical line dropped from the top of the withers to the
ground.
Substance
Sturdy, with balanced musculature. Males larger boned than females.
Head
The beauty of the head depends upon the harmonious proportion of muzzle
to skull. The blunt muzzle is 1/3 the length of the head from the
occiput to the tip of the nose, and 2/3rds the width of the skull. The
head should be clean, not showing deep wrinkles (wet). Wrinkles
typically appear upon the forehead when ears are erect, and are always
present from the lower edge of the stop running downward on both sides
of the muzzle.
Expression
Intelligent and alert.
Eyes
Dark brown in color, frontally placed, generous, not too small, too
protruding, or too deepset. Their mood-mirroring character, combined
with the wrinkling of the forehead, gives the Boxer head its unique
quality of expressiveness. Third eyelids preferably have pigmented rims.
Ears
Set at the highest points of the sides of the skull, the ears are
customarily cropped, cut rather long and tapering, and raised when
alert. If uncropped, the ears should be of moderate size, thin, lying
flat and close to the cheeks in repose, but falling forward with a
definite crease when alert.
Skull
The top of the skull is slightly arched, not rounded, flat, nor
noticeably broad, with the occiput not overly pronounced. The forehead
shows a slight indentation between the eyes and forms a distinct stop
with the topline of the muzzle. The cheeks should be relatively flat and
not bulge (cheekiness), maintaining the clean lines of the skull as they
taper into the muzzle in a slight, graceful curve.
Muzzle and Nose
The muzzle, proportionately developed in length, width, and depth, has a
shape influenced first through the formation of both jawbones, second
through the placement of the teeth, and third through the texture of the
lips. The top of the muzzle should not slant down (downfaced), nor
should it be concave (dishfaced); however, the tip of the nose should
lie slightly higher than the root of the muzzle. The nose should be
broad and black.
Bite and Jaw Structure
The Boxer bite is undershot, the lower jaw protruding beyond the upper
and curving slightly upward. The incisor teeth of the lower jaw are in a
straight line, with the canines preferably up front in the same line to
give the jaw the greatest possible width. The upper line of the incisors
is slightly convex with the corner upper incisors fitting snugly in back
of the lower canine teeth on each side. Neither the teeth nor the tongue
should ever show when the mouth is closed.
The upper jaw is broad where attached to the skull and maintains this
breadth, except for a very slight tapering to the front. The lips, which
complete the formation of the muzzle, should meet evenly in front. The
upper lip is thick and padded, filling out the frontal space created by
the projection of the lower jaw, and laterally is supported by the
canines of the lower jaw. Therefore, these canines must stand far apart
and be of good length so that the front surface of the muzzle is broad
and squarish and, when viewed from the side, shows moderate layback. The
chin should be perceptible from the side as well as from the front. Any
suggestion of an overlip obscuring the chin should be penalized.
Neck
Round, of ample length, muscular and clean without excessive hanging
skin (dewlap). The neck should have a distinctly arched and elegant nape
blending smoothly into the withers.
Back and Topline
The back is short, straight, muscular, firm, and smooth. The topline is
slightly sloping when the Boxer is at attention, leveling out when in
motion.
Body
The chest is of fair width, and the forechest well-defined and visible
from the side. The brisket is deep, reaching down to the elbows; the
depth of the body at the lowest point of the brisket equals half the
height of the dog at the withers. The ribs, extending far to the rear,
are well-arched but not barrel-shaped.
The loins are short and muscular. The lower stomach line is slightly
tucked up, blending into a graceful curve to the rear. The croup is
slightly sloped, flat and broad. The pelvis is long, and in females
especially broad. The tail is set high, docked, and carried upward. An
undocked tail should be severely penalized.
Forequarters
The shoulders are long and sloping, close-lying, and not excessively
covered with muscle (loaded). The upper arm is long, approaching a right
angle to the shoulder blade. The elbows should not press too closely to
the chest wall nor stand off visibly from it. The forelegs are long,
straight, and firmly muscled, and, when viewed from the front, stand
parallel to each other. The pastern is strong and distinct, slightly
slanting, but standing almost perpendicular to the ground. The dewclaws
may be removed. Feet should be compact, turning neither in nor out, with
well-arched toes.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are strongly muscled, with angulation in balance with
that of the forequarters. The thighs are broad and curved, the breech
musculature hard and strongly developed. Upper and lower thigh are long.
The legs are well-angulated at the stifle, neither too steep nor
over-angulated, with clearly defined, well "let down" hock joints.
Viewed from behind, the hind legs should be straight, with hock joints
leaning neither in nor out. From the side, the leg below the hock
(metatarsus) should be almost perpendicular to the ground, with a slight
slope to the rear permissible. The metatarsus should be short, clean,
and strong. The Boxer has no rear dewclaws.
Coat
Short, shiny, lying smooth and tight to the body.
Color
The colors are fawn and brindle. Fawn shades vary from light tan to
mahogany. The brindle ranges from sparse but clearly defined black
stripes on a fawn background to such a heavy concentration of black
striping that the essential fawn background color barely, although
clearly, shows through (which may create the appearance of reverse
brindling). White markings, if present, should be of such distribution
as to enhance the dog's appearance, but may not exceed one-third of the
entire coat. They are not desirable on the flanks or on the back of the
torso proper. On the face, white may replace part of the otherwise
essential black mask, and may extend in an upward path between the eyes,
but it must not be excessive, so as to detract from true Boxer
expression. The absence of white markings, the so-called "plain" fawn or
brindle, is perfectly acceptable, and should not be penalized in any
consideration of color.
Disqualifications
Boxers that are any color other than fawn or brindle. Boxers with a
total of white markings exceeding one-third of the entire coat.
Gait
Viewed from the side, proper front and rear angulation is manifested in
a smoothly efficient, level-backed, ground covering stride with a
powerful drive emanating from a freely operating rear. Although the
front legs do not contribute impelling power, adequate reach should be
evident to prevent interference, overlap, or sidewinding (crabbing).
Viewed from the front, the shoulders should remain trim and the elbows
not flare out. The legs are parallel until gaiting narrows the track in
proportion to increasing speed, then the legs come in under the body but
should never cross. The line from the shoulder down through the leg
should remain straight although not necessarily perpendicular to the
ground. Viewed from the rear, a Boxer's rump should not roll. The hind
feet should dig in and track relatively true with the front. Again, as
speed increases, the normally broad rear track will become narrower. The
Boxer's gait should always appear smooth and powerful, never stilted or
inefficient.
Character and Temperament
These are of paramount importance in the Boxer. Instinctively a hearing
guard dog, his bearing is alert, dignified, and self-assured. In the
show ring his behavior should exhibit constrained animation. With family
and friends, his temperament is fundamentally playful, yet patient and
stoical with children. Deliberate and wary with strangers, he will
exhibit curiosity, but, most importantly, fearless courage if
threatened. However, he responds promptly to friendly overtures honestly
rendered. His intelligence, loyal affection, and tractability to
discipline make him a highly desirable companion. Any evidence of
shyness, or lack of dignity or alertness, should be severely penalized.
The foregoing description is that of the ideal Boxer. Any
deviation from the above described dog must be penalized to the extent
of the deviation.
Disqualifications
Boxers that are any color other than fawn or brindle. Boxers with a
total of white markings exceeding one-third of the entire coat.
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