Purebred boxer at attention
The boxer's ancestors were two German mastiff breeds, the bullenbeiszer and the barenbeiszer. They were later combined with bulldogs to create the species of boxer that we know today. At first, boxers were used for hunting, pit fighting, bull baiting, guarding homes and even pulling carts. Historically they would attack by leaping forward and smacking their opponent with their paws before leaping back out of range. The name "boxer" is a reference to their agile and ferocious fighting style. In later years, the dog took up a new role as a cattle herding breed. Today they are considered a very gentle species of dog that has the intelligence and obedience to work as a police or search and rescue dog. Here is a guide on identify a boxer.
Instructions
1. Start by looking at the dog’s size and build. It should be roughly two feet high at the withers with a back that slopes upward toward the shoulders. The average boxer weighs about 65 pounds, females being slightly smaller and lighter than the males. The build should be square, with a wide chest and lean hindquarters. The tail should be docked short and the front legs should be straight, vertical lines much longer than the rear legs.
2. Look at the dog’s fur. It should have a short, sleek coat that does not shed. It should be a light brown or a brindled color with a black mask over the nose and eyes. Often the dog will have some white fur on its legs, chest, nose, back, and face as well.
3. A boxer should have a long, tall, thick neck and a head well proportioned to the size of its body. Its lower jaw should extend beyond its upper jaw, giving it an underbite. The skull should be squared at the top with a barrel-like, wide muzzle. The nose should be flat and have very wide, open nostrils.
4. The eyes should be dark and surrounded by rings of darker fur. The ears are tall and triangular when the dog is attentive and flop down to the sides when it is relaxed. It should have the thick lips of a bulldog, but with no hanging skin or dewlap.
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