The Boxer.

 
The Boxer is a powerful and compact breed of dog, easily identified by their short muzzle and large nose, giving the appearance of a ‘squished’ face.
The breed we developed in the 19th century in Germany and are descendant of two large mastiff type dogs, the Bullenbeiszer and the Barenbeiszer and over time were cross bred with Bulldogs, to create the Boxer that we all know and love today.  Their name came from their ability and character trait to used their front lets like a bat when defending themselves, there for appearing to be boxing.
Originally, the breed was used as working dogs, taking care of herds, pulling carts and also as fighting dogs and catching wild animals. They were also used as show dogs in theatre acts and circus groups.
The breed standard for the Boxer was not set until 1904, prior to this the image of the Boxer varied.
Today, they are used as guard dogs and some police and military work as well as search and rescue, competitive obedience and of course, a great family pet.
The Boxer offers an easy to groom, almost maintenance free coat that can be easily brushed. They should only be bathed when needed. Their coat comes in a variety of colours including brindle, tan, fawn, black, mahogany and usually with white markings. They can also come in a pure white coat, however this colour is rarely accepted by Boxer clubs.
The Boxers that we love and know today that fit perfectly into any family are known for their happy, playful, energetic personality. They are a very smart dog who love to learn and are eager to please, this is what makes them great for competitive sports.
They love to be busy and are always on the move, they require plenty of physical and mental exercise to prevent destructive behaviour. They are a breed that can easily become highly strung, so too much mental energy built up can lead to this. From a young age, they need to be taught rules and boundaries and not encouraged to jump up at people, as this can cause more issues down the track once fully grown.
The Boxer has a natural behaviour to protect it’s family, so make great guard dogs, however need to be well socialised from a young age with new people, animals and situations to avoid aggressive behaviour.
The Boxer makes for a great family member to join an active house hold and love to be busy. They are very entertaining and leave everyone with a smile on their face.