Primitives By Kathy Zipper Wallet - Boxer

BREED PROFILE - BOXER

The Boxer is a sleek, medium-to-large German breed developed in the late nineteenth century from crosses of the now-extinct Bullenbeisser and the English Bulldog, refined in Munich to serve as a police dog, cattle drover, and estate guardian. Its name is believed to derive from its tendency to use its forepaws in a sparring manner. Boxers are athletic and well-muscled, typically standing 21.5 to 25 inches at the shoulder, with a square, blunt muzzle, a docked tail (in some countries), and a short, tight-fitting coat in fawn or brindle with or without white markings. The breed is celebrated for its joyful, clownish personality — Boxers are playful, affectionate, and endlessly entertaining — combined with an alert, protective instinct that makes them superb family guardians. They are especially patient and gentle with children and bond intensely with their people. Boxers are high-energy dogs that require daily vigorous exercise and mental stimulation; they do poorly when isolated and are happiest as an active, integrated member of a family household.