| The history of the Boxer breed is less defined | | | | and even light cart work. At this time the |
| and detailed than many of the other breeds, likely | | | | emphasis was on developing a leaner, lighter and |
| because of its historical use as a working dog. | | | | less aggressive breed, so the smaller dogs |
| The Boxer of today is definitely a descendant of | | | | crossed with the English Bulldog became more |
| the heavier, more working type dog known as | | | | favored and went on to become the Boxer |
| the Brabanter Bullenbeisser, which was popular in | | | | breed, while the Bullenbeisser breed became |
| Germany and Belgium as a boar hunting dog prior | | | | extinct. Most breeders and Boxer owners believe |
| to the 1800s. The Brabanter Bullenbeisser in turn | | | | that the breed name Boxer was chosen because |
| was developed from the massive Roman and | | | | of the dog's ability to move its front feet much |
| Assyrian war dogs known as the Molossians that | | | | like a boxer, although many breeders believe it is |
| were common as early as 2000 BC. | | | | simply a variation and mistranslation of the |
| The Brabanter Bullenbeisser breed was the | | | | German word for bite that is "bissen". |
| earliest hunting dog bred in Germany. It is believed | | | | The first time the Boxer breed was shown was |
| that a German dog lover by the name of George | | | | in the 1895 Munich Dog Show. The German Boxer |
| Alt first purchased a female Bullenbeisser and | | | | Club was more correctly known as the Deutscher |
| bred her to a local hunting dog; then the offspring | | | | Boxer Klub in 1896. The Boxers quickly became |
| of this mating were bred to an English Bulldog. It is | | | | very popular dogs, largely because of their winning |
| believed that this original crossing with the Bulldog | | | | temperaments and personalities and their ability to |
| and several subsequent crossings with the same | | | | perform multiple roles within the family. The breed |
| breed resulted in the all white coloration that is | | | | standard was officially adopted in 1902 and has |
| occasionally seen in the Boxer breed. Breeding | | | | basically remained the same since its original |
| was selective for physical ability and traits as well | | | | development. |
| as for temperament. | | | | The first Boxers were imported to the United |
| The name Bullenbeisser literally translates into "bull | | | | States in 1903 and there were several |
| biter" and the breed was developed to grab onto | | | | championship Boxers bred in the United States |
| the nose of bulls or boars and hold on. The jaws | | | | before the American Boxer Club was officially |
| of the breed were very strong, short and wide, | | | | formed in 1935. One year later in May the breed |
| very similar to the modern Boxer and English | | | | was officially recognized by the American Kennel |
| Bulldog. The dogs needed to be very courageous | | | | Club. |
| and athletic as well as able to tolerate pain while | | | | Boxer breeders and Boxer Clubs can be found all |
| being used in the ring or in hunting expeditions. | | | | over the world and the popularity of the breed |
| In the 19th century when the sport of bull baiting | | | | stays constant, although like many of the larger, |
| was thankfully prohibited, the Bullenbeisser | | | | high energy dogs there has been a slight decrease |
| became a working farm dog, used for herding | | | | in registered numbers over the years. |