Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Overview:
The German Boxer was developed in Germany in the 19th century, originating from the Brabant Bullenbeisser and old mastiff-type dogs used for hunting large game and guarding property. Intentional selective breeding began in Munich, where breeders aimed to create an enduring, manageable, and confident dog with a strong body, pronounced reactivity, and a stable psyche. In 1900 the breed was officially recognized and quickly gained popularity as a service, military, and family dog. The Boxer proved itself in the police, military, and rescue units, becoming known worldwide for its combination of strength, intelligence, and balanced temperament.
General Appearance:
The German Boxer is a strong, harmoniously built medium-sized dog with pronounced musculature, dry outlines, and a characteristic square body format. It combines strength, energy, and elegant mobility. The head is proportional to the body, with a clearly defined stop and the typical Boxer muzzle, emphasizing breed type. The chest is deep and capacious, the back straight and firm, and the croup slightly sloping. The limbs are straight, strong, and well muscled, providing a powerful and springy gait. The tail is carried high; the movements are free, even, and confident, demonstrating a combination of strength, balance, and active temperament characteristic of the ICCF standard.
Important Proportions:
Key features of the German Boxer include a square body format and harmonious proportions of height and length. Height at the withers is nearly equal to body length, emphasizing compactness and strength. Chest depth reaches half of the dog’s height, ensuring proper volume and support for work. The muzzle length is approximately one-third of the head length, and the skull two-thirds, forming the breed’s typical balance. Skull width corresponds to its length without creating excessive heaviness. Legs must be long enough to maintain body proportions and provide light, free movement. The tail continues the croup line without abrupt breaks.
Behavior and Character:
According to ICCF standards, the German Boxer has a balanced, energetic, and confident temperament. It is a courageous, alert, and reliable dog that reacts quickly to changes in its environment but is not prone to unprovoked aggression. Boxers are extremely people-oriented, showing loyalty, friendliness, and high trainability, easily bonding with their owners and families. They combine playfulness and liveliness with strong protective instincts while remaining trustworthy companions. In work, they demonstrate determination, control, and a stable nervous system. With proper upbringing, they maintain stable behavior and high manageability in all situations.
Head:
The head is proportional to the body, dry, and strongly breed-typical. The skull is slightly convex, broad, with a pronounced stop. The muzzle is powerful and square, with wide jaws and well-defined folds along the sides. The brow ridges are pronounced but not coarse. The skull-to-muzzle ratio is 2:1. Lips are tight, forming a characteristic profile without excessive looseness.
Facial Part:
The facial part of the German Boxer is broad, with a strong square muzzle and well-developed jaws. The nasal bridge is short and slightly elevated. The lower jaw protrudes forward, but not excessively, forming the typical Boxer bite. The nose is large, black, with wide nostrils. Lips are thick and tight; the upper lip moderately overhangs, forming the characteristic profile. Facial folds are present but not excessive.
Eyes:
The eyes are dark, medium-sized, round, with a lively, attentive, and expressive look. They are set slightly obliquely, though not narrowly. Eyelids are tight and well fitting, without looseness. The expression combines energy, intelligence, and friendliness, emphasizing the breed’s balanced character.
Ears:
The ears are medium-sized, set high and wide, lying close to the cheeks in a natural state. They are triangular with slightly rounded tips. When alert, the ears rise, enhancing the dog’s expression and attentiveness. The cartilage is firm, with no folds. Cropped ears are not preferred in the standard and should not alter breed type.
Neck:
The German Boxer’s neck is strong, muscular, of medium length, and slightly arched at the top. It blends smoothly into the withers, creating a harmonious silhouette. The skin is tight, without excessive looseness, though a slight fold underneath is acceptable. The neck must support a confident head carriage and free, powerful movement.
Body:
The body is strong, compact, and well balanced. The chest is deep with well-curved ribs reaching the elbows. The back is straight, firm, and of medium length. The loin is short and muscular, without sagging. The croup is slightly sloping, broad, and powerful. The topline is level, emphasizing strength and harmonious structure.
Tail:
The tail is set high and continues the croup line naturally. At rest it hangs down; during movement it rises slightly without deviation to the sides. It must be straight, without kinks or breaks, and of medium length. Docking is not preferred and must not alter breed type.
Forequarters:
The forelimbs are straight, parallel, and strong. The shoulder blades are long, well laid back, and close fitting. The upper arms are muscular, forming correct angles with the shoulder to allow free reach. Elbows point strictly backward, fitting closely without turning out. The forearms are straight and firm; the wrists strong. Pasterns are slightly sloping, providing shock absorption and stability.
Hindquarters:
The hindquarters are powerful, muscular, and well angulated. The thighs are broad and strong; the lower thighs long and well muscled. The stifles are well formed, providing elasticity and thrust. The hocks are low set, strong, and correct without weakness. Metatarsi are short and vertical. From behind, the limbs must be parallel, ensuring strength and stability.
Gait and Movement:
Movement is free, powerful, and energetic, with good forelimb reach and strong hindquarter drive. The gait is stable and even, demonstrating balance, strength, and springiness. The back remains steady without swaying. The dog moves confidently and rhythmically, maintaining proportion and active temperament.
Coat:
The coat is short, dense, smooth, and close-fitting. It is shiny, elastic, and of uniform length across the entire body, with no long or soft patches. The coat must emphasize musculature and the clean body lines. To the touch it is firm and resilient, protecting against the elements while preserving the breed’s clean silhouette.
Acceptable Colors
Two main colors are allowed: fawn and brindle. Fawn ranges from light to deep red. Brindle has distinct dark stripes on a fawn background, with variable intensity. White markings are allowed but must remain within limits that do not disrupt breed balance. The nose, eyelids, and lips must be dark.
Size:
The German Boxer is a medium-sized dog with clear sexual dimorphism. Males are 57–63 cm at the withers; females 53–59 cm. Males weigh 30–36 kg; females 25–32 kg. The square format must be maintained in both sexes. Both genders must have strong bone, developed musculature, and harmonious proportions emphasizing working type.
Faults:
Faults include deviations that compromise balance, functionality, or breed type. These include weak bone, insufficient musculature, elongated or overly compact format, flat or narrow chest. Undesirable features include a soft topline, sagging loin, steep or excessively sloping croup. Head faults include excessive looseness, narrow or long muzzle, weak chin, light eyes, loose eyelids. Incorrect ear shape or folds are also undesirable. Movement faults include weak stride, short reach, weak drive, and incorrect limb parallelism. Faults in color include incorrect patterns, excessive white, or imbalance. Coat faults include dryness or excessive softness. Behavioral issues such as instability, fearfulness, or excessive aggression are also considered faults.
Disqualification:
A Boxer may be disqualified for having serious defects of structure, health, or behavior. Full disqualification applies to severe bite faults, multiple missing teeth, excessively long or narrow muzzle, skull deformities. Signs of albinism, solid white coat, or non-standard colors lead to exclusion. Genetic defects impacting health or working ability also cause disqualification. Obvious gait defects, severe musculoskeletal issues, or pronounced lameness are unacceptable. Behavioral deviations—unprovoked aggression, loss of control, panic fear—are grounds for removal. Dogs with cropped ears or tails may be prohibited depending on ICCF event rules. Any features distorting breed type or compromising the dog's welfare lead to disqualification.
Important Notes:
For the German Boxer, maintaining breed type—including harmonious proportions, strong body, and stable nervous system—is essential. The dog must demonstrate working qualities: strength, energy, and controlled behavior. Extremes of conformation affecting functionality—excessive looseness, weak bone, heavy head, or overloaded front—are unacceptable. White markings are allowed only within balanced limits. Breeding should prioritize stable temperament, absence of hereditary disease, and sound conformation. Correct movement is crucial; the Boxer must show elasticity, strong drive, and free stride. Dogs showing instability, fearfulness, or aggression are excluded from breeding regardless of exterior quality.
Conclusion:
The German Boxer is a harmonious, strong, and balanced dog combining working ability, energy, and high manageability. The breed is valued for its stable temperament, expressive type, and functional conformation, enabling effective service and family roles. In the ICCF system, only dogs with official documentation confirming origin, standard conformity, and absence of disqualifying faults may participate in shows and breeding. Breeding stock must have proven health, stable temperament, and preserved breed characteristics. With proper care and responsible breeding, the German Boxer fully reveals its working and companion qualities.
