American vs. Euro

What's the difference between American Boxers and European Boxers?

There are many interpretations of the boxer breed standard. In Germany, where the breed originated, breeders have striven for a dog bred to do its job as a working dog and for temperament. The United States standard has been more focused on conformation. The result is two very different versions of the Boxer.

European Boxers tend to have more robust appearance, larger bone structure, deeper chest, more slanted top line, and larger head, and a stouter shorter muzzle than the American Boxer. They typically weigh more at maturity and have a greater muscle mass than American Boxers. The European Boxer is also a calmer and more focused dog. Many agree for this reason the Euro Boxer is easier to train.

The American Boxer has a more balanced elegant look, finer bone structure, smaller chest and more solid hind quarters than the European Boxer. This dog's muzzle is longer and less substantial than the Euro Boxer. The American boxer has a less slanted top line. Many American Boxers have a lower mature weight and appear less muscular than European Boxers. The American Boxer possesses an equal intelligence but is not as focused or driven and tends to be a little more easily distracted than their European counterparts.

THE SEALED BRINDLE BOXER

NOT "RARE BLACK" BOXER

The Boxer does not carry the gene for a black coat color. I have sealed brindle Boxers that appear to be black; a sealed brindle is a brindle that has so many dark lines in their coat that it seals out the fawn lines making the coat appears completely black. It is not really black; it just has excessive dark stripes. AKC classifies sealed brindles’ as brindle. Some Boxers have such a deep reverse or sealed brindle that they appear black but upon viewing them in the sunlight you will see their bridling or fawn color in their coat. Some of these brindle boxers may end up with such a great amount of dark striping that it can be quite difficult to find the fawn under color without close inspection. More info posted below.

               Sealed brindle Boxers appears to be black but, in the sunlight you can notice the brindle markings.                                               

My Boxers are not rare black Boxers; they are sealed brindle in color. My litters have tiger brindles’, reverse brindles’, dark reverse brindles’, brindles’ and sealed brindles’. Sealed brindle is not a color that is any different to any other shade of brindle. It is a term used in North America simply to describe a dog that has such a heavy concentration of brindle stripes so as to have the appearance of being a dark dog. The opposite is "light" brindle - describing a dog that has very few brindle stripes. And in between all that, there is "golden" brindle, "fawn" brindle, "brown" brindle, "red" brindle, "mahogany" brindle, etc. These simply describe the shade of

Fawn ground color, exactly the same as for differing shades of solid fawn boxers.

White Boxers: The Myths and the Facts!

Unfortunately, the White Boxer has been the cause of much controversy among breeders and owners for quite some time. We hope the information in this brief article will help dispel any myths that you have heard about the White Boxer.

MYTH #1

White Boxers are rare.

FACT

Approximately 25% of all Boxers that are born are white. In fact, some of the first foundation dogs for the Boxer breed were white. Since White Boxers do not conform to the breed standard of the American Boxer Club and the American Kennel Club, many are euthanized by breeders.

MYTH #2

White Boxers develop more health problems and are sicker than other Boxers.

FACT

Because a Boxer is white does not mean that it is going to be unhealthy. No clinical evidence has been recorded showing the White Boxer at higher risk for health problems.

MYTH #3

All White Boxers are deaf and are not trainable.

FACT

although there is a higher incidence of deafness when a Boxer is white (approximately 18% of whites), not all are deaf. Deaf Boxers can be trained using a variety of methods including hand signals, sign language, flashlights and more, training any Boxer, hearing or deaf, requires time, patience and understanding.

MYTH #4

White Boxers are "mean".

FACT

White Boxers are not "mean". Coat color on a Boxer does not affect a Boxer's personality. White Boxers exhibit the same endearing personality traits as their darker counterparts.

MYTH #5

White Boxers are albinos.

FACT

White Boxers are not albinos. Albino dogs do not have any pigment. White Boxers are simply born with white hair.

MYTH #6

White Boxers cannot be registered.

FACT

White Boxers can be registered with the American Kennel Club. However, they can not been shown in the conformation ring, but they can be shown in obedience.

Northeastern Boxer Rescue thanks Caroline Woods for writing and contributing this article.