While an average person may describe the Boxer as a strong, fierce, and even aggressive dog breed, ask any Boxer parent and all they seem to talk about is the breed’s playful and curious demeanor.
These dogs were originally bred in Germany in the 18th century by crossing the Bulldog with the now-extinct Bullenbeisser to create a strong hunting and guard dog.
Yet, present-day Boxers have won the hearts of many all over the world for their charming personalities, energetic nature, and loyal companionship.
But did you know that there are three distinct varieties of Boxer dogs officially recognized by breeders? And four more depending on their coat colors?
That’s right! In this article today, we’re going to explore the Different Kinds Of Boxer Dogs and what sets them apart from one another.
So without further ado, let’s get started!
1 – American Boxer
The three official types of Boxers are differentiated based on differences in standards in different registries and are also known as the three bloodlines of Boxers. Out of the three, the first to make it onto our list is the American Boxer.
This is the youngest variant in the Boxer line, that was developed sometime in the early 1900s by introducing dogs from Germany and Austria to German basic stock Boxers.
The result was a smaller and leaner dog, standing about 21 to 25 inches and weighing around 50 to 80 pounds.
Despite the recency in development, American Boxers were the first to be given official recognition in 1904 by the American Kennel Club.
They are working dogs and are bred to be sleek and powerful, with tight skin that is stuck to their well-defined muscles.
The tight skin results in a noticeable lack of wrinkles, which makes them stand out as wrinkles are a distinguishing feature of the Boxer breed as a whole.
Another thing that sets them apart is their docked tails and cropped ears.
This is often seen in American Boxers who partake in the show ring.
However, these practices are illegal in many European countries and are rarely ever seen on the other two variants, who tend to have floppy ears and non-docked tails.
2 – English Boxer
The English Boxer, also known as the British Boxer, is considered the Most Elegant of the Boxer types due to their Thin, Athletic, and Graceful Body with high knuckles atop small feet.
This is their most distinctive feature, as it gives them a stance that is different from the other two variants.
These dogs are the smallest out of the three, with Thinner and Shorter Legs, weighing about 55-70 pounds and standing around 21 to 25 inches.
However, that is not to say that they are lacking in strength or speed as English Boxers have Slender Musculature, allowing for further Agility and Precise Movements.
Their thin body structure makes them Excellent Show Dogs and competitors, particularly for agility.
The dogs don’t lose their gracefulness while hunting either, so a running English Boxer is definitely a sight to behold.
They were the second type of Boxers to be recognized and registered in 1948 by The Kennel Club, which is one of the oldest canine organizations in the world.
3 – German Boxer
With the origins of the breed rooted in Germany, the German or European Boxer is often considered the traditional and, as some purists would like to call them, the only “Official Boxer Breed.
Typically weighing between 60-80 pounds and standing at 22-25 inches at the shoulder, German Boxers are the largest in terms of Muscle Mass and Bone Structure.
Their physique is more defined with Longer and stronger Legs, which are natural talents that have been bred into them for Herding and Hunting.
One of their distinctive features is the length between their skull and snout, which is exactly in a 1:2 Ratio in purebred German Boxers.
In comparison, their snout is smaller than the American Boxer but wider than the UK variant.
This is the type that has retained the most traditional features of the original Boxers bred in the 18th Century since most German Boxers are still bred for their natural talents in herding and hunting.
This makes the German Boxer the Oldest of the 3 recognized bloodlines of Boxers.
Despite being older though, the official standard for German Boxers was only established by the Federation Cynologique Internationale, in 1995, after the standards for both the American and UK Boxers were already recognized.
4 – Fawn Boxer
Aside from their country of origin, Boxer fanciers also classify the dogs based on their coat colors.
This results in 4 more types of Boxers, only 2 of which are recognized as standard ones.
One of these standard colors is Fawn.
Fawn Boxers can exhibit a range of hues, from a Light Tan/fawn to a Dark Red and even Mahogany.
They usually also have white markings on the Chest and the aws, although conformation shows don’t let the white markings exceed One-third of their body.
A Black Mask on the muzzle is also quite commonly seen on these Boxers.
According to the standard, White Markings on the face must not cover the black face mask in any way that diminishes the Boxer’s true expression.
Fawn Boxers are among the most common types of Boxers and possibly also the most iconic.
5 – Brindle Boxer
The second of the two standard Boxer colors is Brindle, although it is not as commonly seen as Fawn.
Technically speaking, brindle is not a color but a pattern, characterized by irregular streaks of darker colors against a lighter background that usually ranges from fawn to Deep Red.
The appearance of the brindle coat can also vary based on the Thickness and Thinness of the color stripes, with some looking almost Solid Fawn and others having more Defined Patterns.
The concentration of brindle patterns can further classify Boxers into 3 different types, although the most interesting of them is the Reverse Brindle.
Characterized by stripes of irregular lighter color against a darker color background, Reverse Brindle Boxers occur when the black stripes are so thick that the fawn background is barely visible.
They differ from Tiger & Seal Brindles, the other two types who have darker streaks on a lighter background.
The Tiger Brindle is the most common of the Brindle Boxers and it resembles the body pattern of a Tiger’s Coat in a more subtle way.
The streaks of irregular darker hair patterns are spread across a light background.
The Seal Brindle, on the other hand, has patterns that are so close to each other that it completely covers or “seals” the color of the background underneath.
6 – White Boxer
Despite sporting an almost completely white coat, White Boxers aren’t actually Albino as most people believe.
You see, Albinism occurs when a dog lacks pigmentation on its body.
However, that is not the case for the White Boxer, as these undeniably Charming and Elegant-looking dogs are actually the result of Unusual Patterning.
Simply put, they just have large white patches instead of being white all over.
As a result, it’s not rare to see a White Boxer with patches of brindle or fawn fur around the eyes, ears, at the base of the tail, and on top of the head.
Those with patches of other colors are called Check Boxers.
Another defining trait of this type of Boxer is their lack of the usual black mask which is standard in almost all Boxers.
Unfortunately, these guys have various myths attached to them and are considered quite controversial as a result.
Such myths include the belief that White Boxers are inferior to their Brindle and Fawn countertypes and have more health problems, although there is no evidence to suggest so.
These beliefs were so pervasive at one point, that White Boxers were even culled in the past.
Nevertheless, they’re still a purebred type of Boxer and if their pure white looks strike your fancy, you can get one for yourself with relative ease as they’re not that hard to find either.
7 – Black Boxer
If the Black Boxer who has got the internet all hyped up with their Majestic Looks and Rarity is what you were looking to adopt for yourself, we’re sorry to say this but you’ll have to settle for something else.
Some breeders advertise black Boxers as a Rare & Unique Breed to hike up their price, but this is misleading.
In reality, purebred Boxers do not carry the gene for a full black coat.
They can only be fawn, Brindle, or White.
So any “black” Boxer that you’ve ever seen is either a Reverse Brindle Boxer or a mix of a Boxer with some other breed.
Reputable breeders will not sell their Boxers as black, as this color is not recognized as a standard one.
8 – Boxer Mix
If none of the previous 7 types of Boxers have piqued your interest, you might want to try giving Boxer Mixes a chance instead.
As the name suggests, Boxer Mixes are dogs who that are developed by crossing a Boxer with a separate breed to create the best of both worlds.
This results in some interesting combinations like the Boxador, who has the muscular build of the Boxer with the friendly personality of the Labrador Retriever.
Or maybe the energy and athleticism of the Boxer Pitbull Mix is more your style?
Well, from the Bulldog and the Rottweiler to the Golden Retriever and even the Siberian Husky, lots of different breeds have been crossed with the Boxer to create unique mixed breeds with their own unique traits.
Now that you know about all the different types of Boxers, which one is your favorite? Leave a comment to let us know.