EDUCATION

ABC 50th Anniversary Album

ABC YouTube Channel

Boxer U

Judges Education

JUDGING THE BOXER
    History and Function
    General Appearance
    Profile
    Unique Boxer Head
    The Boxer Bite
    Eyes
    Ears - Cropped &
    Uncropped
    Structure
    Movement
    Color
    Boxer Temperament

Junior Showmanship
Scholarship Program

MENTORS
    Mentor Program

    Mentor List

U.S. Boxer Clubs
 

JUDGING THE BOXER: Structure
     Prepared by the ABC Judges' Education Committee

Skeleton

Neck Round Ample length, muscular Clean without excessive hanging skin (dewlap). Distinctly arched and elegant nape Blending smoothly into the withers.

Topline The back is short, straight, muscular, firm, and smooth. The topline is slightly sloping when the Boxer is at attention, leveling out when in motion.

Body The chest is of fair width, and the forechest well-defined and visible from the side. The brisket is deep, reaching down to the elbows; the depth of the body at the lowest point of the brisket equals half the height of the dog at the withers. The ribs, extending far to the rear, are well-arched but not barrel-shaped. The lower stomach line is slightly tucked up, blending into a graceful curve to the rear. The croup is slightly sloped, flat and broad. The pelvis is long, and in females especially broad. The tail is set high, docked, and carried upward. An undocked tail should be severely penalized.

Forequarters The shoulders are long and sloping, close-lying, and not excessively covered with muscle (loaded). The upper arm is long, approaching a right angle to the shoulder blade. The elbows should not press too closely to the chest wall nor stand off visibly from it. The forelegs are long, straight, and firmly muscled, and, when viewed from the front, stand parallel to each other. The pastern is strong and distinct, slightly slanting, but standing almost perpendicular to the ground. The dewclaws may be removed. Feet should be compact, turning neither in nor out, with well-arched toes.

Hindquarters The hindquarters are strongly muscled, with angulation in balance with that of the forequarters. The thighs are broad and curved, the breech musculature hard and strongly developed. Upper and lower thigh are long. The legs are well-angulated at the stifle, neither too steep nor over-angulated, with clearly defined, well "let down" hock joints.