Standard or American?

soos · #1 11-06-2009, 03:27 PM

Caesar and I were at the dog park today and we met a very cute three month old boxer that was significantly smaller than Caesar was when I got him at 8 weeks. The owner told me that their dog was a Standard Boxer whereas Caesar was an American Boxer and that their boxer was going to be about the size of a small Great Dane while Caesar wasn't going to grow much more. I'm new to the boxer world so I don't really know much and didn't know that there were really distinct different kinds of boxers, so I was hoping someone could explain the difference to me. Also Caesar will just be 6 months on the 16th, so I thought he still had quite a bit of growing left to do since he has a ton of extra skin and those cute goofy feet, but like I said I'm new to owning a boxer.

Thanks!

LILYLARUE · #2 11-06-2009, 05:50 PM

Silly, silly people. So many are eager to say their peace without any knowledgable background on the subject.

There are different "looks" to a boxer, so some have categorized them as: German, European, and North American. Yes, they do have distinctive characteristics, but they are ALL JUST BOXERS! There are no big ones the size of great danes - they are called MASTIFFS! lol And those that are so called "mini boxers" are really a mix with boston terriers.

So, all in all, there is a breed standard (see AKC or UKC for the specifics) that cover ALL boxers. If they don't meet the standard, they are just non-standards. Every boxer in every country are gauged on these same standards. Some are smaller, and some considerably larger, but NONE are AS BIG AS A DANE! That's just a big mixed breed........boxer and mastiff, boxer and dane, mastiff and dane, even a dogge de-bordeaux can be in the mix and still look "boxerish".

Hopefully one of the standard experts here can shine a technical education here for ya. Mine is very simple and to the point that the person who you ran into was really just uneducated in the boxer breed and standards, and most likely got suckered by a back yard breeder trying to put a label on a dog that wouldn't get sold to someone who knows better. Maybe even charged them more for their "big as a dane" boxer. LOL silly silly silly.

ehayes21 · #3 11-07-2009, 04:48 AM

It amazes me some of the BS people are fed.

HostelDog · #4 11-07-2009, 05:43 AM

Can you imagine a boxer as big as a great dane? That'd have me running for the hills!

ehayes21 · #5 11-07-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinsa

I learned from Booboo's breeder, and other boxer knowledgeable people that I have met, that in general a European Boxer stands 20lbs larger than an American does.

Sorry, I don't believe that's accurate either.

soos · #6 11-07-2009, 10:34 AM

Thanks for the insight everyone!

They just had me kind of doubting myself because they were telling me all kinds of things that were different from or the opposite of what I've read and been told, like that I should bath Caesar once a week because I took him outside to use the bathroom and played with him outside and that I shouldn't feed him kibble because it wasn't good for him.

HostelDog · #7 11-07-2009, 11:16 AM

According to the KC websites, breed standard is:

KC (UK)
Size
Height: dogs: 57-63 cms (22 1/2-25 ins); bitches: 53-59 cms (21-23 ins). Weight: dogs: approximately 30-32 kgs (66-70 lbs); bitches: approximately 25-27 kgs (55-60 lbs).

AKC
Size
Adult males 23 to 25 inches; females 21½ to 23½ inches at the withers. Proper balance and quality in the individual should be of primary importance since there is no size disqualification.

Seems about the same to me!

**gmacleod** · #8 11-07-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinsa

I learned from Booboo's breeder, and other boxer knowledgeable people that I have met, that in general a European Boxer stands 20lbs larger than an American does.

Then I doubt that these people have ever seen one

LILYLARUE · #9 11-09-2009, 08:56 AM

If anything, I would think American Boxer's are generally bred bigger than standard. That being so many BYB's and miller's that breed bigger cause that's what American's prefer. Bigger is Better is the motto in this country. Sad, but true. Even if it isn't in height or general size, 30% of our population of pets are overweight. Most boxers around here, are much larger than standard and those owner's prefer them that way, just by their comment of my girl "being so small". LMAO Lily is totally to the standard size, though needs to lose a few pounds.

Another breed I see way too often, over-sized, is the rottie's. I bet 90% I see are overweight and too big for their size. Yet the owner's will argue tooth and nail that they are "standard". Yeah, right. Your guy can hardly walk or run.......how is that "standard" for a breed that is bred to do just that?