A lesser mastiff-type breed called the bullenbeiser (“bull baiter”) can be traced back to the Assyrians (2300-600 B.C.), who went to war with heavy-headed, short-muzzled dogs with a powerful build and great courage. These dogs were also used to run down and hold game such as bear, boar, and bison until the hunter could slaughter the animal. Later, the bullenbeiser herded cattle, becoming one of the first dogs to do all the basic dog tasks — herding, hunting, and guarding.

Although the exact origins of the boxer are unknown, it is generally accepted that the breed descended from the bullenbeiser. According to the American Kennel Club, the boxer is a working dog that developed in Germany. Boxers were recognized as a breed in Germany in the late 1800s. The AKC registered its first boxer in 1904, and the first championship in the breed was finished in 1915.

Cropping and Docking

The decision to crop dogs' ears and dock their tails goes back to ancient times. These modifications helped the dog avoid injury while baiting bull, boar, bison, or stag. Long, thin tails are easily broken, and floppy ears are easily torn. They also helped ensure stability within the pack, as injured dogs often fight with or are attacked by other dogs. A dogfight might result in the loss of the quarry being hunted and could also result in an injury to a valuable working animal. Worse would be the damage to the cohesion of the pack.

Who Owned Dogs?

Before the early 1800s, dog ownership was a privilege that, in many parts of Europe, was restricted to land owners and noble-men. After the Napoleonic wars, during which many of Europe's large estates were broken up, the ordinary citizen could own dogs. A movement developed across the continent whose goal was to standardize many of the indigenous dogs into different breeds. This standardization resulted in the weimaraner (from the Weimar Republic), the viszla (from Czechoslovakia), and the dalmatian (from Dalmatia).

The Early German Boxer

The bullenbeiser was another of the many indigenous dogs that became standardized. Known for its ability to bring down stags, bulls, and even bear, the compact, muscular body of this medium-sized dog was aided by a strong undershot jaw. The bullenbeiser packed a lot of strength and power into a relatively compact package, and the breed's power and intelligence were highly prized.

A Bulldog Named Tom

In the 1830s, the Germans imported a British dog that strongly resembled the bullenbeiser. This white bulldog, named Tom, appears twice in the early German pedigrees and is probably responsible for the white markings in what would become the boxer. Tom more nearly resembled the modern American bulldog than the English bulldog, a look similar to the bullenbeisers of the time, so the decision to incorporate Tom in breeding programs was not as unusual as it might sound. The first boxer entered into the German studbook was a dog named Flocki, son of Tom, the white bulldog. Many early studbook entries were Tom's progeny.