History
The Boxer is part of the Molosser group, developed in Germany from the now extinct Bullenbeisser, a dog of Mastiff descent, and Bulldogs brought in from England. The Bullenbeisser had been working as a hunting dog for centuries, employed in the pursuit of bear, wild boar, and deer. Its task was to seize the prey and hold it until the hunters arrived. In later years, faster dogs were favored and a smaller Bullenbeisser was bred in Brabant, in northern Belgium. It is generally accepted that the Brabanter Bullenbeisser was a direct ancestors of today's Boxer.

 

Boxers on the first boxer exhibition, Munich 1895 In the late 19th century, the Brabanter was crossed with a Bulldog to start the line that would become the modern Boxer. In 1894, three Germans by the name of Roberth, Konig, and Hopner decided to stabilize the breed and put it on exhibition at a dog show. This was done in Munich in 1895, and the next year they founded the first Boxer Club.

 

The breed was introduced to other parts of Europe in the late 1890s and to the United States around the turn of the century. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the first Boxer champion in 1915.

 

During World War I, the Boxer was co-opted for military work, acting as a valuable messenger dog, pack-carrier, attack dog, and guard dog.