American vs German Boxer

Ask Boxer people about the American vs German Boxer and you will usually hear the same picture: the German Boxer is heavier, with more bone and a broader head, and the American Boxer is sleeker and more elegant. There is truth in that, but both are the same breed. What differs is the standard a dog was bred to: the AKC standard in the United States, or the FCI standard written in Germany, the breed's home, and used across Europe. Britain keeps a third, and its dogs are often called English Boxers.

Below, the three standards sit side by side, so you can see which differences are written down and which come from breeding choices. Neither type is better. They suit different homes.

What type of dog is a Boxer, and what were Boxers bred for?

A medium-sized, short-coated working dog of the mastiff type. The AKC places it in the Working Group, and the FCI files it with the molossoid, or mastiff-family, breeds. The FCI standard traces it to the Brabant Bullenbeisser, a hunting dog that seized and held game until the huntsman arrived, which is why every Boxer standard still asks for a wide jaw and an undershot bite.

The Boxer-Klub in Munich has existed since 1895, and the AKC recognized the breed in 1904. American, German and English describe where a Boxer was bred and which standard its breeder followed, not a different animal.

Are American and German Boxers different breeds?

No. There is one Boxer, written down three ways:

AKC: the United States standard, approved in 2005. The American Boxer Club is the parent club.
FCI: Germany's standard for the breed, published in 2008 and used by the Boxer-Klub and by kennel clubs across Europe and beyond.
Kennel Club: the UK standard, kept by what is now the Royal Kennel Club.

All three want a square dog whose body is as long as it is tall, a chest reaching the elbows, an undershot jaw, a short, tight coat, and fawn or brindle color. The differences come from what each standard stresses, what the law allows to be done to ears and tails, and what breeders in each country have rewarded.

How do the AKC, FCI and Kennel Club standards compare?

Here are the points buyers ask about most. The inch figures in the FCI column are our conversions from its centimeters.

Point	AKC (US)	FCI (Germany, Europe)	Kennel Club (UK)
Height, males	23 to 25 inches	57 to 63 cm (about 22.4 to 24.8 inches)	22.5 to 25 inches
Height, females	21.5 to 23.5 inches	53 to 59 cm (about 20.9 to 23.2 inches)	21 to 23 inches
Weight	Not given	Males over 30 kg (about 66 pounds) at about 60 cm; females about 25 kg (55 pounds)	Males about 66 to 70 pounds; females about 55 to 60
Muzzle length	One third of the head	Nose bridge to skull 1 to 2, the same proportion	One third of the head
Ears	Customarily cropped; natural ears described	Natural	Natural
Tail	Docked; undocked severely penalized	Natural, normal length	Previously docked; both described
Colors	Fawn, brindle	Fawn, brindle	Fawn, brindle
White markings	Over one third disqualifies	Over one third is a fault	Up to one third
Temperament	Steadfast, tractable, patient with children	Fearless, self-confident, calm, equable	Equable, biddable, fearless, self-assured

On paper, the gap between the types is smaller than it looks in photographs.

How does a German Boxer's head and build differ from an American Boxer's?

All three standards put the muzzle at one third of the head's length, so the famous difference in heads is not a different ratio. It is a different emphasis.

The FCI asks for a muzzle "as broad and powerful as possible" and "strong bone". The AKC speaks of a "chiseled head" and a dog that "combines strength and agility with elegance and style". Breeders reward what their standard stresses, so, with plenty of overlap:

German and European lines tend to carry more bone and muscle, with a broader, heavier head.
American lines tend to look leaner and more elegant, with a cleaner, more sculpted head.

Neither is meant to be extreme. The FCI says the nose must not be pushed back into the forehead as in the Bulldog, and the AKC asks for a clean head without deep wrinkles.

Is a German Boxer dog bigger than an American Boxer?

Not by the written heights. The FCI range for males sits almost on top of the AKC's and starts a little lower: a 22.5-inch male fits the FCI and Kennel Club ranges but falls under the AKC minimum, though the AKC has no size disqualification.

The bigger look comes from mass. The FCI expects a male of about 60 cm, roughly 23.6 inches, to weigh over 30 kg, about 66 pounds, and a heavier-boned dog of the same height looks larger. The AKC gives no weight and asks for balance instead. For adult weights and growth stages, see how big Boxers get.

Why do German Boxers have natural tails and ears?

Because of the law, and a standard written to match it. German animal welfare law has banned ear cropping since 1987 and later banned tail docking. The FCI standard describes only natural ears and says the tail "is of normal length and left natural".

The AKC standard says the ears are "customarily cropped", though it also describes the natural ear, and calls for a docked tail, with an undocked one "severely penalized". That is why American show Boxers are usually cropped and docked.

In the UK, ear cropping is illegal, and England has banned tail docking since 2007 apart from certain working breeds, which do not include the Boxer. A natural tail alone does not mean a dog is German: many American pet Boxers keep their ears and some their tails. Our guide to Boxer tails and ears covers the choices.

Do American and German Boxers come in different colors?

No. All three standards allow only fawn and brindle, with or without white. The details differ:

Fawn: light tan to mahogany for the AKC; light fawn to dark deer red for the FCI, which prefers the middle, red fawn shades.
Brindle: the AKC accepts striping so heavy the fawn barely shows, which can look like reverse brindle. The FCI faults stripes that are too close together or too sparse, so a German Boxer brindle is judged on clear, even striping.
Mask and white: the FCI wants a dark mask confined to the muzzle; the AKC lets white replace part of it. The AKC disqualifies white over one third of the coat, while the FCI calls it a fault.

White Boxers and very dark brindles turn up in both types. See our brindle and reverse brindle Boxer page, the guide to white Boxers and the full guide to Boxer colors.

Is the temperament of German and American Boxers different?

The written ideal is close to identical. The AKC describes a dog "fundamentally playful, yet patient and stoical with children", wary with strangers and fearless if threatened. The FCI wants a Boxer "harmless with his family but distrustful of strangers", and disqualifies aggression or marked shyness.

The difference lies in what happens before a dog is bred. The German Boxer-Klub's breeding rules call for a working title of at least IGP1, a test of tracking, obedience and protection, and stud dogs from abroad must show hip, heart and spine results and a temperament test. AKC registration has no such requirements, and the American Boxer Club's health testing is a recommendation.

German working lines are often described as having more drive, and American lines as a little softer. Treat that as a reason to ask questions, not a promise. Our guide to Boxer temperament covers what the breed is like at home.

What is an English Boxer, and how many types of Boxer dogs are there?

An English Boxer is a Boxer bred in the UK under the Kennel Club standard. On paper it sits close to the FCI dog: the same heights in centimeters, natural ears by law, and in practice a natural tail. It is the only one of the three standards to give a weight range for both sexes.

So the different types of Boxer dogs people mean are three: the American Boxer, the German or European Boxer, and the English Boxer, all one breed. Names such as "American Bulldog Boxer" or "Boxer English Bulldog" describe crosses, not types, and so do most dogs sold as small Boxers. Our page on the miniature Boxer explains that label.

American vs German Boxer: which one suits your family?

Start with how you live, not with the passport.

For tracking, obedience or protection sport, look for breeders who title their dogs in IGP. Many breed German or European lines.
For the American show look, AKC show lines give you that refined outline.
For a family Boxer, either type can be right. The parents matter more than the label.

Whatever the type, the breed faces the same health questions. The American Boxer Club recommends hip X-rays, a Holter monitor for the heart rhythm disease ARVC, an echocardiogram for aortic valve disease, and a thyroid panel, all explained in our guide to Boxer health problems. When you are ready, browse our available Boxer puppies; every one sees a vet before going home and comes with a written health guarantee.

Quick Answers

Is a European Boxer the same as a German Boxer?

Mostly, yes. "European Boxer" usually means a Boxer bred to the FCI standard somewhere in Europe, and that standard is Germany's.

What does "Deutscher Boxer" mean?

It is the breed's German name and the title of the FCI standard. Every Boxer, wherever it was bred, goes back to German dogs of the 1890s.

Are German Boxers healthier than American Boxers?

Neither standard makes a dog healthy. Boxers from both sides can carry heart disease and hip dysplasia, so a dog's country of origin tells you little about its health.