˃ѵըeT Q&A
WITH DAVID AND STEPHANIE ABRAHAM, ALBERTO BERRIOS, HOWARD ENGEL, ANN GILBERT, THOMAS J LATTA, JANET AND LARRY SINCLAIR, SHARON K. STECKLER & JUDITH VORAN
balance and squareness in this medium-size breed is of primary importance. JV: Many new judges (as well as some older ones) tend to misunderstand the unique Boxer headpiece. Admittedly, one-third of the Boxer Standard deals with the headpiece, two-thirds of the standard concentrates on the rest of the Boxer. Judges of other breeds than the Boxer should never forgive in a Boxer what they will not forgive in their own breeds regarding the Boxer’s body structure. The headpiece, however, is unique in its architectural structure. The orbital ridge sets much further forward on the Boxer head than virtually all other breeds. There- fore, the eye is much more frontally placed and the stop is well indented behind a horizontal line drawn across the eye-about the depth of a forefinger. The depth of the muzzle in relation to the back skull is 1:2 as measured from the tip of the nose to stop to the occiput. The tip of the nose, unlike most breeds, sits behind the forma- tion of the lips. In most breeds, the bite is level or some form of scissors. Not so with the Boxer. The Boxer has a under jaw which curves slightly upward (repandous.) The incisors are of relative unimportance except for the two outside ones of the upper jaw that should fit snugly behind the lower canine. Rather than an examination of the Boxer bite from a traditional frontal method, a judge need only examine a Boxer’s bite by lifting the sides of the lips and observing the lower canines and the outside upper incisors. Many Boxer’s incisors (especially those in the lower jaw) eventually are overgrown by gum tissue and disappear. Only the lower canine stands upright. The upper canine tends to lean backward outside a line of the upper incisors. The Standard calls for a wide lower jaw but, in fact, the upper jaw by design is the wider of the two jaws. In truth, however, a narrow lower jaw affects the width of the upper jaw and when this hap- pens, a snipey-ness occurs affecting a proper balance and proportion of the total headpiece. The headpiece is truly a “box-on-a-box.” The width of the top skull; the length of the top skull; the depth of the top skull as measure to the lower jaw are equal. The muzzle is another “box” in depth and width roughly equal to two-thirds the depth of the back skull’s depth. 6. What five traits do you look for, in order, when judging Boxers? What do you consider the ultimate hallmark of the breed? AB: Type, balance, head, temperament and front. The hall- mark of the breed is its distinguishing and unique head. HE: When judging the Boxer, I first look at profile for bal- ance. A short back, slightly sloping topline, balanced angles front and rear, well let down hocks. Stepping to the front, I proceed to make sure the legs give good columns of support and set under the dog properly. A well-filled front and forechest is mandatory. From the rear the legs should be parallel and have well-developed
our JE seminars we are asked to emphasize heads, though we stress that they are only one essential compo- nent of the breed that must also be square and sound. AB: New judges usually have problems understanding what a good head is and what details to look for. The Boxer is considered a head breed and it is the hallmark. You may find a Boxer with a square body and nice movement but without the proper head it would lack type. AG: Remember that this is a Working breed and a good dog should be of medium height, with a short back, good front and rear and with those virtues should sail around the ring to perfection. Dogs with a slight build do not represent what I have always considered the standard to require. TJL: Judges need to first understand the purpose for which the Boxer was bred. Fulfilling that purpose requires strength, agility and efficiency of movement in pursuit, together with a proper Boxer head and its components for holding its captured prey. Judges that come from other breeds that rely on movement usually come to the Boxer ring with a good understanding of that compo- nent, but often struggle to grasp the complexities and vital importance of the various components of the Boxer head (the undershot & hopefully broad bite, upper & lower lips that meet, the muzzle/nose with layback when viewed from the side, a distinct stop, the one-third/two third dimensions in length, width and depth). J&LS: Going away movement is sometimes confusing for new judges. Because of the structure of the forequarters and hindquarters, the Boxer does not need to single track immediately. And because of the importance of the head, some new judges have a tendency not to judge the total dog. SKS: New judges can get so “hung up” on the headpiece that they forget to consider the totality of the dog. While the Boxer head is the hallmark of the breed, overall “REMEMBER THAT THIS IS A WORKING BREED AND A GOOD DOG SHOULD BE OF MEDIUM HEIGHT, WITH A SHORT BACK, GOOD FRONT AND REAR AND WITH THOSE VIRTUES SHOULD SAIL AROUND THE RING TO PERFECTION. ”
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