Breeder- judges are excellent resources when studying a breed. Twenty Boxer breeder-judges agreed to complete a survey to determine priorities to use when evaluating their breed. They range from those who judge only Boxers to others who  judge multiple Groups. They average nearly 35 years in the breed and almost 12 years judging Boxers.  All have judged Boxer specialties, and more than half have judged their National Specialty.

 Prioritizing Virtues

     The judges were were given a list of breed virtues from the boxer standard to prioritize, from the most important to the least important. Their responses were averaged.  The following is the list of Boxer characteristics in sequence by the breeder- judges’ average priority, with number one being the most important.

1. Body in profile...square
2. Broad, blunt muzzle
3. Alert, dignified, self assured; constrained animation in the ring
4. Ground covering stride with powerful drive
5. Tip of the nose slightly higher than the root of the muzzle
6. Distinct stop
7. Moderate layback of muzzle when viewed from the side
8. Shoulders long, sloping, with upper arm long and approaching a right angle to the shoulder blade
9. Neck of ample length
10. Incisor teeth of the lower jaw in straight line
11. Forechest well-defined and visible from the side
12. Medium size (males 23 to 25 inches; females 21 1/2 to 23 1/2 inches)
13. Eyes dark brown
14. Chin perceptible from the side as well as from the front
15. Legs well-angulated  at the stifle
16. Tail set high, docked, and carried upward

   The Boxer standard states “In judging the Boxer, first consideration is given to general appearance and overall balance.  Special attention is then devoted to the head...” Our survey confirms that these breeder judges follow that recommendation.  The judges agreed that after a square body proportion which ranked first, the shape of the muzzle was next in importance.  Six of the virtues listed describe the muzzle.  Of the six muzzle characteristics, four were placed in the top seven.
   The group was not as consistent as some other breeder-judges have been when ranking virtues and faults, even with those features ranked toward the top and the bottom.  This could be interpreted as disagreement, or it might mean that they collectively consider many parts to be nearly equivalent.  I suspect the latter is closer to the truth because of their strong, consistent selections of the outlines, which more closely represent whole dogs.

 Among the virtues, almost three-quarters of the group placed Body in profile .square  among the top four, giving it a significant lead over the next highest virtue.  Second place Broad, blunt muzzle was ranked as one of the top five by slightly more than half the group.                                     (Top)

   The next three virtues in order

• Alert, dignified, self-assured constrained animation  in the ring
• Ground covering stride with a powerful drive:
• Tip of the nose slightly higher than the root of the muzzle

were placed similarly by only about half the group. The other half ranked these characteristics  much higher or much
lower.

     Toward the bottom of the list, Chin perceptible from the side as well as from the front (14) and Tail set high, docked, and carried upward (16)  were placed in the bottom quarter by 65 percent of the group, making them more consistently placed than any other features
  The other characteristics were placed high, low, and in the middle by different breeder-judges.

     Because of the greater variations in placements, many of the virtues’ average ranks were quite close to each other and can be considered nearly equal in priority.  Temperament  (Alert, dignified, self assured; constrained animation in the ring) (3) and movement (ground covering stride with a powerful drive) (4) had very close average ranks.  The eighth through 11th features also averaged so close to each other that additional surveys could easily change their placements.  Medium size (12) and Eyes dark brown (13) were only fractionally separated  in average rank. 

   Note that temperament, both as a virtue and as a fault, ranked fairly highly.  This is consistent with the standard saying “Character and Temperament ... are of paramount importance in the Boxer.”  As you can see, the opinions of these breeder -judges mirror the written standard in breed prioritizing three element of the breed: general appearance /overall balance, the head, and character / temperament.

Ranking Faults

     The breeder-judges also ranked a list of Boxer faults taken directly or indirectly from the standard. The following is the list of faults in sequence by the average rank, from most serious to least serious, with number one being the most serious.

1. Teeth or tongue showing with the mouth closed
2. Shyness, lack of dignity, or             ( lack of ) alertness
3. muzzle slanting down (down-faced)
4. Back not short, straight, muscular firm or smooth
5. Gait stilted or inefficient
6. Front surface of the muzzle not broad and squarish (influenced by placement and size of canine teeth)
7. Cheekiness (on skull)
8. Feet not compact , turning either in or out, or without well-arched toes
9. tie. No black mask muzzle
10. tie Overlip obscuring the chin
11. Deep wrinkles (wet)
12. Sidewinding
13. Croup more than slightly sloped
14. Hock joint leaning in or out
15. White on the flanks or on the back of the torso
16. Topline not slightly sloping (Top)

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Note:  This article is not intended to promote fault or “part” judging, nor is to imply that any characteristic called for in the standard is unimportant. Judging and breeding are about prioritizing and about what the judge or breeder will forgive.  Discussing priorities can help in learning how to evaluate breed
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     Again, four of the faults pertain to the muzzle, and three of those are placed in the top six. The group was most consistent with the most serious fault, Teeth or tongue showing when mouth is closed; over 80 percent placed this fault among the first
four.  Faults of Shyness, lack of dignity, or (lack of )alertness (2), Muzzle slanting down (downfaced) (3), and Front surface of the muzzle not broad and squarish (6) reflected agreement with well over half of the breeder - judges placing them similarly

  The four faults listed toward the bottom were ranked fairly consistently by over half of the breeder-judges. Even so, a significant minority placed these problems as more serious. Movement as a virtue was fourth and poor movement ranked fifth as a fault, indicating the value this group placed on gait.

  On the other hand, the eighth through 12th faults
   8.  Feet not compact, turning either in or          out, or without well-arched toes (8)
   9.  No black mask (tied for 9)
  10. Overtip obscuring the chin (tied for 9)
  11. Deep wrinkles (wet) (11)
  12. Sidewinding (12)
were ranked from variously high to low among the judges.  The average ranks of these faults were also very close and could quickly change position with additional
input. More discussion with the mentors of your choice would be needed before deciding how seriously to fault these, since this group isn’t in agreement.

Essential Characteristics

   The breeder-judges were asked to name four to six characteristics that a Boxer must have, only the primary characteristics that they look for when they judge. Two tied for first: balance and head.  If  you add “expression” to head , then head was primary. Attitude and movement, especially side gait, were the next most frequently named. The group also looked for a square dog.

Outlines

   The judges were asked to place six Boxer dogs and six Boxer bitches on outlines only. The outlines were of real dogs from some time ago, all good Boxers that had done some winning.  In prior surveys, some judges have commented that none of the outlines is exactly  what they are looking for. True- just like real judging :  no perfect dogs.  When placing them, the judges must prioritize and decide what to reward and what to forgive. 

Before reading further and using the priorities above, select your Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex from the Boxer outlines here.           (Continued Below)
 

   The breeder-judges’s placements of the outlines were averaged to determine their collective selections. They were noticeably more consistent in selecting the outlines than they were in agreeing on priorities. 

     The top male based on the best average placement was Boxer A; he was also placed first  by more than one half of the breeder-judges. Those who selected him said he had “more overall  type,” “balance,” “outstanding outline,” correct “tail set, angulation, head shape,” and “good topline.”  Boxer F was a distant second.  Those who selected Boxer F chose him because he had “balance, length of leg,” “type, head,” and “neck that flows smoothly into topline.”
     The bitch with the best average placements and the most first placements was Boxer X; She, too, was placed first by a majority of the judges. Those who picked her said she had “ best balance overall,” a “pleasing profile, square, firm topline,”

“elegance,” “good type and head,” and “correct proportions.” A distant second was Boxer Bitch U. Those who chose her said she had “squareness, balance” and a “more correct tailset.”

     Boxer bitch X and Boxer dog A were placed first the same number of times. Bitch X had a slightly better average placement score than Boxer A had when competing with their respective sexes. But Boxer dog A was selected Best of Breed almost twice as often as as Boxer X, so Boxer A is the breeder-judges choice.

Additional Comments

     Some of the comments offered by the Boxer breeder-judges:

• Type in the Boxer encompasses impeccable temperament, a beautiful typical  head, square proportions, and a medium size -- these are hallmarks of the breed.

Temperament is first and foremost.

• Excessive white could be emphasized as a fault since it is one of our two disqualifications . 
• Markings are supposed to enhance.  If they distract , the judge must penalize to the degree to which he believes the dog deviates from the statement in the standard.

   Thanks to all Boxer breeder-judges  who shared their expertise.
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About The Author

Nikki Riggsbee is approved to judge all Hound and Working Breeds and several Sporting breeds.  She has been active in both all-breed and specialty clubs.
  She began showing dogs in 1980 with Norwegian Elkhounds and Great Danes. Under the affix McEmm, she has bred nearly one litter of Great Danes per year. She has owned and bred over 20 champions, with many more produced from her dogs.  in additon to conformation, Nikki has exhibited and titled Great Danes in obedience.  Her Web site is www.mcemm.com.