Country/Date of Origin: Germany/late 1800s
This is a breed whose exact beginnings are known. In the 1880s, George Alt who lived near Munich, created a new working dog by crossing a Bullenbeisser--a mastiff type dog that is now extinct--with an English Bulldog. The first dog to be considered a Boxer was a second generation of that mixture. The breed is one that combines power and agility. There is also a good head on the Boxer's working shoulders. It is so suited to doing man's bidding that it has been a favorite of police departments, military trainers and guide dog organizations. Boxers in the United States are lighter and more refined than those on the Continent. The first Boxer was registered by the American Kennel Club in 1904 but the first champion didn't finish until 1915. Boxers have had a slow and steady climb in popularity till they are now firmly fixed in the top twenty breeds.