Origin of the name
- Thread starter Theo
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Actually, nobody knows for certain. The playing style where they use their front feet a lot is one theory, but it's also a fairly modern one 
Given that you're talking about a German dog developed almost entirely outside the English-speaking world though, I think it's probably rather unlikely that they elected to name it after the English word for how the dog plays
Early descriptions of the dog was as a "box" dog. Another of the theories as to how it was named is that the dog was carried around in a box at the rear of carriages - hence "box" or "boxer" dog. They're all just theories though. Those who developed the breed didn't actually write down the reasons they elected to give it the name they did
Given that you're talking about a German dog developed almost entirely outside the English-speaking world though, I think it's probably rather unlikely that they elected to name it after the English word for how the dog plays Early descriptions of the dog was as a "box" dog. Another of the theories as to how it was named is that the dog was carried around in a box at the rear of carriages - hence "box" or "boxer" dog. They're all just theories though. Those who developed the breed didn't actually write down the reasons they elected to give it the name they did
garvinsmum
Completely Boxer Crazy
In a book I have it says that in the 1880's when the breed was just starting a brindle bitch was bred to a male dog of a strain called Boxls. One of the resulting puppies was called Lechners Box and was one of the foundation dogs of the breed. Hence - "Boxer"
The theory seems reasonable.
The theory seems reasonable.
Theo
Boxer Pal
gmacleod said:Early descriptions of the dog was as a "box" dog. Another of the theories as to how it was named is that the dog was carried around in a box at the rear of carriages - hence "box" or "boxer" dog. They're all just theories though. Those who developed the breed didn't actually write down the reasons they elected to give it the name they did
Interesting, I didn't hear about that one. I just looked over some websites retracing the history of the breed and many attribute the english name to the dog's instinct to use it's front paws when at play and fighting.
The mystery lives on though...
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