Small Boxer

[gmacleod]

OK - well you'll be glad to know that 21 inches is not in the least small, it is absolutely correct for a female boxer. They are supposed to be between 21-23 inches tall full-grown, and your girl will probably grow another inch before she's done (so 22 inches, which is right in the middle of the standard). So if that looks small compared to others, you can be happy in the knowledge that it is those others that are incorrect for the breed, not Daisy

As for her being skinny - honestly, do not worry. If she eats well and is otherwise healthy and active then she is fine. She will start to fill out after she is finished growing upward. Boxer puppies are notorious for being skinny at this age, but will gradually put on weight in their second and third years.

 

[SoleilBxrs]

gmacleod-

how likely is it for a bitch to grow more after age one? my Nikki just turned 1 last month, she's barely 22in @ the withers.. (which i know is w/in female standard), but shes smaller than a lot of the bitches in the ring... :rolleyes: we're hoping, but doubtful, that she will grow another 1/2in - 1in. Her growth plates are flat.. is there still hope?

-Kat

 

[gmacleod]

Well you might still get another inch out of her. I think most reach full height by about 14-16 months, but it does vary a little dog-to-dog. I recall I stopped measuring my first boxer at around 14 months because I thought she was done, but somewhere along the line she managed to sneak in another inch - and in doing so exceeded the standard by that much :rolleyes:

Even though Nikki's growth plates appear 'flat', they don't normally fully close until 18 months. So more growth is still a possibility, though I'd say an inch is the most you could hope for.

Still, I wouldn't be too concerned. IMO it is better to have a correct dog, especially if you're wanting to get into breeding further down the track. LOL - there's no shortage of oversized studs around, so you might just be glad of a smaller bitch at a later stage

 

[craZ4HERKIE]

Herkie is kind of small, and people ask me if he's full blooded because of it! He's full blooded...got him from a BYB, before I knew any better. He's not bred to standard either...but these things don't make me love him any less. I'm not sure exactly how tall he is...can't get him to be still long enough...I think around 23-24", maybe not that tall. And his weight holds steady at 62lbs. People comment on how stocky he is...but to me, he still looks small. His mother was tall, but his father was short and stocky...guess that's who he took after. But as far as Daisy being ribby...up until Herkie was about 1 1/2 yrs old...people swore I wasn't feeding him!

 

[allover]

I get comments all the time that my 3 year old male is small. He weighs in at 53lbs and about 21 1/2'' at the withers. The vet said Tyson is perfect weight for his frame and he said it more than once. I make sure to ask everytime I take him in.It is all about his genes. The vet said it is a little better to be on the smaller size rather than to be to big, because there can be some health problems associated with a bigger than average size Boxer.

 

[tugger]

My Brit was 60 lbs on a good day but for the most part thin. Our vet said he would rather treat a thin dog than a fat dog and not to force the food issue.
She was 12 when she passed away.

 

[JackC]

Boxer growth cycle

I'm glad I found this thread. Size seems to be a common concern among us boxer people. My Gracie will be 10 months old this week, she weighs 44lbs, and is 20 inches at the withers. She seems on the small side to me, but after reading through this thread it is not likely she is done growing. I suppose I am comparing her to Sadie, who we lost last April. Sadie was 56 lbls and 23 inches.
GMACLEOD you have given me hope for growth..Thanks..

 

[haleyandmark]

This may sound really stupid, but I have heard many of you say that your babies are 21" (just throwing out a number) at the withers.

Is the 'withers' her front legs, back legs, or neither? Comparing Asia to most other Boxers we see, she seems pretty small (even compared to her 11 month old best Boxer friend). I think she is probably of normal size, it would just be intersting to measure her.

So, where are the withers? :rolleyes:

 

[JackC]

Withers

HaleyandMark, the withers is the height measured at the ridge between the shoulder bones. Term more common to horse people..JC

 

[pyermoli]

Oscr didn't hit his 60 lb mark until about 3 years of age. He is also pretty short. We have a puppy boxer too and she is 5 months and almost as tall as him. Oscar would worry me too b/c he was SO skinny, but he's filled out a lot after turning 4. People always ask me if he's a puppy, when I tell them no, they say he's awfully small. Good Luck!