Perfect way for a boxer to carry its tail

[vinya12]

I was looking through the dog world paper and there is a pull out all about Boxers.. on the front is a photos of Marbelton boxers import Waterloo vom German dream. I was immediately struck by the lovely tail on this dog.:) Long and curling over the back . It shows how beautiful a boxer with the right tail carriage looks. This is defiantly the way foreword for boxers with tails. Being high set and over the back the tail is out of harms way and keeps the square look of the boxer .
I do hope more breeders encourage this look in tailed boxers and that the KC soon put it as part of the breed standard. The best part is that most boxers naturally carry there tails this way, making breeding good tail carriage easy for the breeders who wish to pursue this beautiful new look



See link and scroll to the bottom of the page

http://www.marbeltonboxers.co.uk/BOXER-IMPORTS

[sheplovr]

Personally on that site I like the shorter tail it shows the rear angle perfect. Sometimes tails are distractig. I do not like much tail on a Boxer, Rotty or Dobe. I like the hard faces on these Boxers. German Look? I hate a long faced Boxer typical of American breeder dogs here. At times the ears appear too large also. These are nice Boxers indeed.:D

[Borzoi mad]

Hi Vinya You are talking about the pull out supplement in last week's Dog World and yes I agree the Marbleton Dog on the front cover looks really good with the tail carried at the angle in the picture,

Having said that did you see the Picture on Page 11 of the supplement of the of Koppernox Pop Princess ? Think the way the person handling this dog is holding the tail makes it look awful and def not keeping the square look. If I owned this dog I would most certainly not have used that picture to advertise my kennel name. Don't think it does any favours for this girl.

[vinya12]

Yes I have seen this before in photos . It seems some breeders /owners are not shore how to hold the long tail of a boxer. So they hold in a way as though it had a docked tail. Leaving the rest of the tail to flop or hang lose. It would be much better to let the tail curl over the back. Its a lovely look. I am hoping in time this will be the norm

[Borzoi mad]

I have heard there has been loads of discussion on how to hold the tail, Do you think that the breeder/owner/exhibitor/handler , should hold the taIL? I think it looks better not held but carried naturally as in the picture, on the front pager,but since tails in boxers are early days yet suppose it will take a while till the decision is made as to how the tail should be carried .

[boxerpups]

I was looking through the dog world paper and there is a pull out all about Boxers.. on the front is a photos of Marbelton boxers import Waterloo vom German dream. I was immediately struck by the lovely tail on this dog.:) Long and curling over the back . It shows how beautiful a boxer with the right tail carriage looks. This is defiantly the way foreword for boxers with tails. Being high set and over the back the tail is out of harms way and keeps the square look of the boxer .
I do hope more breeders encourage this look in tailed boxers and that the KC soon put it as part of the breed standard. The best part is that most boxers naturally carry there tails this way, making breeding good tail carriage easy for the breeders who wish to pursue this beautiful new look



See link and scroll to the bottom of the page

http://www.marbeltonboxers.co.uk/BOXER-IMPORTS

Yes he is a fabulous dog... Mary knows her dogs..and id a great fan of the European Boxer.... Breeders in Europe, have a great advantage over us... as in many countries they have not been able to dock for yrs, and have set a good standard for tail carriage...

Mary has a stunning young bitch pup also from a German import (not hers) that is just to die for...I have to say, I hate tails, but sitting watching those pups with tails at B/pool, you soon forget they are there...a stunning dog is a stunning dog, with or without a tail.


It is very interesting reading (her article) at Stafford earlier this yr...I was talking to Mary, about tails.... and it is interesting to hear, she has no issues with them, , not like many breeders... (some of which are going the bobtail route) she has more of an issue with heads....

She breeds some fabulous heads, on her dogs.....The Boxer is 100% a head breed, if the head is not right , all else fails

Personally on that site I like the shorter tail it shows the rear angle perfect. Sometimes tails are distractig. I do not like much tail on a Boxer, Rotty or Dobe. I like the hard faces on these Boxers. German Look? I hate a long faced Boxer typical of American breeder dogs here. At times the ears appear too large also. These are nice Boxers indeed.:D

I have to agree, some of the US Boxers you see have heads like Danes, and seem to lack bone..... but equally some lovely US Dogs too.

[zoeybeau1]

Here is the UK boxer breed standard, for those intrested.

Boxer Breed Standard

General AppearanceGreat nobility, smooth-coated, medium-sized, square build, strong bone and evident, well developed muscles.
CharacteristicsLively, strong, loyal to owner and family, but distrustful of strangers. Obedient, friendly at play, but with guarding instinct.
TemperamentEquable, biddable, fearless, self-assured.
Head and SkullHead imparts its unique individual stamp and is in proportion to body, appearing neither light nor too heavy. Skull lean without exaggerated cheek muscles. Muzzle broad, deep and powerful, never narrow, pointed, short or shallow. Balance of skull and muzzle essential, with muzzle never appearing small, viewed from any angle. Skull cleanly covered, showing no wrinkle, except when alerted. Creases present from root of nose running down sides of muzzle. Dark mask confined to muzzle, distinctly contrasting with colour of head, even when white is present. Lower jaw undershot, curving slightly upward. Upper jaw broad where attached to skull, tapering very slightly to front. Muzzle shape completed by upper lips, thick and well padded, supported by well separated canine teeth of lower jaw. Lower edge of upper lip rests on edge of lower lip, so that chin is clearly perceptible when viewed from front or side. Lower jaw never to obscure front of upper lip, neither should teeth nor tongue be visible when mouth closed. Top of skull slightly arched, not rounded, nor too flat and broad. Occiput not too pronounced. Distinct stop, bridge of nose never forced back into forehead, nor should it be downfaced. Length of muzzle measured from tip of nose to inside corner of eye is one-third length of head measured from tip of nose to occiput. Nose broad, black, slightly turned up, wide nostrils with well defined line between. Tip of nose set slightly higher than root of muzzle. Cheeks powerfully developed, never bulging.
EyesDark brown, forward looking, not too small, protruding or deeply set. Showing lively, intelligent expression. Dark rims with good pigmentation showing no haw.
EarsModerate size, thin, set wide apart on highest part of skull lying flat and close to cheek in repose, but falling forward with definite crease when alert.
MouthUndershot jaw, canines set wide apart with incisors (six) in straight line in lower jaw. In upper jaw set in line curving slightly forward. Bite powerful and sound, with teeth set in normal arrangement.
NeckRound, of ample length, strong, muscular, clean cut, no dewlap. Distinctly marked nape and elegant arch down to withers.
ForequartersShoulders long and sloping, close lying, not excessively covered with muscle. Upper arm long, making right angle to shoulderblade. Forelegs seen from front, straight, parallel, with strong bone. Elbows not too close or standing too far from chest wall. Forearms perpendicular, long and firmly muscled. Pasterns short, clearly defined, but not distended, slightly slanted.
BodyIn profile square, length from forechest to rear of upper thigh equal to height at withers. Chest deep, reaching to elbows. Depth of chest half height at withers. Ribs well arched, not barrel-shaped, extending well to rear. Withers clearly defined. Back short, straight, slightly sloping, broad and strongly muscled. Loin short, well tucked up and taut. Lower abdominal line blends into curve to rear.
HindquartersVery strong with muscles hard and standing out noticeably under skin. Thighs broad and curved. Broad croup slightly sloped, with flat, broad arch. Pelvis long and broad. Upper and lower thigh long. Good hind angulation; when standing, the stifle is directly under the hip protuberance. Seen from side, leg from hock joint to foot not quite vertical. Seen from behind, legs straight, hock joints clean, with powerful rear pads.
FeetFront feet small and cat-like, with well arched toes, and hard pads; hind feet slightly longer.


Tail
Previously customarily docked.
Docked: Set on high and carried upward.
Undocked: Set on high and carried gaily, not curled over back. Of moderate thickness. In overall balance to the rest of dog.


Gait/MovementStrong, powerful with noble bearing, reaching well forward, and with driving action of hindquarters. In profile, stride free and ground covering.
CoatShort, glossy, smooth and tight to body.
ColourFawn or brindle. White markings acceptable not exceeding one-third of ground colour.
Fawn: Various shades from dark deer red to light fawn.
Brindle: Black stripes on previously described fawn shades, running parallel to ribs all over body. Stripes contrast distinctly to ground colour, neither too close not too thinly dispersed. Ground colour clear, not intermingling with stripes.
SizeHeight: dogs: 57-63 cms (221/2-25 ins); bitches: 53-59 cms (21-23 ins). Weight: dogs: approximately 30-32 kgs (66-70 lbs); bitches: approximately 25-27 kgs (55-60 lbs).
FaultsAny departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
NoteMale animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/45

[vinya12]

I think the tail one needs to be changed . it looks much better curled over the back and is more natural this way

[applesmom]

I think the tail one needs to be changed . it looks much better curled over the back and is more natural this way

That doesn't even make sense!

All standards were written for a reason and aren't subject to change by popular vote of those who aren't heavily involved in the breed.:rolleyes:

[vinya12]

the standards for the tail was written when they were docked, and the standard for the undocked tail has not been given much thought.

[applesmom]

the standards for the tail was written when they were docked, and the standard for the undocked tail has not been given much thought.

Tail set and carriage have very little to do with appearance and everything to do with performance. Every bit as much attention is given to tail set and carriage when writing a standard as is given to the rest of the dog. Tail set and carriage are influenced by the angle and length of the croup. Docked or not, the proper tail set and carriage greatly influences a dog's ability to do the job it was bred to do.

To change the tail standard for appearance only would be to change the structure of the entire dog and therefore effect the ability to do it's job.

Let's hope it never comes to that!

[techie]

IMHO as a novice, I would prefer that no tails be docked. I hear how much it hurts when I step on one acidentally.
I do not show and prefer mixes.
Hope I don't offend too many people!
techie

[applesmom]

IMHO as a novice, I would prefer that no tails be docked. I hear how much it hurts when I step on one acidentally.
I do not show and prefer mixes.
Hope I don't offend too many people!
techie

Such comments regarding tail docking crop up in every discussion even remotely related to the subject. I truly wish that those who are against tail docking wouldn't ignore the fact that it is done when the puppies are only 3 days old and aren't capable of feeling pain.

I seriously doubt that anyone would advocate docking an adult dog. Stepping on the tail of an adult dog doesn't in any way compare to stepping on the tail of a 3 day old puppy. The 3 day old puppy wouldn't even feel it since their senses are not yet developed. The two situations are as different as night and day.


The animals in the Nesthockern group are born relatively immature, completely naked, blind, deaf, very immobile and very helpless. Their nervous system at birth is not even fully developed. There are still cell divisions in the brain and some of the nervous threads are not fully developed. In psychological tests, it has been determined that the time between the nervous impulse and reaction (chronaxie) takes 3-4 times longer than it would in an adult. After about 10-14 days, when the animals eyes are opened (until then it has been more like an embryo) it is possible to determine the normal value of the impulse.


http://www.cdb.org/vets/fritsch.htm

[vinya12]

Tail set and carriage have very little to do with appearance and everything to do with performance. Every bit as much attention is given to tail set and carriage when writing a standard as is given to the rest of the dog. Tail set and carriage are influenced by the angle and length of the croup. Docked or not, the proper tail set and carriage greatly influences a dog's ability to do the job it was bred to do.

To change the tail standard for appearance only would be to change the structure of the entire dog and therefore effect the ability to do it's job.

Let's hope it never comes to that!

This is The very reason I think it was not thought out properly.With the tail curled over the back, the tail is in a safer position for the dog. It is less likely to get damaged than hanging low. Also it gives the boxer a more square look. And dose not distract the eye. It is also a more natural way for the boxer to carry it, as most boxers with tails hold them over the back. I have put a lot of thought and time in to researching tailed boxers and have found a tail curled over the back not only safer for the dog but giving a better look to the dog in the show ring. breed standers have been known to change for the best interests of the dog. And I truly think that the tail for the tailed boxer needs to be looked at again. On my research I also found a lot more people agreeing that the tail looks better carried over the back. So I am hoping that this may become part of the breed standard. And I have sent letters to dog magazines and the KC to look at this more closely. You don't have to own a breed to take interest in it, as I know from my own breed witch I studded for 6 years before owning one