One of two strains of a molosser type dog that existed in central Europe until the early 1900’s was the Bullenbeisser, most likely a descendant of the Roman war dogs that the Romans left behind in Europe (the other strain was the Barenbeisser). These extremely strong and agile dogs (used to hunt large game and protect the family) came to be known as the German Bulldog. Sadly, the dog became extinct by crossbreeding, but some of our breeds today have roots in the Bullenbeisser, and the Boxer is one of them. In the book, “The Boxer,” published in 1939, author John Wagner wrote that it was generally accepted that a smaller Bullenbeisser bred in Northeast Belgium is a direct ancestor of today’s Boxer. A more complete overview of the Boxer’s historical relationship with the Bullenbeisser can be found here.
Boxer by Carolee Clark