Boxers are medium-sized, sturdy dogs. Adult males are 23 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder. Females are a couple of inches shorter. Boxers have square bodies. The measurement from the chest to the rear is the same as the measurement from the top of the shoulder to the ground.
Boxers have blunt or square muzzles, and their heads do not show deep wrinkles. Wrinkles only appear when the ears are erected, appearing on the forehead and both sides of the muzzle. The ears are thin and lay flat, close to the cheeks, but fall forward when alert. When cropped, ears stand erect and firm.
Eyes are dark brown and frontally placed. The lower jaw is protruding and slightly curved upwards.
The coat is short and tight to the body. A boxer coat's is fawn colored, ranging from light tan to mahogany, and may have black patterns similar to stripes. This pattern, called brindle, is common in boxers. It varies in the concentration of black stripes from almost nonexistent to almost totally covering the fawn background. White markings also occur, but should not cover more than one-third of the coat.
Boxers have muscled forelegs that are long and straight. The rear legs are straight when viewed from behind. The rear legs are without dewclaws, which are vestigial toes on the inside of a dog's legs. Some breeders remove the dewclaws from the front legs. According to the American Kennel Club, the tail is always docked and set high. However, boxers can have their tails docked or undocked in the U.K.