Artist, Sarah Theophilus’ distinctive style as well as her passion for dogs take the contemporary approach to the tradition of pet portraits much further. Her dog paintings capture the candid, the intense, and the more quirky nature of our beloved companions. Her art can be seen at
Pet Portraits in Pastel.
Developed in Germany, the
Boxer is a breed of stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog. The coat is smooth and fawn or brindled, with or without white markings. They have very strong jaws and a powerful bite. The Boxer was bred from the Bulldog and the now extinct breed called: Bullenbeisser. Based on 2006 American Kennel Club statistics, Boxers are the seventh most popular breed of dog in the United States—a position they have held since 2002. Boxers are renowned from olden times for their great love and faithfulness to their masters and household.
Boxers are harmless in the family, but distrustful of strangers. They are bright and friendly of temperament at play, but brave and determined when aroused. Boxers’ intelligence and willing tractability, modesty and cleanliness make them a highly desirable family dog and cheerful companion. A boxer is the soul of honesty and loyalty, and is never false in old age. There are many theories pertaining to the origin of the breed’s name. It is supposedly derived from the breed's tendency to begin a fight by standing on its hind legs and "boxing" with its front paws. It could also have gotten its name from the very first known specimens of the breed which was called
Lechner's Box.