Quo vadis Boxer? - English information

1. Information

Topics include, among others:
Current breeding and standard requirements
Situation in neighboring European countries
Brachycephaly and legislation

New approaches in breeding
Understanding Health: Making Meaningful Use of Genetic Testing
Preserving Genetic Diversity – Planning Based on Solid Foundations
Health in focus

Ongoing favorite: white boxers – history, genetics, breeder’s experience report

All-inclusive package per participant over two days:
Participation in all presentations, workshops, and exchange in the workshops including coffee/tea, orange juice, water, pastries, fruit, sheet cake, as well as 2x lunch buffet & dinner buffet (complete catering included):
€250

2. Registration

You can register using the registration form here.

3. Speakers

Dr. Jan-Peter Bach

Topic: Brachycephaly – Health Risks and Legal Regulations?

Dr. Jan-Peter Bach was born in Hamburg. He completed his veterinary studies as well as his subsequent doctorate at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. From 2011 to 2020, he worked at the Small Animal Clinic of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, with professional focuses on cardiology and internal medicine. During this time, he also supervised several clinical studies on Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome. From 2020 to 2022, he worked in private practice. Since 2022, Dr. Jan-Peter Bach has been working as a specialist consultant for animal welfare and animal health at the German Kennel Club.

Stefano Bartolini

Topic: Experiences of Breeder

Stefano Bartolini, born in Livorno on 08.04.1961. From 1987, he devoted himself passionately to the Boxer breed. He immediately began a collaboration with the historic kennel „del David“ based in Florence, owned by Dr. Raphael Mariotti. In 1996, he applied for his own kennel under the affix „di Casa Bartolini,“ both nationally (ENCI) and internationally (FCI). Between 1993 and 2002, he also successfully bred Dogues de Bordeaux. In 2002, he founded the specialized breed club IBC (Italian Boxer Club), of which he also serves as president.

In 2006, an important agreement was established between the Casa Bartolini kennel and the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Pisa within the framework of the three-year program for breeding techniques and training of purebred dogs. In 2017, seminars were held with students at the university on the topics of management and dog breeding.

In 2015, he became an international all-around judge as well as a judge trainer. For many years, he was a judge and breeding specialist in the Csaa sports circle. Over the years, his kennel and dogs have received countless beauty and sports titles.

Dr. Orietta Zilli

Topic: Current Breeding and Standard – Have breeding standards and actual breeding diverged?

I am a medical doctor and have been breeding Boxers under the kennel name “dei Boioni.” I have lived with Boxers since my childhood. My father began breeding in 1970. My dogs have won important titles such as: Annual Champion Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria, Serbia, France, FCI European Champion, VDH European Champion, German Federal Champion, German Winner, Winner Amsterdam, German VDH Champion, Switzerland Winner, Hungarian Champion, Slovenia Winner, Dutch Champion, Italian Champion, Club Winner Italy (BCI). Some of our dogs have been: Multi Ch. GRIFFITH DEI BOIONI, Multi Ch. CHEYENNE DEI BOIONI, Multi Ch. BEAUTY DEI BOIONI, Multi Ch. CORLEONE DEI BOIONI, Multi Ch. DARIA DEI BOIONI, Ch. DARIUS DEI BOIONI…

We have imported from Germany Ch. TORRO V. HESSEN NASSAU, Ch. FURORE V. ST. BARBARA, TOSCA V. NASSAU ORANIEN, CLARISSA V. MORSBACH, VENAL V. HESSEN NASSAU, SULTAN V. HESSEN NASSAU, XENTY V. HESSEN NASSAU, FLEUR V. HEIDELOH, …

From the Netherlands, we have imported Multi Ch. WARBER V. PELITA HUIS.

In addition, we have mated with many German males: Carlo ut Guetsel, Boris v. Spessartor, Kawezmann v. Goldhammer, Duko v. Otterloh, Monty v. Nassau Oranien, Xanthos v. Bereler Ries, Uthz v. Bereler Ries, Lajos v. Nesselblatt, Dozent v. Meinviertel, Gayus v. Schaetzkastlein, Aron v. Puck, Carlino v. Nassau Oranien, Karlino v. Hessen Nassau, and others.

Since 1994, I have been a breeding judge for the Boxer breed and have also served as a conformation judge;

since 2009, I have been an „all-rounder“ judge.

I have officiated as a judge in the major countries of the world.

In 1999 and 2011, I judged the ATIBOX as well as the annual champions in Italy multiple times. To date, I have been the first and only Italian judge to be allowed to judge the annual champion breeding show in Germany.
In 2010, I judged the FCI European Winner in Celje (Slovenia), in 2012 and 2015 the FCI World Dog Show in Austria and Italy, and in 2016 the FCI European Winner in Belgium.
I was the Italian delegate on the F.C.I. Judges‘ Commission and a member of the ENCI examination committees for new judges multiple times.
Additionally, I am a breeding judge trainer for the Boxer and many other breeds. I held a monographic course for the Boxer breed at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Pisa and conducted training courses for instructors on behalf of ENCI.

Dr. Orietta Zilli …

Dr. Claudia Scheurich

Topic: The Genetics of White Inheritance

Although boxers and involvement in the BK (Boxer Club) had been part of the family for 40 years, our first boxer, a female, moved into our home in 2014. With her, I began my journey in breeding and dog sports within the BK. This journey has so far led me, by 2024, to being appointed as a breeding judge and, in 2025, to successfully participating in the FCI-IGP-DM in Frankfurt, alongside my work as a breeding steward and the first chairperson of my group.
By training, I am a graduate biologist, specializing in genetics at the doctoral level, and breeding and selection are inherently fascinating topics.

Dr. Melissa Cox

Topics: Understanding Health: Making Meaningful Use of Genetic Testing and Preserving Genetic Diversity – Planning Based on Solid Foundations

Dr. Melissa Cox is a geneticist with many years of experience working at the interface between
modern genetics and practical dog breeding. Raised in Canada on a farm with a long
established Labrador Retriever kennel, she has been involved in dog breeding, showing, and dog
sports since childhood.
She holds a BSc in Biology from Dalhousie University (Canada) and a PhD in Genetics from Texas
A&M University, where she trained in a canine genetics laboratory. Her scientific career includes
positions in both academic and applied research in North America, with expertise in hereditary
diseases, genetic diversity, and functional and comparative genetics across multiple animal
species.
Since moving to Germany in 2011, Dr. Cox has worked in research and leadership roles within
the field of animal genetics. In 2025, she joined Certagen GmbH as Business Development
Manager. In this role, she works closely with breed clubs, breeders, and researchers to identify
meaningful genetic testing strategies, interpret current research, and translate findings into
practical recommendations. She also helps shape new testing strategies and innovative tools
for breeders, with a strong emphasis on making scientific knowledge accessible, transparent,
and practically useful for responsible breeding strategies that support long-term population
health.

Erik Fick

Topic: Current Situation in the Netherlands

I have been intensively involved with the Boxer breed since the 1970s. My first contact with this breed came through my wife’s parents, who themselves were actively engaged in Boxer breeding. A formative influence on my cynological development was the guidance and training provided by Piet van Melis of the van Worikben kennel. The matriarchs of our own kennel, Kim van Worikben and Orakel van Worikben, also originate from this line. Since 1980, together with my wife Herma, I have been breeding Boxers under the kennel name van Wordanis. Our breeding work has always been focused on a responsible, long-term preservation of the breed, with particular attention to health, balanced temperament, and adherence to the breed standard.

In addition to my practical breeding activities, I have also been actively involved at the club level. Over the years, I have held various positions within the Dutch Boxer Club. Currently, I serve as the Breeding Commissioner of the breed association Boxer Vrienden Nederland. Breeding in the Netherlands is subject to additional governmental regulations, particularly in the area of brachycephalic breeds, which requires careful planning, solid expertise, and a high sense of responsibility.

We live in Beugen, a small town in the south of the Netherlands, in close proximity to the German border.

4. Contact

For inquiries, please contact: