NIJA BOXERS was started by the late Marion Hetherington over 35 years ago.

Marion obtained her first Boxer from the local pound and was then bitten by the Boxer bug. 

 The NIJA kennel Prefix / Affix was founded in the early 1960's when she obtained a lovely brindle & white bitch by the name of Australian Champion Tarakani Sweet Charity aka Sally, whose pedigree contained the famous Wardrobes breeding. To us kids when we were growing up she was known to us as garbage guts, as Sally would eat anything edible left around, or to be found hidden - but amazingly she always managed to leave any wrappings in tacked.

Sally had her first show at 3 1/2 months of age and by the time she was 15 months old she had to her name many Runner Up In Shows, Classes In Show, Best in Groups,  and Classes In Group. These wins were at All Breeds and Specialty shows. At Western Districts Boxer Club Specialty show Sally obtained Runner Up Best In Show to her 1/2 brother. That day the Tarakani prefix stood tall by taking out 5 of the 7 Classes in Show that day, as well as Best Opposite In Show classes, and Reserve Challenge Bitch.

Marion kept her hand in the show scene with some of Sally's progeny, one of the most consistant winners being Royal Legion, sired by Aust. Ch. Tarakani Legionaire. With family commitments pressing Marion gave the show scene a rest, but still kept 1 or 2 Boxers around, and always kept up to date on what was happening in the dog world. Marion then decided when us kids had grown up to start breeding again. She gave me a lovely brindle & white dog Whitechapel Southerly aka Buster. Buster's pedigree contained some of the most well known kennels from the UK - predominately Panfield.

Now it was my turn to be bitten by the show bug. I exhibited Buster when I could but with school and work commitments found it difficult to get to most shows on the weekend - Buster was 23 points short of obtaining his Australian Championship title. It was a shame, Buddy (and a true Buddy he was) as I called him was successful in the show ring with Best In Show Specialty, Challenges, Reserve Challenges, Classes In Show & Group.

It was not until Marion bred a lovely bitch by the name of Australian Champion Nija Airs N Graces aka Grace that I truly took over the showing. Grace was also exhibited sparingly, due to work commitments, but managed to win Classes In Show, Best In Groups, and Classes In Group at All Breeds and Specialty shows. Grace only ever had 1 litter, and out of this litter she produced a very nice bitch Australian Champion Nija Miss Hoity Toity aka Ariel.

At this time Marion handed over the Kennel Prefix / Affix to me, but was still there to help guide me.

Ariel was like her name sake very hoity toity. She would look people up and down, especially the judges, who in her eyes where beneath her. Ariel also was exhibited sparingly, but did manage to win the point score for Western Districts Boxer Club along the way as well as winning Classes In Show, Best In Groups, and Classes In Group at All Breeds and Specialty shows. Ariel had 2 litters the first being 4 males, and I wanted a bitch. The second litter proved lucky for me.

This bitch turned out to be the most consistant and biggest of winners up to this time for me, Australian Champion Nija Mind Ya Manners aka Molly. It took Molly a while to mature up, but when she did, she managed to be never unplaced. Some of Molly's wins where Classes In Shows, Best In Groups, and Classes In Groups at All Breeds and Specialty Shows.  Most Judges comments were "It has been awhile since I have seen a bitch constructed and move like a true Boxer should", "Wow I had forgotten what a Boxer looks like on the move", "A true, free moving bitch - with the beautiful Boxer temperament to match"

Molly also managed to win the point score for both Boxer clubs, Western Districts Boxer Club Of NSW and The Boxer Club Of NSW.  It was the Western Districts Boxer Club point score that Molly won 3 years running and took 6 months off in one year for maternal duties and still managed to win the point score that year. Molly only ever had 2 litter for us and in these 2 litters where 4 males, and of course I wanted a bitch again. It was never to be.

This now brings me to our current show team. After nearly 6 years out of the show scene it was proving difficult to find a nice bitch to show again, escpecially when I wanted to combine the temperament, movement and structure that I was use to. I was finally offered a nice brindle & white bitch from Julie Lawson of TELDE BOXERS. I knew Julie rarely bred and when she did she put a lot of thought into each and every litter as well as having ethics like me on health and temperament. Julie offered me Australian Champion Saxonee Oh Xcuse Me aka Katie, bred by Paul Mac Arthur in Queensland out of a Telde bitch, Making A Splash - Phoebe, who has produced 5 Australian Champions in her only 2 litters. In Phoebe's 1st litter to an Innsbruck dog, Oats N Barley (SOM) - Zack, she produced 3 Australian Champions. Zack went on to sire some of the top winning dogs, and in some of todays current top winning dog's and bitch's you will find Zack in their pedigree's.

Katie now had me back in the show scene again. Katie managed to win consistantly Best In Group, Classes In Groups, Classes In Show at All Breeds and Specialty shows. I loved exhibiting Katie as she was never to much work and she loved performing in the ring. When Katie was old enough I was planning on having 1 litter from her, then they put forward the legislation on Tail Docking. Well that put a stop to breeding under the Nija prefix again. I had not planned on breeding ever again until Steynmere Had It All (Imp UK)  aka Monty arrived on our shores - Monty is a Natural Bobtail. And so off we went to see Monty. In Katie's one and only litter she produced our current youngsters Australian Champion Nija O Goodness Gracious aka Lara, and yes I am for ever saying this to her, and Nija O Gracious Me aka Sari, who lives with Julie. Julie is forever saying to Sari and thinking what am I going to do with you. And Nija Goodtime Had By All aka Jordy, his name sake is also very adapt to him as he does have a good time all the time, who lives with Nea, Sue, and Patricia Evans at Innsbruck Boxer Kennels. After this litter I decided Katie could be a lady of leisure and wile away her days with her daughter Lara and half sister Telde Pennies From Heavn aka Penny.

In our show team we have Sari, Lara, and Marion's favourite Penny. Penny was a gift from Julie when Marion was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the kidney's. Penny was Marion's constant companion through out her remaining time. And when Marion passed away I thought Penny would fret to death, well she nearly did. Penny has never been the same since this happened. She likes to go to shows but would prefer to stay at home and wait for Marion to come home. Well I will let her do this for the rest of her life if it is what she wants.

Penny now resides with Julie spending her time playing and following Julie everywhere. I have not seen Penny this content since Marion passed away. We are pleased she now has a spring in her step.

Now Nija Boxers is looking to the future with the Natural Short Tail Boxers

Check out our Past & Present Show Team pages for photos  

 It is our choice to own, love, breed and exhibit BOXERS with a naturally short tail

Main Photo: Aust. Ch. Nija Airs N Graces @ 4 years