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Hello, I was just wondering if anyone could give me a reasonable explanation as to why white boxers are considered "unacceptable" by breeders, the AKC and the ABC. I can understand setting standards for purebreds focusing on size, frame, form, shape of head, posture, disposition, obedience, and temperment, but why the color? Obviously, white boxers are rare, but not that rare. Why are these poor creatures dubbed "unacceptable" to their own breed?
I own a white boxer and he's GORGEOUS! He has a pale brindle pattern, especially on his belly, though it's very spaced apart. He has a nice form, and his face has the perfect dimensions and expression (according to ABC, that is). The only real color is a spot of brown above his left eye. His left eye is brown and his right eye is ice blue.
Look, I'm proud of my boxer, and his looks. I'd love to join boxer clubs and organizations, but reading and hearing some of the things said about "whites" makes me angry. That said, I'm just looking for any good reason why this is so. If some one could please enlighten me, I'd appreciate it.

DestanyF

HI!

Basically, there are 2 reasons why white boxers are considered unacceptable.

The first is that boxers were used as guard dogs and a white dog was too easy to see.

The second reason is that the gene that makes some dogs white also causes dogs to be deaf and possibly blind. White dobermans also share this problem and so do dalmatians. Not all white dogs are deaf or blind of course, but some breeds with the white gene can have these problems.

However, white boxers make fine pets, just like any other boxer would. So, enjoy your baby and don't worry about what others say.

I'd love to see a picture!!
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Melody/PHFasDog
Email me at PHFasDog

My furkids:
Shadow, Jadzia and Lyta.
Kira waiting the bridge.

Dogs come into our lives, and too quickly go leaving pawprints on our hearts, and we will never be quite the same again.

Melody, thanks so much for enlightening me, that seems like a fairly reasonable answer (the part about the gene causing blindness and deafness). But I don't feel that the term "unacceptable" should be used in reference to any living thing. Your explanation was much better than "to preserve the traditional fawn and brindle appearance of the boxer", as it states in the ABC pamplet that came with the registration. In that case, why not just breed whites with whites and appreciate them just the same? I wish the ABC would simply state what you just told me.
Part of the reason I've been upset over this has to do with my pups history. He was sold by his breeder for half the cost of the other puppies. The woman who purchased him got him to breed with a freind of hers dog. But when she learned that white boxers are unacceptable to breed she handed him off to be sold. The person who sold the dog to us kept him outdoors at all times, in all sorts of weather. His only companion, a very aggressive and territorial female. When we got him, it took 18 q-tips (both ends) to clean his outer ears, and they are still heavily infested with mites, which we are working on. He was filthy, and two of his teeth are broken and black inside. Three others are grey and dead. Fortunately, these are baby teeth and adult teeth should come in healthy and strong (we brush every day).
People like this shouldn't be aloud to have animals. Had she purchased a mixed breed, it would have only been as a pet to love, since that's what they are for. But purebreds come with expectations. For some, even notoriety for owning a purebred, and if an animal like this is unacceptable for it's breed, bad things can happen to it. Had my dog been brindle or fawn, or an acceptable color, he never would have been sold as a discount doggy and ended up in the wrong hands.
I'm sorry this is so long, I'm just upset over all this stuff. My doggy is GREAT! He's happy (after alot of hugs, kisses, and reasurances) and extremely loyal and eager to please. I've honestly never even heard of a four month old as obedient as he is. I'd love to post a picture, but I don't have a scanner. I'm getting a digital camera in a couple of weeks and I'll be sure to post one then. Thanks again for the info!

Destany F

Destany,

Here is what I feel went wrong with this poor puppy. The original breeder sold the puppy at a lesser amount than the others, with would be fine for a pet quality dog. Any reputable breeder, who breeds show dogs will do this. The problem I see is that the original breeder should have sold him with a contract stating he was a pet and had to be neutered. This breeder cannot be a responsible person to sell a dog and not consider what the person buying the dog has in mind with him. The breeder should have been upfront with the purchaser telling her that the puppy was pet quality, not breeding quality. The breeder should also be willing to take back and rehome any puppy they produce for the life of the dog. This is what reputable breeders do. They should be responsible for the life the bring they into this world.

The person buying the dog should have done her homework, and knew what she was looking for. She also should have done her homework and found out that you can't just throw 2 dogs together in the hopes of getting nice puppies. There are too many dogs in the shelters to do these.

I agree with you that the next person who got him should never own dogs. It's a shame he/she was never reported for the abuse he inflicted on this poor puppy. IF he would have been bred to begin with by a reputable person, then he would have been returned to the breeder by the purchaser and a new, loving home would have been found for him.

I would like to thank you for taking this boy and giving him such a wonderful home. It is people like you who deserve a dog like him, no matter what color he is. As you can see, color makes not difference to him being the best dog in the world for you.

Can't wait until you get your camera and we can see pictures. I hope you come back and tell us how he is doing and give us updates on his progress. Sounds like he'd make a superb therapy dog.

Good luck!
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Melody/PHFasDog
Email me at PHFasDog

My furkids:
Shadow, Jadzia and Lyta.
Kira waiting the bridge.

Dogs come into our lives, and too quickly go leaving pawprints on our hearts, and we will never be quite the same again.

Yes, I agree that the breeder was irresponsable here, but I have to correct something I said. I didn't mean to imply that the second owner was the cause of the puppies condition, but after reading my post, that's exactly what I said... I was corrected yesterday and told that they did actually let the dog inside. It was the older agressive female who's not aloud in, and I was shown her kennel. It's 5*8 feet chain link with a tarp over the top to keep out the rain. Further more, this person only had the dog for two weeks, so cannot be solely responsible for the neglect. (I will note that this person did nothing about the mites and the teeth though, and wasn't particularly affectionate to him. But fed him well and kept him warm and dry). I don't know anymore about the origonal purchaser, other than what I've told you. I hold the breeder mostly at fault on this. From what what I've read on breeder ethics, I would never buy a pup from them knowing what I know...
The name that the breeder gave my dog is one of a famous white dog. I won't say the name, I'm not out to slander anyone. But my dogs official name is (famous white dog)#7. This indicates to me that there have probably been atleast six other whites born to this breeder. And there are some other abnormalities that I'm currently checking on.
The testicals are not completely developed (their dime size) and one above the other instead of side by side. I need to have my vet check him to find out more (like if their just not decended). We have suspected a hearing problem since we got him, but we know he's not completely deaf.
I was also wondering, and perhaps you can tell me, if boxers have webbed feet. I know some breeds do, but haven't found any thing regarding boxers.
Other than that though, he is completely healthy and I have every intention of doing just as you advised and enjoy my puppy
Thanks for listening! I will be sure to keep you posted and put pictures up as soon as I can!

Destany

>>.... and put pictures up as soon as I can!

HURRY!!

I love to see pictures of puppies!!!

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Sara,
Owned by...
Macintosh

Hey Destiney. I was just reading your first post, and I wanted to see what a white boxer looked like; so I went to google and typed in 'white boxer' and hit images. So I got a picture of a, VERY beautiful I might add, white boxer with a brown patch over it's left eye. I love boxers to bits!!

Anyways... there was an explanation there;
"THE WHITE BOXER
For many years white and check Boxer puppies were culled by most breeders at birth.   Their reasoning being that the white colour was always associated with deafness and congenital defects. This has been disproved in latter years.   Because breeders did not keep or sell their white puppies many people believed that the white Boxer was rare, which is not the case.    Actually around 20% of all Boxer puppies born are white, being most common in flashy to flashy breeding, due to the original Boxer ancestors being white.
Although there is a tendency to deafness in all white dogs and cats, deafness can be discovered at a very young age and deaf puppies can be placed in loving, caring homes.
All white and check Boxers are placed on a spay/neuter basis and are not bred.
NB: Extra care must be taken to protect them against sunburn. "

Well that's it... Also her is the link to that page in case you wanted to check it out (have to scroll to the bottom for the bit on white boxers...) hope you find it interesting!!
www.worldwideboxer.com/COLOUR.html
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Sara,
Owned by...
Macintosh

Thanks for the link! Here's another place where you can find pictures of white boxers, over 99 pages! Plus lots of pictures of brindles and fawns and puppies. www.boxerworld.com I think boxers are beautiful no matter what kind they are

Destany

>> I think boxers are beautiful no matter what kind they are

I have to agree with you on that one Destiny, although my breed of 'choice' is the Golden Retriever

Here's my boy; Macintosh

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Sara,
Owned by...
Macintosh

He is beautiful! Retrievers are great dogs Now I just HAVE to get my camera soon. My old camera broke yesterday, it was a complete coincodence (I swear!!!)
Destany

Sara,

Thanks for the link! That white boxer is positively gorgeous!!! I love the looks of the natural ears and tail. I love ears and tails anyway, so never could understand the docking. Very interesting information on white boxers. I've never seen one in person, but very pretty dogs. I read that they get the white boxers because when they at used white English Bulldogs to develop the boxer.

Whatever the case, they make greyt pets!

Here are my babies.

Melody

White boxers make wonderful pets and may meet all other breed standards but color.
But they do have a 1-in-4 chance of being born deaf and may be more susceptable to some sun-related cancers (and as you know, boxers are much more likely to develope cancer than many other breeds.

Owning a white boxer is fine. Intentionally breeding one, or promoting them as "rare" ( about 1/4 of pups born to flashy parents are white), is *not* correct or ethical.

FAYEvision!

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C Newlin
http://www.box49.com
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