Whats The Beef with White Boxers?

The boxer is a great breed and nothing can match it's unique character. It's the strength, build, and the boxer's gracefulness's that sets it apart from other breeds and seems to catch our eye. Some how the concept of beauty and strength has a powerful impact. I think all boxer lovers would agree, but what is the beef with white boxers? I've been to some boxer sites and some people can say some horrible things about white boxers just because of their color. Honestly, it made me do nothing but laugh hysterically and the bad things I read were the stupidest things I have ever heard.

According to the A.K.C. and the breeders, white boxers are inferior to the fawn and brindle boxers because the Boxer Breed Standard cannot be more than two - thirds white. Well, that's fine, it's their standard I guess. Some people have the misunderstanding that you can't register the white boxer with the A.K.C. Wrong again! You can register your white boxer with the A.K.C., they are just not considered the Boxer Breed Standard and cannot compete in dog shows. But that does not make the white boxer any less of a good pet than the fawn or brindle boxers. You can register your white boxer in other A.K.C. events such as sporting events. In fact, there is nothing wrong with white boxers at all.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence that white boxers are more susceptible to diseases. Some white boxers turn out deaf because of the lack of pigmentation in the hair cells in the ear. This isn't too common, but it's not too rare either. White boxer breeding increases the chance of deafness. My mother actually owns a white boxer that is deaf, but guess what? There is nothing wrong with her! She is one of the greatest dogs I have ever been around and is smart as a whip too.

She knows a variety of hand signals and she can do plenty of tricks too. I have worked with two deaf dogs in my lifetime and I actually prefer to train deaf dogs. Not because it's a challenge, but because they seem so tentative and they use their eyes for everything and more efficiently to make up for their loss of hearing, therefore it's easier to keep their attention in my experience. A myth I hear all the time by people that do not know what they are talking about is the saying "white boxers are unhealthy." White boxers are the same as any other boxer and the only difference is their color.

A lot of people think white boxers are rare. They are not, and if any breeder tries to tell you they are and charge you more, steer clear of them. In fact, they really should be less than the fawn or brindle boxers according to breeders. Not because they are less of a dog, but because of A.K.C. boxer standards. It is not rare for a white boxer or even two to be born in a litter. Twenty-five percent of the boxer population in the U.S. are white naturally and are derived from fawn and brindle parents. As far as breeding goes it's unacceptable to breed white boxers. I totally agree.

Breeding white boxers greatly increases the chance of having offspring that is deaf. You may not see it immediately in the offspring, but there is a good chance on down the line their sustained recessive gene will affect offspring and cause deafness. This isn't the most horrible thing in the world for a dog, as it doesn't know any different anyway when it is born that way and gets along in life just fine. But if deafness can be prevented, then prevent it not provoke it. Regardless of bloodlines it makes no difference. White boxers still carry that gene so please don't breed them. My boxer, Annie, comes from champion blood lines and I have made the responsible decision to not breed her. Yes, it can be a heart breaking decision ,especially when you have such a great animal that you would love for it to have offspring and have their personality, but that's life and taking responsibility as a dog owner.

If you want to be a responsible boxer breeder than you breed the boxer to it's full potential and try to improve the breed. That is what breeding is all about, so please don't breed the white boxer and up the chances of producing deaf boxers that nobody will want because they do not understand them or do not know how to deal with them.If you decide you want a white boxer and as long as you find a responsible, reputable, breeder then you go get the boxer you want and don't let anyone talk you down on it just because it's white, because most likely they are going on myths they have heard and have not taken the time to look up the facts.