We rescued this puppy a few days ago and the vet said he thought he had seen her litter mates a few days before. The thing is the ones he thought were her litter mates are full blooded Boxer and she does look like she may have a little Boxer in her, but doesn't look full blooded. Can someone tell me if she is or is she mixed?
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Hi Amanda, I hope I can help out a little here:) I live in the UK now but was an AKC Boxer breeder (and breed rescuer) 40+years in the US before coming to the UK in 2010.
No1 Rule of any pet? ALWAYS TRUST YOUR VET (unless you have serious concerns about their office behaviours towards your animal, of course).
I agree 100% with the vet that this is a wee Boxer pup. No, to the untrained eye right now she doesn't look like the typical fawn and white coated Boxer, nor does she have the typical pronounced Boxer 'top-knot' head. But I'd be gobsmacked if a DNA test (don't do it, these tests run into the three currency digits depending on where one lives!) didn't come back saying she's full-on Boxer.
Boxer dogs are the result of many years of cross-breeding, and to further complicate matters, have a different (slight but significant) appearance and conformation depending on the country - for example, German bred Boxers tend to be almost uniformly fawn and white, larger boned and wider chested. British Boxers tend to be either all fawn, a darker near red, and with a small bit of white, also tall and not quite as wide bodied as German and American. American Boxers are generally tall, wide bodied narrowing after the rib cage, but can be any size, conformation, and colour in the relatively wide gene pool. So your Boxer's brindle coat, while it used to considered something of a fault for the show rings and breeding considerations, is not abnormal - it's simply a genetic throwback to the colours and crossbreeding done over a century ago to create the Boxer we know today. Same with the head shape, and the feet as well.
From the snaps you've posted, I'd say you have what used to be called 'the runt', and she'll be somewhat smaller and frankly a bit less Boxer looking than most - this isn't going to be a dog you want to permit to have a litter as she'll pass on what to many are considered undesirable appearance traits. Personally I think she looks like a little love but if she were my little love, I'd have her spayed aged six months (when Boxers tend to mature sexually) to prevent passing on those traits, and to prevent her developing cancers or 'female troubles' like prolapsed uterus (somewhat common in Boxers, particularly ones with the appearance of yours).
Female Boxers are generally smaller any road but female runts can be even smaller, coming in at maturity at or around 35-40lbs at the very most and not anywhere near as tall at the shoulders as most females. She'll be narrower in appearance, almost with a 'sharp boned' look to her. Her feet will be narrower as well as her legs.
I could be wrong about her being the runt of the litter, of course, but looking at her feet, I don't think so.
Please don't let me put you off her - she does have a very sweet look to her and will likely (with proper care and training) be an absolutely fab family dog - fiercely loyal, highly intelligent, faithful to the extreme, and did I mention highly intelligent? Boxers are all of that but runts are either profoundly stupid (but SO loveable!) or incredibly intelligent - there is never anything average about them:) They make exceptional travellers, outstanding indoor dogs, and fantastic company.
Boxers in general are loaded with personality and intelligence, you really can't go wrong with one if you're willing to study up on their needs, begin a patient and gentle but firm and consistent training programme at around 10-12 weeks. Yes, training should begin that young! These are really smart dogs who'll run rings around you if not trained early!
And most importantly - work 200% with your vet. Your vet should always - always - always be your No1 go-to for any advice and care of your Boxer.
The AKC website, your local library, and the Internet in general are all fabulous sources of information about Boxers - care, feeding, training, history, breed specific characteristics (for example, Boxers don't fully mature until around aged three years - so expect puppy behaviours through aged three!), and did I mention training, lol!
I think you'll be very pleased with her as a companion dog and as she matures you're going to be hearing a lot of compliments (a well cared for Boxer is the most beautiful dog on the planet but I think I might be very prejudiced:).
Erm, you may also hear 'OMG, is that a pit bull?!' from those with a tendency to hysteria - be polite but be firm, she is a full-blooded Boxer, and Queen of your heart!
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