Bobtail Boxers

[AussieGirl]

I have been poking around and reading about Bobtails for quite a few months now, you all know docking is ban over here (but the standard still states a docked tail is preferable) and they have become quite popular since. I have read some people get upset about it while others have welcomed it. I'm not really 100% either way, but being from a country where docking is no longer allowed and hearing of breeders who loved what they did giving it all up with the ban I can see this may be a good thing (which is why I'm on the fence - well I'm on the fence with my legs dangling into the Bobtail side but not quite all the way over lol). I mean after all the Boxer is a man made breed so is it so wrong to add the Bobtail gene without changing anything else?

Want to find out more about Bobtails? Check out these links
Account of Dr Bruce Cattanach’s Bobtail Boxers
This is the site to Dr Cattanach's Steynmere Boxers, it has more info on Bobtails and some good articles on genetics .

I was looking up breeders in my state when I read about this girl and she is what sparked my curiosity

Australian Champion Boxberry Sweet Surrender CCD "Zoe"
Zoe is the first Champion for her sire Elmo, and was first Bobtail in the world to be awarded a Best In Group (Group 1st), she also created more history recently by becoming the first Bobtail with an Obedience Title.

info on her and Bobtails can be found here

What are your thoughts on Bobtail Boxers?

[brindlebox]

Seems to be very interesting. I guess if it can be done naturally it should be ok, rather then doing it when they are young. I have never heard of this before until you posted this link.

[Spyglass Sally]

I had never heard of it either. Thanks for the links!

[whitedaisy]

I know of a breeder that recently had one show up, unexpectantly, in her litter.

I don't really have an opinion, I guess. If it looks and acts like a boxer then I would probably be okay with it. I'm not sure though.

[KeeperBoy]

My only issue is when people start breeding for a tail and not for health, other looks, etc.

[AussieGirl]

Originally Posted by whitedaisy

I know of a breeder that recently had one show up, unexpectantly, in her litter.

One of the parents would have to be a Bobtail - have the Pembroke Corgi Bobtail gene to produce a bobtail in a litter and it is usually 50/50 (plain tails/bobtails). Dr Cattanach did a test breeding with a dog that had similar to a "screw tail" to determine if it was a result of the Bobtail gene or just a sometimes normal occurrence in normal tail dogs (they couldn't tell if she was bobtail or not because of her ? "odd" tail). Theory being that if they had a litter of half bobtails and half normal tails the dam was in fact a bobtail and the tail issue related, she had all normal/plain tail pups which meant she was in fact normal/plain tail and it was just a "screw tail" she had. So based on that I'm not convinced the pup would be a Bobtail carrying the Bobtail gene, but probably a normal tail dog with some other explanation . Were Bobtails ever bred in it's lines?

My only issue is when people start breeding for a tail and not for health, other looks, etc.

I agree, at the moment they are breeding them like they would any other Boxer - trying to get the best of as many aspects as they can, the only difference being they are not yet allowed to breed two Bobtails together (they have to do a Bobtail and plain/normal tail breeding).

Until I am certain that there are no ill effects associated with the bob-tail gene in double dose, I will keep control of all the registrations. For the present, every animal I have sold, bob-tailed or otherwise, has either remained registered in my name, or has had its KC registration endorsed ‘Progeny not eligible for registration.'"

I had heard of it a while back and kind of dismissed it thinking Corgi + Boxer, ridiculous. But then I saw that they are now getting good results in the ring and to look at them I can't tell. I'm not getting another Boxer for awhile but I will keep checking on the progress and it may be a consideration for us if and when we look at a new addition.

I did read too that at one point he was looking into breeding the "cropped" look into them

"As to the other possibility of introducing the erect ear gene into the boxer from the Corgi as originally contemplated, I’m afraid this option is no longer available. I have attempted to mate the one bitch retained for the purpose on several occasions but she has always appeared past time when her owners have notified me. Only if the Boxer Breed Council were to be interested in developing erect-eared Boxers would I contemplate starting such a project again."

[bruinsBoxers]

I read about this a long time ago and found it very intersting . I would be all for natural short tails .

I know of a boxer who was born with a screw tail , Much shorter tail than normal but not quite so short to be docked length , and it twisted to the side .

[Brian J. Sabel]

This is new to me. But I kind of wonder why no one has tried this before now! I think the worries of breeding for looks rather than over all health are legitimate. However, at least in this case, it sounds as if the good doctor was generally mindful of that and used good stock.

[whitedaisy]

Originally Posted by bruinsBoxers

I know of a boxer who was born with a screw tail , Much shorter tail than normal but not quite so short to be docked length , and it twisted to the side .

I bet this is the pup I referred to as a bobtail...see how little I know about it

[KeeperBoy]

The eat gene I'm opposed to. How could you not love those floppy ears???!!! I would do anything to have Keepers ears natural.