The Boxer Look (small story)

[loveRboxers]

Hi all! I work in child care and last summer a parent asked me if I had a boxer. He noticed my car which I have personalized my license plate have another one personalized on the front and several boxer stickers...love my boxers!! . Anyways, they were looking to get a new family dog and wanted to know about boxers. Well I convinced him that there was no better dog out there, and they got one!!! However they purchased him from a BYB and only paid $200 for him. Also there were two litters, sixteen puppies and the breeder owned all the parents, no papers.I would have warned them, but they already had the dog before I knew all this, so I didn't say anything. Well they've brought the dog to the child care facility several times as he's growing for me to see him, however, he doesn't have the "boxer look." I mean, he does, but it doesn't, if that makes any sense. Let me explain. He's fawn, but his hair is very coarse and the color is not even (splotchy), his snout is kind of longer and his head is funny shaped. He just looks so different from my babies and all of your babies that I've seen. I was just wondering if he could be inbred or something. Also should I let them know that somethings just not right about his looks?

 

[robinette]

Also should I let them know that somethings just not right about his looks?

If it were my situation, I wouldn't. Just because no matter what our babies look like we love them just the same. I would be upset if someone told me that they did think that look of Vegas was right. They obviously looked up to you by asking you about your dogs, maybe they would feel bad if you mentioned that theirs wasn't proper looking. If he was sold with papers maybe that would be a different story because they would be expecting a dog from well bred lines but becuase he wasn't I wouldn't say anything. JMO

 

[Tucker's Mom]

I agree with robinette. Even if the dog isn't pure bred or has a few problems, there is a good chance that the boxer traits are still there. I have seen many boxer mixes that don't look anything like a boxer, but you can tell it's in there somewhere because of the obvious boxer traits. The only time that I would say something is if (and I hope it never happens) the dog becomes violent or has major health problems and the owners start blaming the breed itself. If that happens, I would explain that there are bad apples in every breed, and buying from a byb increases your chances of getting a bad apple. But, unless something like that happens, I would let them go on believing their pup is "normal." However, on the other hand, I would incourage them to have the dog neutered. My fear is that they may eventually try to stud him...

 

[Glenys]

I agree with the last two. My Zak isn't all Boxer but those who don't know the breed just think he is one with his tail in tact. And I love him just the same. (I call him Boxer plus!) My worry for your people would be inbred bad traits and I hope they neuter their boy soon.