Here are some snippets of info about Boxers that I have learned over the past couple of months...
-White Boxers are not albinos. They contain the Piebald gene, which is the same gene that causes the white coloration in Dalmations and English Bulldogs. The Boxer "breed" is actually a hybrid between the now extinct German Bullenbeiszer and the Bulldog, which as you may know can be brown or white.
-Approximately 25% of all Boxer puppies are born white, or mostly white. The litter that Sirius was born in had 3 white puppies, and 6 flashy/brindle puppies.
-White Boxers can have blue eyes, blue green eyes, brown eyes or any combination of these, i.e. one brown, one blue.
-20% of all the white Boxer puppies are born partially or completely deaf. This is due to the lack of pigment in the cells of the inner ear. This genetic defect also occurs in Dalmations, Bulldogs, and several other dog breeds. It can also occur in cats, especially those that are white with blue eyes.
-White Boxer puppies are often killed at birth. Read that again.
Until very recently, the American Kennel Club supported the culling, or killing of white Boxer puppies at birth. Today, many Boxer breeders still kill all the white puppies as soon as they are born. They freeze them in the freezer, drown them, or break their necks. The AKC has softened their stance on culling, but they have not banned it as a practice
I am sorry to be so blunt about this, but when I found out that dog breeders were putting puppies to death that were otherwise as perfectly healthy as their brown siblings, I was furious. It's a good thing I don't have the powers of Superman, because I would tear these people in half if I could.
White Boxers should not be bred, because it will increase the gene that causes deafness in the breed. I understand and agree with this concept. But to kill healthy puppies, or somehow say that they are less deserving of a happy life because they have a higher chance of being deaf is absurd. All Dalmations can be born deaf. White Bulldogs can be born deaf. Many other white dog breeds can be born deaf. I don't understand why white Boxers are culled like they are.
White Boxers are also sold as "limited registration" animals. This means that they are considered second class dogs by the AKC. They cannot be shown in dog shows, except for obedience/agility contests, and they are not to be bred. Any puppy born to white parents is not eligible to be registered as a full blooded Boxer.
I knew I wanted a Boxer, and after our cat Lefty died, we needed some new energy in our lives. When I found out about the white Boxer, I knew that I wanted one. I have his papers from the breeder, but I am not going to register him. I refuse to support the AKC in any way.
Oprah recently did a story on puppy mills and how the dogs they raise are often abused. From what I have read, many so called "Professional" breeders aren't much better. I purchased Sirius from a private dog owner who is raising the puppies inside her home with her family. This type of "back yard breeding" is also looked down upon by professional dog breeders, but at least they don't kill the white puppies.
Ok, I am off my soapbox now.