The White boxer now makes up 25% of all Boxers within the USA but there are still many misconceptions about this color of Boxer.
Although the color of a boxer does not determine its' individual personality or all those other boxer traits that we love, much has been published about the White Boxer and in many cases they are listed as rare, but the fact is that they have been a part of the breed as long as the boxer breed has been around. Although theories differ on how the white gene was introduced, many beleive it is due to the early cross breeding with the English Bulldog, although the White Boxer existed before the time the breeds were mixed. Originally the boxer could be registered in Germany until 1925.
A problem arose with the white color due to the boxer being used as a police/military dog. Naturally the white color compromised the breeds ability to not be seen at night. In 1925 the White Boxer was no longer eligible for registration in Germany to help rule out the white gene. This led to many breeders killing white puppies and is where a lot of debate about the White Boxer begins.
The White Boxer is not recognized in the show arena today. According to the AKC Guidelines a boxer may be a color of fawn or brindle with white markings. Any boxer with more than 1/3 of their body containing white markings is a disqualification. Although the White Boxer may not be shown, it can be registered with the AKC and compete in sporting events.
Many local breed clubs still have by-laws calling for the killing of white offspring. It is for this reason there is much controversy over the White Boxer with no end in site. It is a positive sign though that an increasing number of breeders are electing to place their non-standard boxers in pet homes rather than destroying them.
Contrary to popular belief no clear evidence has been presented showing the White Boxer is more susceptible to diseases. White Boxers can get sunburn and should avoid over exposure to the sun in the wamer seasons and should even wear sunscreen. The one area of health concern which occurs in white boxers, is deafness. This deafness is caused by the absence of pigment cells in the inner ear resulting in a loss of sensory hair cells at about 6 - 8 weeks of age. Not all White Boxers are deaf and due to the fact that so many are euthinized at birth its hard to come up with specific numbers but its estimated that 10% or less of white boxers are bilaterally deaf and about 22% are unilaterally deaf. White Boxers who are not deaf by 8 weeks of age are not at a higher risk of going deaf later in life than a fawn or brindle boxer. Deaf dogs make good family pets if trained with hand signals. For more about living with a deaf dog click here.
The main thing to remember is that a white boxer is still a boxer and can provide an overwhelming amount of love and caring to their family, just like any other color of boxer.