Expert: Jannie Balliett - 4/13/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I have a couple of questions.My female Boxer is 19 months old and is Fawn and has White on her chest and feet(like socks),I was wondering if  I bred her to another fawn boxer with about the same amount of white can they genetically produce white pups?The second question is how big should she be for me to breed her?The last question is what is the average litter size for a female first litter?

ANSWER: You should not breed her until she is at least 2 years old.

The first litter varies, average 4-6 puppies, but there is no way to guarantee. A bitch releases a certain number of eggs per cycle, and depending on the amount of ties and his sperm health, determines the successful fertilizations. It could be all the eggs or some.

As far as genetics, fawn and fawn produce fawn. If both are classic fawns, they most likely will produce classics. If one or both are fancy, then you will get fancy and classic.

Classic is normal white markings, black mask face. Fancy is more white markings with a white blaze face.

Depending on the grandparents and genetics, determines the pups too. I have a classic bred with a classic, first litter, 5 puppies: 2 were fancy with blaze faces, 3 were classics.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So if I bred my fancy boxer to another fancy boxer then that would result with only fancy fawn and classic ?No white pups?

Answer
Fawns mated with fawns, produce fawns. Whether the fawn is a classic which is black mask (no white on face) and normal white chest and sometimes feet or toes, or a fancy, which is all of the above with white on the face, there is no way to ensure what markings you will get.

Some puppies will be classic, yet you might get a fancy puppy or two. My classic fawn mated with a classic fawn had five puppies (first litter) and two puppies had a white blaze on their faces. The white markings on chest and feet varied to match either mother or father, and some had a combination.

Do not breed her until she is at at least 3 years old. The sire (male) can be younger, but she should be at least 3 years old. No sooner.

She is not physically able to carry, birth, and raise puppies until that mature age, nor is her emotional health near maturity intil 3 years old.

Boxers are puppy-like all their lives, that is one of their charms, and seem to mature slower than other breeds.

Having puppies is no pic-nic, it is hard work, extremely hard. On her and on you.