Expert: Angela Donald - 12/2/2009

Question
Hello,

I have a 2 year old flashy brindle male Boxer, who is healthy and very energetic! However, he seems to have a problem with mating!

It has occured on 2 occasions (2 bitches on heat with a couple of months varying on heat season)

He doesn't seem to become very excited, he smells and licks the behind, tries to get on and then gets off and does't try again! he stands away and just keeps on barking non-stop with no action!

I am afraid to find out that he may not be able to actually mate ever! can this be the case? Someone told me that there injections sold that some breeders (who don't you to breed their dogs) give the pups when they are very young and they are unable to reproduce.

Ive also heard that some people who purchased their Boxers from the very same Breeder, have noticed that males are unable to mate and females become infertile and unable to reproduce. can this be true?

My male also has only 1 descended testicle but he should be able to mate I think! We couldnt have the other descended as I was afraid the Vets may actually end up doing it and after he could end up with complications and not survive!

I look forward to you advices!

Answer
Hello Hamish,

Thank you for your questions. This young male probably gets excited but then realizes the female is not ready. Males smell and taste to determine if the female is ready. They will mount from excitement only to dismount because the senses tell him she is not ready. Boxers do not mature as fast as other breeds so a male 3-4 year old is ideal for a stud dog.

I have never heard of these claims of breeders giving shots to puppies to keep them from reproducing only spay or neuter procedures.I have not found any scientific evidence of these shots either. There is a disease called brucellosis that causes fertility issues in both male and females. Your vet can test for it. Even if the dogs have never been mated but were in a kennel where it was present they can get it.

Your male is a monorchid meaning only one testicle descended and this is a dominant trait meaning it will be passed to the male offspring and the female offspring could be carriers. Responsible breeders do not breed dogs with known genetic faults as this. Both parents are carriers of the gene for your male to have it. If you breed this dog to a female who is also a carrier the puppies will be carriers or affected thus continuing this genetic disorder and doing no good for the breed as a whole.You can not know a female is a carrier but by breeding her and she produces puppies with it. So my advice is to never breed your male. There are two forms of this gene one dominant-you can see the testicle not down on a male or a recessive - a male or female not showing signs of it until breed together and the puppies are affected.

When you have a male with this disorder it is advised to neuter him because if left like this it runs the risk of testicle cancer. Yes any time a surgerical procedure is done the pet is at risk of complications or death per my vet.

I hope you find this information enlightening.

Angela Donald
Canine Behavior Consultant
http://www.hitowerboxers.com