Expert: Jannie Balliett - 5/25/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have been researching the genetics on coat colors and I am aware of the controversy on breeding white boxers, however I was told that if two white boxers are bred the puppies will be deaf. I have been unable to find any information about this. Is it true?

ANSWER: "Breeding two whites together will reinforce and continue the ill effects of this recessive gene. Breeding whites with others will sustain the recessive gene, even if no ill effects are visible in the immediate offspring.

It is for this reason The White Boxer Chronicles does not condone the deliberate breeding of any whites.
It is not fair to the animal a few generations down the line to have a problem it must live with for life because someone wanted to breed their white for human reasons."

From: http://www.wtboxers.com/about/


A post forum:

http://www.boxers.jasidog.com/talk/topic-27.html

http://www.boxerrescue.com/whiteboxer.htm

Google "breeding white Boxers" and you'll get a lot of information.

I recommend AGAINST breeding any white-- especially two whites together. This increases the chance of puppies being born deaf, or deveopeling deafness later.



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

QUESTION: Does the coat color of "grandparents" affect the litters coat color?

Answer
Yes, if Brindle grandparents are in the mix, and you have a Fawn you are breeding to  a Brindle, you can get both. A Fawn and Fawn produce Fawn. Brindle and Brindle produce Brindle, unless a non-dominate Brindle, then you can get Fawn offspring from the ancestor's genetics.

Go to Boxerworld.com for reference.

Usually the grandparents markings is what is carried through. A classic or fancy markings pops up in litters. For instance, two classic Fawns can have some fancy Fawns because of grandparents.

Both parents have to have the white gene to produce a white puppy, but can be Brindle or Fawn, and not knowing they both carry the gene.

Two white Boxers obviously carry the white gene and will produce white puppies as well as their ancestor's genes: Fawn or Brindle.