White Boxers

The 'rare' white Boxer...a dog surrounded by rumor and misinformation! We at BBR love our white Boxers and strive to educate the public in order to put a halt to the misrepresentation. Let's do a little "true or false"! 
 
Fact: White Boxers are rare! 
False: Approximately 25% of pure-bred Boxers are white. You should never purchase a White Boxer and pay more than you would for a fawn or brindle. 
 
Fact: White Boxers sunburn easily 
True: Just as a pale-skinned and/or fair-haired human burns more easily than a darker skinned person. 

Fact: All white Boxers are deaf 
False: Less than 10% of white Boxers are deaf. 
 
Fact: All white Boxers will become deaf as they age 
False: As with any elderly dog, age-related deafness is a possibility, however, deafness in white Boxers will be seen at approximately 6-8 weeks of age. Deafness is caused by a lack of pigment cells in the inner ear which results in a loss of the sensory hair cells. This happens very shortly after birth. By the time you've purchased or adopted your white Boxer you will know if he/she is hearing impaired. 
 
Fact: White Boxers are more sickly than fawn or brindle Boxers 
False: There are no health issues related to whites, other than deafness, that are not related to fawns or brindle. 
 
Fact: White Boxers are albino 
False: A true albino lacks pigment anywhere on the body. White Boxers often have a black nose, black spots on the skin and even spots on the coat (called a Check Boxer). White Boxers also have pigment in their eyes while an albino does not. 
 
Fact: White Boxers are culled (killed) at birth 
True: Some breeders still practice culling. While the white Boxer does not meet the American Boxer Clubs standard, they are still Boxers. We at BBR do not condone nor support the barbaric practice of culling...for any breed! 

Fact: White Boxers can be registered with the AKC 
True: White Boxers can be registered with the AKC with limited registration in order to prevent owners from breeding their Whites. A litter born to a dam or sire that has limited registration cannot be registered. 
 
Fact: White Boxers should not be bred 
True: The Boxer standard states that the only acceptable colors are fawn and brindle. Because a reputable breeder breeds to standard, White Boxers should not be part of any breeding program. 
 
If you have any questions regarding living with or training a deaf dog please contact us! We'd also love to hear about your White Boxer or answer any questions you may have! info@buckeyeboxer.com 

For a comprehensive listing of deaf dog resources, please click here.