Invariably, the would-be puppy buyer asks me, "Do you have a fawn bitch?" After determining that the buyer wants a pet and companion, not a breeding animal, I usually ask, "Why a female?" The reply is almost always, "Because they are smaller and gentler." At this point, I give them a few thoughts about Boxers in general and the "gentle" sex in particular.
Most female Boxers, in my experience, are quite capable of hurling themselves nicely through the air and hitting the most tender places of my body. They are smaller, so I may only have 50 or so pounds of unremitting muscle aimed at my solar plexus instead of perhaps the 65 a male offers, but as I'm on the floor gasping for breath, being drowned in Boxer kisses, who's counting?
The fact is, Boxers are agile, active, bouncy, exuberant dogs that delight in bouncing off solid objects, and gender really doesn't count. A firm owner and some good obedience training are what's needed to control the Boxer's very natural tendency to jump and ricochet!
Many families that initially purchase a well-bred puppy bitch as a pet decide to breed her if quality warrants, although that was the last thing on their minds when she was 8 weeks old. They will have to deal with all the vagaries of hormones and heat cycles, stud dogs and shipping, puppies and pooper-scoopers. Invariably, there's a lot more work and mental tension than they ever dreamed, despite the many warnings they were given by experienced breeders. Such families may look with envy on the male Boxer snoring happily on his breeder's couch while their bitch has wreaked havoc with their sanity.
I knew of a bitch that was sent in for breeding, locked in a crate in the kitchen, then left alone for several hours. Imagine everyone's surprise when the stud dog's owners returned to find her strolling up the street. Luckily, she was retrieved without incident. She had smashed her crate to pieces, climbed on the kitchen counter, broken through the window screen and dropped happily to the ground. We'll never know why. Luckily, the Golden Retriever Romeo was nowhere in sight. The bitch's owners revealed (much later) that "she had a tendency to escape." So much for the image of the quiet, uncomplicated female that lives to obey your every wish.
My husband and I once owned a bitch that was a bona fide serial killer. She would lie in wait in tall grass in her paddock, anticipating with an evil gleam in her eye the sparrows that were leading unsuspecting lives in her vicinity. Alas, many a sparrow fell victim to her murderous tendencies, and we worried constantly that sweet little Gina would catch some dire disease from eating all that raw poultry. She lived to 12, was never sick and was an American Boxer Club (ABC) Dam of Merit, which means her genes are behind lots of today's winning and producing Boxers, so beware, all you would-be puppy bitch buyers out there!
Choosing the gender of the family pet is not always easy. Physical differences are obvious, but there are a host of other considerations. Those who know me know I would choose a male as a pet if I could own only one Boxer. In my house, the males are more laid back and less independent, thus more anxious to please, than my (admittedly wonderful) females.
That's only my experience, and many will disagree, but breeders must make pet buyers aware that the choices are difficult and not as clear as the public believes. Gina may rise again!
ABC National Specialty
The 1995 ABC national specialty is May 8 through 12 at the Holiday Inn in Frederick, Md. We're excited about this new venue. All are welcome to attend. Educational seminars for breeders and judges are among the scheduled events.
Stephanie Abraham
P. O. Box 346
Scotland, CT 06264
