Brindle Boxers
Some Interesting Facts about Brindle Boxers
Often, choosing a family dog may come down to the color; for boxers, the only two acceptable colors for American Kennel Club recognized dogs are either fawn or brindle boxers. Any prospective boxer owner that is planning to pay for a dog must be sure that the boxer is one of the two acceptable colors.
Fawn colored boxers can actually be a range of colors. Light tan, yellowish, light reddish brown, rich dark brown, deer red and dark honey blonde are all acceptable colors that fall into the category of “fawn”. Most boxers will also have white markings, also called “flashing” that will generally be located on the upper chest, neck and extending onto the face. Brindle boxers may also have any of the aforementioned colors, but will also have almost undistinguishable black stripes; hence the name brindle. One type of brindle boxers have such a heavy stripe pattern that it may actually appear that it is the fawn coloring that is the stripe, with the dark coloring being the background. Some people refer to this as “reverse” brindles, but this is not a true term.
According to the American Kennel Club breed standards, dogs that are not either fawn or brindle boxers may be disqualified. Dogs which carry a so called “reverse” brindle could also very well be disqualified. Standards for boxers define that there must be a clear definition between the fawn background and the striping pattern; a feature with which those that have coats appearing too heavily brindled would fail to comply.
While black boxers and white boxers do exist, neither of the colorations is acceptable or desirable for a dog to qualify as an American Kennel Club breed. White boxers are actually strongly discouraged in the breeding world, as white varieties carry the tendency to be deaf; with an estimated 18% of all white boxers born having deafness in one or both ears. The white coloration is a hand down characteristic from their ancestor, the bulldogs, and occurs in about 25% of the total boxer breed. Brindle boxers will often carry white markings, which are accepted as long as they do not comprise more than 1/3 of the coat.
There are no differences between the brindle boxers and the fawn boxers in either personality or characteristics other than coloration. Boxers of either color are intelligent, curious, playful and devoted dogs. Their clever nature makes these dogs easy to train, although they do have a bit of a stubborn streak which can make training sessions trying for the owner.
Regardless of any personal preference in color, either fawn or brindle boxers are excellent additions as family pets. Keep in mind when paying any price for a boxer, however, that these are the only two colors recognized by the AKC for breed standard.