Small ears/Head..Mixed breed?? Please help!

ajosanders · #1 01-26-2009, 05:43 PM

I just bought a "boxer" puppy from a man that works for 7 different breeders.. The puppy is said to have papers, which are being ordered? And the man told me it was full blooded and the runt of the litter. She was the last one when I got there and fell in love with her. I have had suspicions about her because of her nose and ears. Her nose isn't pugged at all but does look like 1/3 of her head's size. Her ears are always perked up and they are small. She has the build of a boxer, shes all muscle but she's a little short. Please look at my pictures and let me know what you all think. I'm very dissapointed that I may have spent a bunch of money on a mixed breed dog, although she is very adorable. I took her to the vet today to get her tail docked but backed out of it because the Doc. told me that he didn't think she was full blooded but he wasnt the "worlds best" at picking out breeds. The lady at the front desk looked at her as well and agreed with him that she wasnt but had a lot of dominant boxer traits. She's a hoot, but I want to figure out what she really is? Please help?

Caney Creek · #2 01-26-2009, 07:35 PM

Honestly, there is no telling. It's possible that she's purebred, but if so, obviously not well bred. I have seen purebred boxer puppies with ears just like hers. Her nose is a bit on the long side though. Does she have an under-bite at all?

Well, it's a good thing your vet didn't agree to dock the tail. Docking should be done when the puppies are still with the breeder, when they are 2-3 days old. At that age, docking can be performed without anesthesia or sedation because the tail and the nerves are not fully developed yet; the tail is basically just snipped off and closed with one or two stitches. Once the puppy is 5-7 days old, it is too old to dock. Docking your pup's tail now would be a major surgery. First off, anesthesia is always risky, so it would be silly to take that risk for cosmetic reasons alone. Secondly, she would be in a lot of pain for some time after the surgery. Sitting, laying down, falling (unavoidable for puppies) -- she wouldn't be able to do those things comfortably. At this point, docking should ONLY be done if the tail becomes injured and amputation is the only option.

So... whatever she is, just leave the tail

I doubt you'll ever see those papers... there probably aren't any papers at all. Sorry you paid so much. She's very cute though

Good luck with her!

ehayes21 · #3 01-26-2009, 08:36 PM

Sounds like you fell victim to a backyard breeder. It's hard to tell from your pictures, but it looks like she could be mixed with something else or pretty poorly bred. It's the mouth that gives it away. Regardless, she's pretty cute. I agree with Caney that the tail should have been docked at 3 days old, now it would be more like an amputation.
Good luck with your pup, I am sure she'll bring you many years of happiness.

ajosanders · #4 01-26-2009, 09:42 PM

Here are more pictures of my Dixie..She is going to be three months on the 29'th of this month..She has grown quite a bit!

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/n...t=Dixie011.jpg

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/n...t=Dixie012.jpg

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/n...t=Dixie009.jpg

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/n...t=Dixie001.jpg

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/n...t=Dixie002.jpg

ajosanders · #5 01-26-2009, 09:58 PM

8 Weeks.. She looked very frail & sickly in this picture but did not act that way when we got her..Never has had a dull moment!
http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/n...urrent=002.jpg

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/n...t=Dixie006.jpg

This is Dixie at 11 weeks
http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/n...urrent=002.jpg

SweetCody · #6 01-27-2009, 06:52 AM

Well she is just the cutest thing

.

Love her little tail

Box Boys · #7 01-27-2009, 02:54 PM

She is adorable! I agree that she doesn't quite look 100% boxer, but she's still sweet as can be. Enjoy!!

ehayes21 · #8 01-27-2009, 06:45 PM

Oh my goodness!!! She is too precious!!! Looking at these pictures, she does indeed looked mixed with something else. She's a doll regardless.

Caney Creek · #9 01-27-2009, 07:23 PM

Aww!

She really is adorable!! I'm sure you'll love her to pieces. If her personality is anything like a boxer's, looks won't matter a bit

LILYLARUE · #10 01-28-2009, 10:42 AM

If you really want to know if she is a mix, order the Canine Heritage Test. (there are two others, but this one is more thorough of breeds listed) I did it with my two rescues and it was fun waiting on the results. They were spot on with the pitbull, but the other was just a mish-mash and no clear DNA on a specific breed. A true mutt. Now had I had it done to my boxer and it came back a mix, then me and my results would be going to the breeder for a partial refund.

The test isn't recognized by any breed orgs, but it will be definative in the dogs DNA and may be worth it to get some money back from the breeder for a false sale of a pure breed.