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Bobtail Boxers
When discussions started early in the new millennium about introducing a new law banning the practice of tail docking, we started to look into the fascinating work of Dr Bruce Cattanach of Steynmere Boxers in the United Kingdom who had created a naturally short tail in Boxers (Bobtail). After many years of research we were able to realize our dream of owning one of these beautiful specimens (with the help of my mother) when we were able to persuade Ingmar Sioen & Mariette Poppe of the world famous Van Sapho's Hoeve kennels in Belgium to send us a beautiful Bobtail male by the name of Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve "Elmo". Later when we were offered a Bobtail bitch from Bruce Cattanach by the name of Steynmere Had To Be You "Meg" we decided it was an offer to good to refuse. Meg is the litter sister to the male Bobtail Steynmere Had It All "Monty" also imported into Australia. To date we have had 15 Bobtail litters under the Boxberry (13) & Looje (2) kennel names, producing 46 Bobtails with more litters due in the future. All bobtail puppies carrying the Boxberry kennel name or by our stud dogs will be sold to pet homes only, they will not be sold to puppy farmers or people who want to breed for profit. We believe that our Bobtails are very special and in trying to maintain and improve the quality of Bobtails produced breeders require extensive experience and knowledge to be able to breed them for the betterment of the breed. If you are looking for a Bobtail puppy to breed from you would be wise to look elsewhere. We have a large waiting list for Bobtails, at this stage (March 2010) anyone wishing to purchase a Bobtail from our kennel should be prepared to wait between 6-24 months for a Bobtail puppy (Depending on your colour & sex preferences).
Here is a short summary on the history of the Bobtail Boxer. In 1992 Dr Bruce Cattanach reinvented the Boxer with a naturally short tail, the Bobtail Boxer. It began with the crossing of one of Dr. Cattanach’s Boxer bitches to a Pembroke Corgi with a dominantly inherited bobtail, Vaquera of Pemwell.
Dr. Cattanach is a geneticist by profession, with a specialty in the cause and analysis of genetic defects. He is a well respected breeder & exhibitor of Boxers in the UK under the Steynmere prefix established in 1949. In a series of articles on Dr Cattanach's website http://www.steynmere.com/GENETICS.html - the creation of naturally short tailed (bobtail) Boxers as carried out over a series of generations is documented. To answer the question on the possibility of Corgi characteristics reappearing in progeny, Dr Cattanach undertook a "double up" mating with a dog and bitch that were both only four generations removed from the Corgi. The four puppies were all short backed, had decent heads with obvious Boxer chins. None showed any trace of the short legs and longer coat type of the Corgi. The matings taking place in Australia now are eight generations away from the Corgi and have less than 0.5% Corgi in their pedigree, the only gene being transferred is the Bobtail. The length of a Bobtail can be in all variations, some even have a kink in the tail. A Bobtail can be identified by the feel of the end part of the tail. If there is no graduation to smaller bones towards the tip of the tail & fleshy part at the end of the tail - it is not a Bobtail. All of our Bobtails have veterinary documents verifying that they are in fact natural Bobtails.
Bobtail Boxers can now be found in the UK, Europe, America and Australia, and have competed successfully in the show ring with both long tailed and docked dogs. However, whether the inherited short tail will be accepted by breeders here remains to be seen. The disadvantage of the tail gene used is that it will not breed true, there will only be a percentage of puppies in a litter with Bobtails.
Following is information about our Bobtails
Introducing Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0 CC - "Elmo" Elmo is a beautifully bred male from Belgium. More information about Elmo including his studs and litters can be viewed on his own page in the Our Dogs link on this site. Elmo's head is featured at the top of this page (at 22 months of age) along with his Bobtail daughter Australian Champion Boxberry Sweet Surrender CCD "Zoe" at 5 months, his standing shot above this text is at 11 months. His sire's photo Dahlina's Lexus is above Elmo's stacked photo either side. Elmo's sire "Lexus" can also be viewed in more detail on his owners website Urkabustaiz Boxers at http://www.geocities.com/n_moscoso/ Elmo is a 7th generation Bobtail he carries the red gene and comes from fully health tested lines. As a stud Elmo will bring to our kennel some genetic diversity, which as any wise breeder knows will help to improve the health, fertility, vigour and longevity of their offspring, as well as the Bobtail gene. Elmo has sired 13 litters thus far producing 81 puppies of which 42 have been Bobtails, equalling 52% Bobtails - which is just over the expected percentage of 50% Bobtails expected in matings of Bobtail x Pure lines. We are extremely pleased with the results, Elmo is consistently producing puppies which have lovely typical Boxer heads with correct muzzle proportions, beautiful eyes, expressions, lip placement and mouths - which can be seen in the photo's below of his progeny. We feel Elmo has a lot to offer the breed, not just his Bobtail. Elmo has produced two Australian Champions thus far from limited matings - Aust Ch Boxberry Sweet Surrender CCD "Zoe" - who can be viewed elsewhere on this site, & Aust Ch Imoen Im So Soxy "Seven". Elmo has 3 more offspring who are well on their way to their Australian Championships.
Mrs Valerie Leeson THANKS MUM.
Introducing Steynmere Had To Be You (Imp UK) HT0 - "Meg". Meg arrived in Australia in August 2005. She is pictured above at 17 months. Aside from being a lovely girl, Meg has a natural, inherited short tail (Bobtail). She is the product of a breeding project undertaken by her breeder British geneticist Dr. Bruce Cattanach. Meg was our first Boxer from this extraordinary strain. She is line bred to Eng Ch Faerdorn Fineas Fogg and Eng Ch Tyegarth Famous Grouse. Her sire is Steynmere Just Is who is by "Oscar" - Eng Ch Surfstone Hot Property JW. Oscar is also the sire of our "Jamie" - Australian Grand Champion Belvurn Too Hot T'Handle (Imp UK). Meg is a 7th generation Bobtail, she can be viewed on Our Past Boxers page. Meg has been retired from our breeding program after producing two beautiful litters, and she will spend the rest of her days with her co-owners Jason & Jacqui Baumgarten. Meg is owned by the Looje prefix which is owned by Darryl & Janet Halliday & Jason & Jacqui Baumgarten.
Introducing Aust Ch Boxberry Wish Upona Star HT0 AC - "Bagel" Sire: Acreoaks Chase The Cad (Imp UK)
Dam: Ch Boxberry A Star Is Born HT0 DOM
Although Bagel is not a Bobtail she is from the first Bobtail litter born in Australia, she can be viewed on Our Past Boxers page. Her photo's above were at 17 months winning Bitch Challenge & Runner Up Best Of Breed at the prestigious Sydney Royal in April 2007.
 Introducing Boxberry Mega Star - "Izzy"
Sire: Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0 CC
Dam: Ch Boxberry Little Star HT0
Izzy was the first puppy born by Elmo in Australia, she can be viewed on Our Boxers page.
Izzy is an 8th generation Bobtail, her photo above was at 7 weeks.
  Introducing Australian Champion Boxberry Sweet Surrender CCD HT0 AC - "Zoe"
Sire: Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0 CC
Dam: Boxberry Tomb Raider
Zoe was from Elmo's second litter in Australia, she can be viewed on Our Girls page.
Zoe is an 8th generation Bobtail and her photo's above were at 11 months. Zoe is the first Champion for her sire Elmo, and was first Bobtail in the world to be awarded a Best In Group (Group 1st), she also created more history recently by becoming the first Bobtail with an Obedience Title.
  Introducing Boxberry Grace Kelly HT0 - "Gracie"
Sire: Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0 CC
Dam: Boxberry Totally Hot HT0
Gracie was from Elmo's third litter in Australia, she can be viewed on Our Boxers page.
Gracie is an 8th generation Bobtail and her photo's above were at 2 years.
  Introducing Boxberry Be Loved - "Rasmus"
Sire: Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0 CC
Dam: Boxberry Totally Hot HT0
Rasmus was from Elmo's third litter in Australia, he is a litter brother of Gracie pictured above.
Rasmus is an 8th generation Bobtail and his photo above was at 12 months (Head) & 14 months (Stacked).
 Introducing Looje Penny Lane HT0 -"Izzy"
Sire: Boxberry Earth WindNFire HT0
Dam: Steynmere Had To Be You (Imp UK) HT0
Izzy is an 8th generation Bobtail, she can be viewed on Our Boxers page, her photo above was at 10 months.
 Introducing Boxberry Tater Tot - "Tatum"
Sire: Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0 CC
Dam: Boxberry On A Roll HT0
Tatum is from Elmo's fifth litter in Australia, she can be viewed on Our Girls page.
Tatum is an 8th generation Bobtail, her photo above was at 18 months.
  Introducing Boxberry HiFive AC -"Tilly"
Sire: Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0 CC
Dam: Boxberry Tomb Raider
Tilly was from Elmo's sixth litter in Australia, she can be viewed on Our Past Dogs page.
Tilly is an 8th generation Bobtail, her photo above was at 6 months & 2 years.
Introducing Boxberry Crazy Scarecrow HT0 - "Spud"
Sire: Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0 CC
Dam: Boxberry Tomb Raider
Spud was from Elmo's sixth litter in Australia, he is litter brother to Tilly listed above.
Spud is an 8th generation Bobtail, his photo above was at 8 months & 2 years.
Introducing Boxberry Stella Xplosion HT0 CC -"Stella"
Sire: Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0 CC
Dam: Ch Boxberry Super Nova HT0 CC
Stella was from Elmo's eighth litter in Australia, she can be viewed on Our Boxers page.
Stella is an 8th generation Bobtail, her photo's above were at 18 months & 2 years.
  Introducing Boxberry St Elmos Fire HT0 CC - "Emilio"
Sire: Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0 CC
Dam: Ch Boxberry Super Nova HT0 CC
Emilio was from Elmo's eighth litter in Australia, he is litter brother to Stella listed above.
Although Emilio is not a Bobtail we think he is pretty special, we think he has a beautiful head, and his temperment is second to none. Emilio's photo's above were at 18 months & 2 years. Emilio is the sire of "Demi" featured below.
  Introducing Roxbud Hey Surprise - "Tude"
Sire: Boxberry Red Rascal HT0 CC
Dam: Boxberry WatchuWatchnMe HT0 AC
Tude is from Elmo's first litter of Grandchildren in Australia.
Although Tude is not a Bobtail we think she is pretty special. Tude's photo's above were at 6 months & 9 months, she can also be viewed on Our Girls page.
  Introducing Boxberry About Last Night - "Demi"
Sire: Boxberry St Elmos Fire HT0 CC
Dam: Ch Boxberry Wish Upona Star HT0 AC
Demi is from Elmo's second litter of Grandchildren in Australia.
Demi is not a Bobtail, although she is a double up on the Bobtail lines as both her Grandsire's are Bobtails.
Demi's photo's above were at 3 months & 4 months, she can also be viewed on Our Girls page.
Introducing Boxberry The Ringer - "Geoffy" Sire: Boxberry Red Rascal HT0 CC
Dam: Boxberry HiFive AC
Geoffy is from Elmo's third litter of Grandchildren in Australia, and he will be the third Bobtail campaigned by our kennel.
Geoffy is a 9th generation Bobtail and his photo's above were at 8 & 11 weeks, he can also be viewed on Our Boys page.
  Introducing Boxberry High Time - "Ruby" Sire: Boxberry Red Rascal HT0 CC
Dam: Boxberry HiFive AC
Ruby is from Elmo's third litter of Grandchildren in Australia, she is litter sister to Geoffy listed above.
Ruby is a 9th generation Bobtail and her photo's above were at 5 weeks, she can also be viewed on Our Boxers page.
 
Introducing Boxberry Good Golly Miss Molly - "Molly" Sire: Boxberry Crazy Scarecrow
Dam: Mopsland Shes Dynamite
Molly is from Elmo's fourth litter of Grandchildren in Australia, and she will be the fourth Bobtail campaigned by our kennel.
Molly is a 9th generation Bobtail and her photo's above were at 6 & 9 weeks, she can also be viewed on Our Boxers page.
  Introducing Boxberry Jazz It Up - "Jazz" Sire: Aust Ch Galicar Contradition (Imp UK) JW ShCM HT0 AC
Dam: Looje Penny Lane
Jazz is from Meg's first litter of Grandchildren in Australia.
Jazz is a 9th generation Bobtail and her photo's above were at 8 weeks, she can also be viewed on Our Boxers page.
We would like to thank the following people:
Darryl & Janet Halliday & Susan Badman Boree Creek - Riverina Region, NSW, Australia Phone : + 612 6927 1541 Email : boxberry4@bigpond.com |
Dahlina's Lexus 
