| Editor’s note: With all
the emphasis on health testing and genetics on the Boxer e-mail lists lately, we felt this
was just the right time to feature Dr. Bruce Cattanach’s Steynmere Hot Shot, a fourth
generation bob-tail Boxer. THE JULY/AUGUST BU FEATURE BOXER
STEYNMERE HOT SHOT
Bred
& Co-owned by Dr. Bruce Cattanach
Have to boast about this one:
My fourth generation bob-tail Boxer, Steynmere Hot Shot, has gone to Norway where the plan
is for him to be used for controlled breeding. The Norwegian Boxer people are interested
in the bobtail despite 10 years of a ban on docking, and their Kennel Club has done much
research on the tail (in Corgis). The climate for positive thinking on the bobtail issue
is good over there.
However, before a dog can be
used for breeding in Norway it has to be tested and proven free of spondylosis, HD and
heart defects. A male also has to be entire, as also its father, if imported. As most
people know, the majority of Boxers have minor heart murmurs, most have some level of
spondylosis and most have some level of HD. Steynmere Hot Shot was found free of all. It
may be he is the healthiest Boxer in Norway!
He is going to be shown too,
which meant an X-ray to prove that his tail had not been docked also had to be done. As a
big solid (in all senses of the word) male he will look less out of place in the Norwegian
show scene than in the UK. Many of their dogs lack white markings and with the huge
Continental influx of late, which has meant a majority of Continental type dogs at some
shows, he may merge in pretty easily - apart from his short tail. And he has a truly super
mouth to suit any Continental judge. |
