Boxer Coat Colors
The Boxer has Only 3 Possible Main Colors:
Fawn
Brindle
White - Sometimes with colored patches, also know as a "Check" Boxer.
With 3 Possible Markings:
Flashy
Semi Flashy
Classic
And a Boxer May Additionally Have:
A Black Mask
The majority of Boxer dogs will be fawn or brindle with endless options of marking placement. Not sure what color your Boxer is? Let's dive in a bit further and find out!
Fawn- What exactly is the color fawn in regards to Boxers?
Fawn coloring can range from a very light tan to a deep red color often referred to as mahogany.
Brindle - What is brindle?
Brindle coloring is a fawn boxer with black stripe pattern over the body. The stripe pattern varies from sparse (1-2 stripes on the dog) to a more dense stripe pattern covering the majority of the body. Reverse Brindle is most often referred to as a brindle boxer where the stripe pattern is so dark it over takes fawn color in a coat. It appears as if the boxer has fawn stripes instead of black stripes-which is why it is considered to be a reverse. Reverse Seal Brindle is most commonly referred to as a “Black Boxer”. There is no such thing as a black boxer since the boxer breed does not carry the black gene. A reverse seal brindle is when a boxer has such heavy stripe pattern that the brindle overtakes the fawn and only in certain lighting can the fawn be seen underneath the brindle pattern. Usually the fawn is the darker mahogany color instead of the lighter fawn and it could be seen around the withers, ears and chest.
**PLEASE BE AWARE OF BREEDERS WHO ARE ADVERTISING RARE BLACK BOXERS-THESE BOXERS ARE EITHER BRED WITH ANOTHER BREED TO CREATE BLACK IN THE LINE (WHICH MEANS IT IS NOT A PUREBRED BOXER) OR IT IS A REVERSE THAT A BREEDER IS TRYING TO SELL AT A HIGHER COST**
White - Can it be so simple?
A White or Check Boxer is all white or they may have patches of fawn or brindle on one of the following areas on their body; ears, around eyes, top of head, on the back or even the base of tail, but rarely on the side of the body and no more than 1/3 (which is fairly much). The white Boxer does not have the typical black mask. Parti-colored or mis-marked Boxer is either fawn or brindle with more than 1/3 white markings on its body, often a white collar that extends past it shoulders & it could include white that appears in spots on the back or side.
The Facts and Fiction of White Boxers - Long ago, before people knew better, a huge majority of Boxer dogs born white were actually culled at birth. Naive thinking being that an all white Boxer would have health problems and most certainly be deaf. This way of thinking is now gone as the world knows that most white Boxers are just as healthy as fawn or brindle Boxers with only about 18% born deaf. And of course, they are just as beautiful. Despite myths, they have the same behavior and temperament as any other.
Are white Boxers rare -
Over 20 percent of Boxers are born white. This happens when both sire and dam carry a white gene in their DNA.
**A WHITE BOXER IS NOT CONSIDERED ALBINO**
Boxer Dog Flash
The white markings on Boxers are called "flash". If a Boxer has a moderate amount, one often refers to this as semi-flashy. Those with prominent white on a good portion of the coat are called flashy. There is no exact of percentage that qualifies a Boxer as either having flash or being flashy, however a 30/70 fawn (or other color) to white would be a safe ratio. In show, not more than 33% (1/3) of white "flash" markings should cover the dog's coat.
Flashy - A fawn or brindle Boxer with white markings covering up to 1/3 of the body ideally, but sometimes a little more. The white markings can be found as one or more of these: white chest, white collar, white between eyes and on the muzzle, white socks and a white tipped tail for those who have long tails.
Semi-Flashy – A term used to refer to a boxer who may only exhibit white markings on the face, chest and legs.
Plain - A fawn or brindle Boxer with little or no white. If there is any white, it will appear on one or more of these places: spot on the chest, tips of toes, but rarely the whole foot, or a stripe on the muzzle.
