Belle is a two year old rescue from a local humane society where they guessed she was a Beagle Boxer mix. She is calm, attentive, affectionate, smart and gentle. She loves people, but timid around dogs. Bella is high energy outside, but a professional lap muffin inside. She weighs about 40 pounds. We are so happy to have found her, and want to know if she does look like a Beagle Boxer.
By RC
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I raised AKC Boxers 40+years in the US before permanently relocating to the UK in 2010; my cousin raised American Staffordshire Terriers (often mistakenly called 'pit bull'), and we both did extensive breed rescue - your dog is NOT a Beagle-Boxer but instead is a Beagle-Staffie. In a Boxer and almost any other breed cross dog, the Boxer head is dominant and characterised by a distinct 'top-knot' pointy skull cap. Your dog doesn't have that.
I say this with complete confidence but do check with your vet, and run online image searches using both Boxer and Staffie as the second part of the cross - the images you see will confirm I'm correct, as will your vet.
The Staffie head is 99.9% of the time dominant in a mix, the only exception is in a Boxer-Staffie cross as the Boxer head for some reason throws dominant. But in nearly all Staffie and other cross mixes, the Staffie head throws dominant, and that characteristic V or deep furrowed head (skull cap) is clearly present on your dog.
But continue calling the dog a Beagle-Boxer when asked by a member of the general public. If someone with Staffie knowledge challenges you (owing to the characteristic deep furrowed skull), tell them you prefer to say Boxer because people panic when they hear 'Staffie'.
That person will usually smile and agree, very rarely you'll run into someone who wants you to call your dog a Staffie in an effort to show the world Staffies have an unearned bad reputation - your call as to how you feel but to be honest, calling your dog a Staffie is going to possibly encourage the hysterical to try to have your dog 'legislated'.
For example, many US and UK locales now have some very strong laws on the books regarding Staffies (and Boxer-Staffie crosses) including fencing, restrictions on the people the dog can be around, requirements of special insurance and certified training, more.
Work with your vet - if there are local laws with which you must comply the vet will let you know. Otherwise, I'd continue calling the dog a Beagle-Boxer to keep things simple. But understand Staffie traits (different to Boxers) so that you know what to look for and need to understand about your dog. Your vet, the local library (and book store), and the Internet are all good sources of information about the proper care and safe handling of a Staffie and Staffie crosses.
Totally agree with frugal above ... frugal if you read this message I would love for you to comment on my little pup. I'm also from Angus in Scotland. Thanks
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