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.

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 

            Dahlina's Lexus            

Introducing  Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0 "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 "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 was our first male Bobtail, he arrived in Australia in February 2006 at 10 months of age, after having to complete his importing requirements in Belgium. His pedigree contains some of the best Europe has to offer including Atibox Champion, World Champion, European Champion, Junior Atibox Champion, International Champion, German Champion, Italian Champion, Austrian Champion, Hungarian Champion, Sch H1 Teck Del Colle Dell'Infinito (Italy) and Atibox Champion, World Champion, European Champion, International Champion, Spanish Champion, Sch  H1 Tenor De Loermo (Spain) to name just a few.

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 12 litters thus far producing 74 puppies of which 39 have been bobtails, equalling 53% 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 are looking forward to seeing what Elmo produces to our English lines and other lines in the future.

Elmo has produced one Australian Champion thus far from limited matings- Aust Ch Boxberry Sweet Surrender "Zoe" - who can be viewed elsewhere on this site.

Elmo is owned by the Boxberry partnership of Mrs Janet Halliday & Mrs Susan Badman,  with the help of our mother

Mrs Valerie Leeson THANKS MUM.

 Introducing Steynmere Had To Be You (Imp UK) - "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 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 "Bagel"

Although Bagel is not a Bobtail she is from the first Bobtail litter born in Australia, she can be viewed on Our Girls page.

 

 

Introducing Australian Champion Boxberry Sweet Surrender "Zoe"

 

Sire: Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0

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 above was at 11 months. Zoe is the first Champion for her sire Elmo.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Introducing Boxberry Grace Kelly "Gracie"

 

Sire: Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0

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 above was at 7 months.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing Boxberry Be Loved "Rasmus"

 

Sire: Elmo Van Sapho's Hoeve (Imp Blg) HT0

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 "Izzy"

 

Sire: Boxberry Earth WindNFire HT0

Dam: Steynmere Had To Be You (Imp UK) HT0

 

Izzy is a 8th generation Bobtail, she can be viewed on Our Boxers page, her photo above was at 10 months. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

We would like to thank the following people:

• Dr. Bruce Cattanach of Steynmere Boxers for entrusting us with Meg and for creating this extraordinary strain of Boxers.

• Ingmar Sioen & Mariette Poppe of Van Sapho's Hoeve Boxers for entrusting Elmo to us.

• Mrs Valerie Leeson, (Janet & Susan's mother) for without her continuos support none of this would be possible.

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