9-   Could you tell us your experience with natural short tale Boxer breeding?   It is one of the most exciting – and scientifically sound – possibilities to keep the original Boxer (short tail), that was given us by the research and the work of Dr. Bruce Cattanach, a professional geneticist and outstanding Boxer breeder. As most breeders did look upon the project as a simple cross between breeds and did not understanding the underlying genetics (they didn’t want to or simply could not), it was almost impossible to have accepted the natural short tailed boxers. Club officials were not ashamed to declare publicly they did not even want to look at them. For the sake of simplicity they forgot for one moment that every breed is built on a mix of other “breeds”. Even our beloved Boxer. And this project was not even about a cross but about a very detailed and supervised (by the English Kennel Club) attempt to introduce a well-defined gene (the one responsible for the shortness of the tail) into a known and controlled gene pool. Of course, no one would have been interested in this project if the dog world in general and elected officials specifically had not accepted that Politics interfered with dog standards in the first place. It was their moral duty to stop this interference. They did not. As a result the actual Boxer standard is a Political Standard, no longer a cynological one. It is all the more cynical that the European legislation itself foresees in a note that the entire legislation can be officially ratified without the paragraph of the tail docking ban! Many countries have done so. It was cynological officials that went further than their own governments! Few people know this. Or should I say: most dog people do not care? Anyway ever since I am left with one question, on which no Boxer men of –woman has give me an answer: If a Boxer with a long tail is so much better/nicer/more natural - why did no one keep long tailed boxers before the docking ban?   We were – and are – convinced we should give this project a chance. So we set up a separate program and made several combinations starting with a short tailed Norwegian male (originating from the Cattanach project) that was Spanish owned: Dahlina’s Lexus. A brindle male with white markings, short tailed, English lines and a true Boxer in every sense of the word. Lexus proved to be an able and very fertile male. We kept several of his children and grandchildren. Without anyone knowing these were naturally short tailed boxers, we entered some of them in expositions, both all breed and boxer specials, under all breed judges and under boxer specialists. Most were graded “excellent” and with one male we got “best junior in breed”, twice and under boxer specialists! This speaks for itself, doesn’t it? Of course there were things we didn’t like. Just as with any other Boxer puppy. And no, the Big Champion was not (yet) in these litters from the seventh generation. But we felt we moved in the right direction. First we had to widen the gene pool (include all lines present in our kennel), secondly we had to continue selecting on type and expression ( try to get rid of some of the specific English traits – remember the project started with UK-boxers) and then, in a third and final phase, we could select specifically on the exact tail length. This was really what was breeding about: the first generations of Boxer breeders must have felt a similar excitement. Not the one outstanding puppy that would win it all, but the gradual moving into the direction you foresee. Right at the moment we had some rather spectacular improvements in our last litters, we received the news that the FCI once again changed the standard. In all their wisdom the Germans had succeeded introducing a new line: natural short tailed boxers were to be disqualified!   In anticipation we had delivered the Standard committee of the FCI, via its (now former) President, a full and detailed rapport of the project: the science, the history, the progress, the difficulties, the possibilities, the future. Documented with pictures, X-rays, results, names of participating kennels (all of which were open for inspection, if so desired), etc. Not one word. Just a dictate: disqualification. This is what is called Power politics. And there is nothing that can be done about it. Or rather, there is. First of all, the project continues in America, UK, and Australia. Secondly: one could start a juridical procedure. Thirdly: you could go on with the project as standalone project without official documentation. We discussed it all: nor my parents nor we have the energy (or the money!) to follow up either of the last two options. At this point we leave it to the “open countries” and have semen of a few of our best short tailed boxers frozen in. You never know.   And now I am stuck with a second question : What was wrong with giving this project a chance? Even if it would have been placed under supervision of the boxer clubs? Isn’t this “ breeding”?     10-Is the same character in rabon/natural short tale boxer with other boxer?   I did not notice any major difference in the behaviour of the dogs. The only thing that was obvious, was that the first combinations of natural short tale where done with English bloodlines. And as anyone knows, these Boxers are a slightly different temperament. Not as hard as the continental lines. This came through in these first combinations we did, but only in the first. And still I speak of details, not of major differences. To be clear: I’m convinced I could have passed the German ZTP with all of these natural short tailed boxers (except for the short tail of course).     11-What is for you a complete Boxer?   The appearance of an athlete, the behaviour of a perfect family member, and this very special expression...an expression that gives your the feeling to have found the companion you can tell your live to.