Meta Von Der Passage

“Meta” may be Facebook’s new name, but in the Boxer breed, it’s an old name, and an important one at that. A lightly marked, pale fawn bitch named Meta Von Der Passage was whelped in November of 1898, and she is regarded as the Grand Old Lady of the breed. Perhaps more accurately, Meta was the matriarch of modern Boxer lineages. As a producer, few bitches in any breed could match her record, and even more to the point, Meta give birth to a line of sires that defined the future of the Boxer to today.

Viewed through today’s lens, Meta (Piccolo von Angentor x Blanka von Angentor) had her issues. She was too long, weak-backed, and down-faced, and brought many Bulldog traits to the table including a bit of drooling (she was, after all the granddaughter of a Bulldog). Author, John Wagner, shared his opinion in his 1939 book, The Boxer.” He wrote: “Meta von der Passage played the most important role of the five original ancestors. Our great line of sires all trace directly back to this female. She was a substantially built, low to the ground, brindle and white parti-color, lacking in under jaw and exceedingly lippy. As a producing bitch few in any breed can match her record. She consistently whelped puppies of marvelous type and rare quality. Those of her offspring sired by Flock St. Salvator and Wotan dominate all present-day pedigrees. Combined with Wotan and Mirzl children, they made the “Boxer.”  

We mention Meta not so much for what she meant to the Boxer breed, but to underscore the importance of a brood bitch. To look at Meta, one wouldn’t think much of her prospects in a show ring, but she produced solid and spectacular puppies consistently, and that made her significant. More than one breeder has opined that a good brood bitch is the heart of a successful breeding program, and not for nothing is there a class for “Best Brood Bitch” at national specialties.

Some of you might be asking about now, “Isn’t the genetic influence from each parent 50/50?” We have an article for you to read touching upon mitochondrial DNA, see it here.  Also, be sure to read this piece by Carol Beuchat PhD, “Is the Dam More Important than the Sire?”  After reading both, tell us what you think: Is a dam more important?

Image: Boxer with puppies, free clipart on-line