Have you ever thought about getting a mixed dog breed for a family companion? Although pure breed dogs are very popular, hybrid dogs can often make some of the world’s best pets! There are so many wonderful dogs to choose from, but the zany and loving Pitbull Boxer Mix highly deserves your attention.
This cross between a Boxer and an American Pitbull Terrier breed gives you one of the favorite Pitbull mixes for a family pet companion. Physically, these dogs have a compact and robust build. They have long legs, muscular chest, and easily recognizable faces. Boxer Pits appears to have a worrisome expression. But don’t let their troubled appearance fool you; these dogs are loving and happy pets.
There are many things that you can uncover with these delightful mixed breeds. But before you pursue any intent to get one of your own, it is best to understand more about their potential traits and the best way to care for them. Different Pitbull crosses come with diverse physical appearance, temperaments, and features. The Boxer Pitbull mix is no different. Thus, read on to know more about this exciting mix.
History of a Powerful Canine Combination
Both the Pit Bull and the Boxer are formidable working dogs. Combining these two yields a loyal hybrid that will protect you and your family. To understand the Pitbull Boxer, you have to look back on its parent breeds’ unique origins
The American Pit Bull Terrier
The American Pit Bull Terrier is one of the most misunderstood dog breeds of today. Not many people are aware of their intelligence, calm, and loving qualities that make them family-oriented canines. Due to their long history of dogfighting, they have a terrible reputation amongst communities.
But these sweet creatures are not born fighters nor aggressive in any way. Most of them are also victims of improper upbringing and inappropriate owners. Although they were once bred for fighting, Pitties are now recognized as playful companions and as working service dogs. The key here is to train and socialize them early to learn to get along with kids and other pets.
Physically, the American Pit Bull Terrier grows to an average height of 17 to 21 inches and can weigh up to 60 pounds. They have muscular and proportionate physiques, floppy ears, and long wagging tails. The most definitive quality of the Pitties is their irresistible smile. It gives these dogs an expressively happy face.
The Boxer
An ancient war dog, Boxers also have a muscular and powerful body. Though they were used in wars, these dogs are loyal companions and get family pets.
They are naturally energetic and playful. Having these dogs around will require lots of effort and patience from their owners. They need lots of exercise, training, and socialization to keep them physically and mentally stimulated.
Boxers have that adorable confused look brought about by their short muzzle, round eyes, and wrinkled expression. They grow to an average height of 21 to 25 inches and weigh up to 65 to 80 pounds. Like the Pits, they have a short, sleek coat that requires minimal grooming.
Without a doubt, Boxers are loving pets, but they can be a bit exuberant. Thus, always supervise interaction with small children or when there are seniors around.
Do Boxer Pitbulls Look More Like Pitties or Boxers?
When getting a crossbreed dog, pet owners should brace themselves for the unexpected. It is rare to get a puppy with a 50-50 combo of their parent’s looks. A mixed breed’s appearance is always unpredictable, but your Boxer Pitbull could have more attributes from one parent than the other.
A male BullBoxer has a height of 20 to 26 inches (50 to 66 cm) tall, though some dogs can reach up to 27 inches tall. 50 to 80 lbs or 23 to 36 kg is the average weight of an adult Pitbull Boxer. Females tend to be smaller in height and have less weight.
With both parents being muscular, these mixes are bound to have muscular and lithe physiques. They are large with broad heads and chests. They will also have long legs, short muzzles, and a smooth, short coat.
These mixed dogs come in a variety of colors too. You can often see a fawn, cream, brown, black tan, pure black, white, or brindle Pitbull dog. The most common colors are tan, yellow, black, and brown.
A Pitbull Boxer mix is sensitive to extreme weather conditions. It is because of their short, single-layer coat. Thus, keep them protected from cold weather by getting them a sweater or a shirt. Likewise, keep them away from intense heat during summer.
The Pitbull Boxer Mix Dog’s Temperament
Some would say that the dog is 50% each of its Boxer and American Pitbull Terrier lineage, but the truth is that 50/50 breed mix is rare. A Pitbull mix with Boxer bloodline will often result in a dog that has a higher of a Boxer than an American Pitbull Terrier or vice-versa. But why is the percentage essential for some? Is it related to the canine’s temperament or personality?
For one thing, a pure-bred Pit Boxer is more stable in its personality and is less prone to unwarranted aggression. The canine is a friendly animal when it comes to its owners and their family members. The dog can behave appropriately to strangers, other pets, and animals though it may tend to be wary when it comes to strangers.
The Boxer Pit mix dog has a high level of intelligence, but just because it is intelligent doesn’t mean that it is easy to train. You will spend a lot of time, effort, and invest a lot of patience when it comes to teaching the dog.
Playful, adaptable, territorial, and watchful are some of the breed’s other traits. The Pit Boxer is an excellent watchdog and is alert to the danger and unwanted intruders. The canine will bark to alert its home and family of any threat.
How Long Does a Pitbull Boxer Mix Live?
The dog can live up to 10 to 13 years of age, and it is possible to extend its lifespan. Just take good care of the canine and maintain its excellent health with diligence.
Health Issues that Affect the Pit Boxer Mix
Various health problems can affect a Boxer Pitbull mix breed. You must know what these issues are to deal with them. Below is a list of those health issues that can affect the canine:
- Allergies – Sources of allergies are pollens, trees, weeds, molds, fleas, and dust mites. Sometimes a Boxer Pit mix dog’s allergies can come from food ingredients in fish, meat, chicken, or soy. Alternatively, the dog tops the foods themselves. Be aware that some doggie shampoos can irritate the canine’s skin.
- Heart disease – A specific heart disease that affects this breed is called aortic stenosis. Aortic stenosis came from almost anywhere, but in most cases, a Pit Boxer is born with this problem. The heart’s aortic valve places pressure on the canine’s heart. As a result, difficulty in breathing, loss of consciousness, and congestive heart failure happen.
- Hip dysplasia – This problem is a condition in which the dog’s hip joint suffers from malformation, causing it to be loose or unstable. A Pit Boxer with hip dysplasia shows an altered gait when it walks or runs. Lameness and arthritic joints are indicators of a severe case of hip dysplasia. All dog breeds suffer from hip dysplasia, though a Boxer Pitbull mix dog is more susceptible to its ancestry.
- Cancer – To be specific, dogs can develop hemangiosarcoma, cancer that affects the dog’s blood vessel cells. Hemangiosarcoma is hard to detect, but the symptoms are weight loss, weakness, breathing difficulties, and a distended abdomen.
- Obesity – Unlike most health problems that plague the canine, this one is preventable. All one needs to do is serve a moderate amount of food to the Pit Boxer and make sure that it gets many exercises.
Once you are aware or suspect that your pet is suffering from any health issues above, a visit to the veterinarian is necessary. The sooner that the vet can diagnose and treat the dog, the better are its chances of minimizing or removing the problems.
Other Names Of The Boxer Pitbull Mix
The dog breed has different names depending on the group. For the International Designer Canine Registry they recognize the dog as a BullBoxer. The American Canine Hybrid Club calls the breed a BullBoxer Pit. Both the Designer Dogs Kennel Club and the Designer Breed Registry have the same name for the canine, though the former spells it as “American Bull Boxer,” while the latter spells it as “American Bullboxer.”
Other more alternative names are
- Boxer-Pit Bull Mix
- Pitoxer
- Pitbull Boxer Mix
Organizations That Recognize The Pit Boxer Mix Breed
- International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR)
- American Canine Hybrid Club
- Designer Dogs Kennel Club
- Designer Breed Registry
At least four dog breeding organizations have given recognition to the Pit Boxer mix breed. These agencies are:
Each of these groups recognizes the stature of the breed. But interestingly enough, each one of them calls the Pit Boxer by a different name.
BullBoxer Pet Daily Exercise: What You Need to Know
If we humans need exercise to maintain our fitness and health, the same thing applies to Boxer Pitbull mix dogs. The breed has a distinct trait of being an active animal that likes to move around. The dog’s physique requires a daily workout to keep it in shape.
The best way to exercise the Pitbull Boxer is to take it out twice a day for a one-hour walk around the block. If you see the canine panting excessively or slowing down, stop walking and give it a 5-minute rest along with some water.
Don’t forget that playing is also an exercise session, and you can do it indoors or outdoors. If you are going to use doggie toys to play with a Pitbull Boxer, make sure they are durable. The canine has a powerful jaw and can chew things with ease. Additionally, playtime is an excellent way for you and your family to bond with your pet.
Exercise and playtime will keep the dog away from being bored. Boredom tends to lead to destructive behavior such as digging, loud barking, and chewing.
Be careful in doing too many exercises and play to a Pitbull Boxer mix puppy since injuries to the puppy are often the results. Start first with minor activities like short walks and cut down the playtime length of the pup.
Training And Socializing A Boxer Pit Mix Dog
A Pitbull Boxer mix puppy or adult needs training, and its high intelligence level will allow it to learn correctly, though it is not an easy task to do.
Pitbull Boxer puppies tend to lose focus due to their playful and boisterous nature. Adult Pitbull Boxers have a stubborn attitude. All these traits will make the training a challenging task. The best way to deal with the problem is to stick to the training routine and firm and consistent towards the canine.
Avoid being harsh and hand out praises along with rewards when the dog does a good performance. Put some extra effort into training and be assertive in your task.
The best age to train a BullBoxer is when it is at a young age since it is impressionable. You can still teach an adult Pitbull Boxer, though it may be difficult since the canine is more or less set in its behavior. Socialization is for letting the dog be familiar with strangers and other animals. If you have additional dogs or other animals for pets, socialization is necessary to prevent conflict.
Care and Grooming Needs of the Boxer Pitbull Mix
One beautiful thing about the dog is that you don’t need to spend too much time and attention, maintaining and cleaning its body.
The breed’s coat is short, glossy, and stiff to one’s touch. Because of the Pitbull Boxer’s short hair, it is not a heavy shedder. Still, you need to groom the hair at least once a week to keep the coat’s condition good.
Believe it or not, a bath every once in a month is more than enough to clean the dog’s skin. You can use a doggie shampoo if you want, but make sure that shampoo won’t cause skin irritation.
Do not forget to clean the other parts of the BullBoxer, such as the ears, teeth, and nails. Make a thorough cleaning of the ears, especially after the bath. Brush the canine’s teeth after meals to remove any leftovers and keep its breath fresh. You can do the nail cutting yourself, but you can hire a professional dog groomer if you feel not up to the task.
The Best Food For A Pitbull Boxer Mix Dog
A Pitbull mix with Boxer dog breed requires the necessary food to keep it healthy and robust. There are several types of dog food for you to pick:
- Kibble or dry dog food – This dog food has low moisture content and has biscuits, mixers, or flake foods. The advantage of this dog food is that you can store it a dry container for a long time without refrigeration. You don’t need to cook or prepare kibbles, and its crunchiness helps in teeth hygiene. Just make sure you choose the right kind of kibble because some are unhealthy and have no nutritional value. Please read our review on dry dog food for pitbull and Affordable dog food for American bulldog.
- Canned dog food – You can find this dog food in a can, pouches, or foil trays. Canned dog food is usually moist with a soggy, but with an easy to chew texture. This diet is the ideal meal for dogs with poor dental health or senior dogs. Canned dog food has a long shelf life, but a bit expensive, unlike other dog foods. You need to cook this dog food first before serving it. When choosing a canned dog food, look at its water content. The higher the water content, the fewer nutrients it contains. Make sure that the nutrients content outweighs the water content.
- Freeze-dried and frozen dog food – These types of dog foods are raw, and the reason they have to be freeze-dried and frozen is to prevent bacteria from growing. Freeze-dried and frozen dog food is the healthiest type of food that your dog can eat. Raw food is also costly, unlike other dog foods. Storing frozen and freeze-dried food in a refrigerator is necessary to make it last longer. 2 to 3 days or 3 to 4 days is the limit of time. Handle the food safety and make sure to clean whatever utensils the Pitboxer used. Make sure to wash your hand as well to maintain hygiene. You will use a lot of time to prepare this kind of dog food.
- Semi-moist dog food – More of a doggie treat than an actual meal for dogs. This food usually comes in sachet packaging, and they look like pellets and have a chewy texture. Semi-moist dog food has the least nutrients, so you still need other dog foods to feed your pet.
More Popular Pitbull Crossbreeds
- German Shepherd Pitbull Mix
- Labrador Pitbull Mix
- Beagle Pitbull Mix
- Mastiff Pitbull Mix
- Chihuahua Pitbull Mix
How Much Do Pitbull Boxer Mix Cost?
Are you dead-set on taking this famous canine hybrid home? Many people get a puppy and end up having more than what they bargained for! If you are sure you can handle this strong-willed breed, do research on how much and where you can find the puppy-love of your life.
You can find Boxer Pits puppies from an ethical breeder or scour shelters to find an adult one. If you prefer to have puppies, expect to shell out around $500 to $1000 each. Ideally, find out more about the breeder and ask to see any of the parent dogs first. Observe their living and health conditions. The breeder should present proof of health screening and clearances to guarantee that you are getting a healthy and fit puppy. A visit to the kennel will also help you identify a puppy with the best temperament.
On the other hand, if you are interested in adopting, the cost is only a fraction of the puppies’ buying price. Typically, the adoption fees cover food and shelter fee, veterinary expenses, and processing fees.
You may connect with your local shelter and inquire about the availability of your desired dog. Similarly, you can contact breed-specific rescue centers for Boxer or Pit Bull breeds to see if there are mixes for adoption. These are some centers to check out.
- Bobbie’s Pit Bull Rescue & Sanctuary (Virginia)
- Villalobos Rescue Center (Louisiana)
- Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue (North Carolina)
- NorCal Boxer Rescue (North California)
Finally, it is best to prepare for some temperament challenges and behavioral issues when adopting an adult or older dog. Most of them will be adjusting to a new environment and new owners, so you have to be extra patient and put in extra effort to win them over.
Pitbull Boxer Mix Photos
Wrap Up
Boxer Pitbull mix-breeds are great family companions. They are loving and loyal pets whom you can rely on to protect you and your property. However, their Pitbull heritage carries with them some controversies on aggression and violence. Still, would-be Pitoxer owners should keep in mind that a dog’s behavior largely depends upon their care, training, and environment.
These dogs are ideal picks for people who lead an outdoorsy, active lifestyle, and a large space for exercising. Boxer Pits need lots of exercise and playtime. It would be best if you handled them with firmness and consistency mixed with lots of positive reinforcement. Additionally, these mixes may not be a good option if you cannot afford to give them ample time, exercise, or attention. And although they require minimal grooming, you should take note of their sensitivity to extreme temperatures.
Lastly, check if your locality allows owning Pitbulls and Pitbull crosses such as Pitbull Boxers before getting one. It is best to understand local ordinances regarding these breeds; otherwise, your pet may end up in a shelter.
So have you ever had a Boxer Pitbull mix as a pet? Please share with us some great tips for newbie owners by leaving a comment in the box below!
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