Pitbull Boxer Mix -What Kind of Pet Does this Loyal Crossbreed Make?

Introducing the Pitbull Boxer Mix!

Meet the Pitbull Boxer mix, also known as the Pitoxer, the Bullboxer, or even the Bullboxer Pit. Considered a first-generation crossbreed, the Pitbull Boxer mix is the direct offspring of the American Pitbull Terrier and the Boxer.

Where Did the Pitbull Boxer Mix Come From?

A first-generation crossbreed such as the Pitbull Boxer mix is so new that his origin is still in the making.

So, how do you learn about his heritage? By taking a look at the histories of his parent breeds, of course!

Let’s start with the Pitbull!

Origin of the America Pitbull Terrier

The American Pitbull Terrier is arguably the only true Pitbull breed, despite a number of breeds being referred to as Pits.

His story began in England during the 19th century, when Old English Terriers and Old English Bulldogs were crossbred to create a keen, strong, and athletic dog for blood sports, such as bullfighting.

More about Pitbulls:

These dogs made their way to the United States at the end of the 19th century and are believed to be the direct ancestors of the modern-day American Pitbull Terrier.

Illegal dogfighting

Although the practice of blood sports was outlawed in 1835 after the introduction of animal welfare laws, participants did not stop the cruel practice and turned to the underground sport of illegal dogfighting.

American and Britain dog fighters pitted their dogs against one another for years, paving way for what many Pit enthusiasts consider today to be breed discrimination.

And while it is true that the Pitbull was originally bred for fighting, his loyal demeanor and playful nature have made him an excellent companion pet, service animal, military and police dog, as well as a working dog throughout the years.

Sadly, despite the tireless work of law enforcement and activists alike, the American Pitbull Terrier remains the number one breed chosen to participate in illegal dog fighting throughout the United States.

Origin of the Boxer

Another breed with a history in fighting is the Boxer, although most novice dog enthusiasts wouldn’t know it these days.

Perhaps that is because the Boxer, who ranks at number 10 out of 194 on the American Kennel Club’s list of America’s most popular dog breeds, is known for his sweet disposition, friendly nature, and childlike personality.

However, this wasn’t always the case.

Back in 2,500 B.C., the Boxer’s ancestors were the ancient Assyrian Empire’s prized war dogs.

With roots to both England and Germany, the Boxer was perfected over centuries, bred down in size and refined until he became a more suitable companion dog.

The modern-day Boxer’s fighting days are over

Today, the modern-day Boxer is a far cry from his fighting days and is famous for his family-friendly nature.

But this dog isn’t all fun and no work. In fact, his resume includes work as a service dog as well as work in law enforcement, the military, and guarding.

So, how did the Boxer get his cute name?

It’s exactly as you might expect! According to the American Kennel Club, the Boxer is somewhat of a boxer, using his front paws when he pounces and plays.

What is the Pitbull Boxer Mix Temperament Like?

Bullboxer reviews online paint this crossbreed as a popular and beloved pet, although it is a must that this hybrid is well socialized and properly trained.

Still, it is important to keep in mind that the Pitbull Boxer mix could inherit certain temperamental traits from each of his parent breeds. So pinpointing his exact temperament is going to be difficult.

But what about the Bullboxer kids mix? Do the two do well together? And what characteristics could your Bullboxer dog inherit from his parents?

To find out, we will need to take a closer look at the temperamental traits of the Pitbull and the Boxer.

Pitbull Temperament

Intelligent, loyal, and incredibly family-oriented, the Pitbull is one of those breeds who gets a bad rap due to his past.

And while we are not here to debate whether or not these assessments made for or against the Pitbull are accurate or fair, we are here to give an honest appraisal of this breed’s personality.

By all accounts, a properly trained and socialized Pitbull does very well with children and other household pets.

Still, he can be stubborn and enjoys being an independent thinker.

This sensitive dog does not do well with harsh corrections or punishments and responds best to positive reinforcement and loving praise!

He is incredibly affectionate and will do best in homes with people who are able to be with him often, offering him lots of love as an extension of the family.

Due to his incredible loyalty and willingness to please his owners, the Pitbull makes for an excellent student.

Keep in mind that the Pitbull is fairly active and will, therefore, need a lot of care in terms of exercise and play.

But what about the Boxer?

Boxer Temperament

The Boxer is another breed who is said to make a wonderful family pet! With that being said, we should note that this breed may not get on well with other dogs of the same sex.

Powerful and muscular, the Boxer may once have been an ancient war dog, but these days he is much happier just loving his favorite people.

This is a playful, energetic, and somewhat “bouncy” breed, who needs lots of physical and mental stimulation to stay happy and keep from getting bored.

A potential Boxer or Boxer cross owner should also keep in mind that this breed is a jumper. He will need lots of patient training to help him learn when jumping is appropriate.

And while he does well with children and in family settings, this breed could be a bit rambunctious for very small kids or older seniors.

Also, just like the Pitbull, without training, exercise, and early socialization, the Boxer can become bored, destructive, and unhappy.

His Appearance – What Will the Pitbull Boxer Mix Look Like?

Any Bullboxer size chart or a Bullboxer size guide will show that the Pitbull Boxer mix is going to be somewhere around 17-25 inches tall and weigh between 30 and 80 pounds.

So, why the large variation?

The Pitbull Boxer mix is a crossbreed, meaning he could inherit any number of physical traits from his purebred parents. It is all going to be left up to genetics and chance.

To get a better idea of what your individual Pitbull Boxer mix could look like, we’ll need to go over the defining characteristics of his parent breeds.

We will begin with the Pitbull.

The Appearance of the Pitbull

Standing from 17-21 inches tall and weighing 30-60 pounds, the American Pitbull Terrier is a medium-sized, muscularly built dog with naturally floppy ears, a long tail, and a proportionate body.

Many owners opt to clip their Pitbull’s ears, while others choose to keep them long.

The Pitbull is also famous for his smile, which gives him a happy, expressive look that many owners can’t resist.

Pitbull dogs have a short, sleek coat that sheds moderately and comes in nine colors and color combinations, including:

• Black
• Red
• White
• Grey
• Brindle
• Blue
• Fawn
• Brown
• Tan

The Appearance of the Boxer

The Boxer dog has a short and sleek coat which comes in three colors:

• Brindle
• White
• Fawn

Standing 21.5-25 inches tall and weighing 65-80 pounds, the Boxer is a bit larger than the Pitbull, but he has a similar build.

He is muscular with long legs, a large head, floppy ears, long tail, and wrinkled nose forehead. Just like the Pitbull, some owners or breeders opt to clip their Boxer’s ears.

With his short muzzle, hanging jowls, and wide, round eyes, the Boxer often looks irresistibly confused or curious.

Grooming and General Care for A Pitbull Boxer Mix

Grooming the Bullboxer breed should be pretty simple, considering his coat is short, sleek, and only sheds moderately.

Brushing once or twice a week will help to keep loose hair under control and an occasional bath with a high-quality dog shampoo will keep your Bullboxer dog looking dapper year around.

As with all dogs, you will want to be sure you check your Pitbull Boxer mix’s ears regularly to keep them clear of debris and waxy buildup that could cause ear infections.

This active breed will also need his nails trimmed regularly to keep them from cracking or splitting.

What Is the Life Expectancy of a Pitbull Boxer Mix and Does He Have Health Issues?

Based on the life expectancies of his purebred parents, a potential Pitbull Boxer mix owner could expect his Bulloxer to live anywhere from 10-14 years on average.

Like all dogs, this crossbreed could be susceptible to any of the same ailments as his parent breeds.

And while early health screening could help you to better understand what your Pitbull Boxer mix may be up again as far as health in his future, we still suggest looking at the genetic health issues of his parents.

Pitbull Life Expectancy and Health Issues

The American Pitbull Terrier has an average lifespan of 12-14 years.

He is genetically predisposed to:

• hip dysplasia,
• knee issues,
• thyroid disease,
• mange,
• allergies,
• skin infections,
• nerve disease,
• ichthyosis,
• cerebellar ataxia,
• bladder stones,
• blindness,
• parvo,
• babesiosis, and
• cleft lip or cleft palate.

Boxer Life Expectancy and Health Issues

The Boxer can live about 10-12 years on average.

It is important to note that he can be extremely sensitive to weather conditions and should not be left outside too long in the heat or cold.

Along with weather sensitivities, the Boxer can also be prone to:

• hip dysplasia,
• aortic stenosis,
• thyroid deficiency,
• cardiomyopathy,
• degenerative myelopathy, and
• certain cancers.

The Training and Exercise Needs of a Pitbull Boxer Mix Dog

Both the Boxer and the Pitbull are high-energy, intelligent, and eager to please breeds.

This could mean a number of things for your Pitbull Boxer mix.

For starters, keep in mind that this crossbreed is going to need lots of exercise.

An hour or two a day of exercise and play should do the trick to keep him physically sound.

You may opt for long walks, hikes, or jogs, but also be sure to have a place where your Pitbull Boxer mix can run and play freely, like a securely fenced backyard.

Early socialization and obedience training in your Pitbull Boxer mix

Along with exercise, early socialization and obedience training beginning in puppyhood will help ensure he is a happy and well-adjusted dog.

Luckily, since both the Boxer and the Pitbull are intelligent and want nothing more than to make their human happy, you can expect training your Pitbull Boxer mix to be a breeze.

Should I Get a Pitbull Boxer Mix?

The Pitbull Boxer mix sounds like a great dog, but are you ready for all of his energy and special needs?

Also, before making the commitment to a Pitbull Boxer mix, make sure you understand your regions laws.

The Pitbull and many Pitbull crosses are still considered dangerous in certain areas, and it may be illegal for you to own one in your district.

Many Pitbull and Pitbull crossbreeds end up in shelters due to their owners being unaware that they were not allowed to have them, or due to owners disobeying the laws.

This results in a devastating situation for both the dog and the human.

Along with the legalities, you will want to consider how much room you have for your potential dog in your home and life.

This is a crossbreed who will do best with a large backyard where they can run and play safely and freely.

They will also do best in homes with owners who have enough time to train, socialize, and love them.

Are Crossbreed Dogs Healthier?

You may come up against some strong opinions when tell friends and family that this is the breed for you. Not everyone approves of mixing up the dog breeds that we are more familiar with. Very often, the arguments for and against mix breed dogs, are focused on health

As many dog enthusiasts are aware, purebred dogs are prone to suffering from genetic diseases due to generations of inbreeding. If parent dogs are selected from small gene pool, litters may be more susceptible to inheriting genetic abnormalities like disease and deformity from their parents. Crossbreeding widens the gene pool, and there is some evidence that mix breed dogs may be healthier and live longer than many purebreds.

Mix breeding can also help to reduce structural problems in one or the other parent breeds. So there is no logical reason why mixed breeding in itself, should be inherently bad. The main problem with fashions for a particular mix or ‘designer’ dog is that unscrupulous breeders may take advantage of the demand for that breed and pay little attention to the welfare of their puppies or parent dogs.

It’s important, therefore, that you spend some time looking for a responsible breeder before taking the plunge and buying a Pitbull Boxer mix puppy. We’ll give you some tips on that next. Another option is to visit a few Pitbull and Boxer rescue centers, to see if they have any Bullboxers waiting for new homes.

How to Find and Pick a Healthy Pitbull Boxer Mix Puppy!

If you think that a Pitbull Boxer mix puppy would be the perfect new addition to your household, we would love to help!

When considering resources to go through when looking for Bullboxer Pit puppies, make sure you do lots of research and make sure you are going through credible breeders or rescues.

Not all breeders understand the importance of safe and responsible breeding practices

For the most part, a Bullboxer puppy from a responsible breeder will typically be around $500 to over $1000. Furthermore, reputable breeders will have previously health screened their litters.

This means you should be able to ask to see proof that your Pitbull Boxer mix puppy is cleared of any serious health issues and is ready to go home with you.

On the other hand, if you are more interested in rescuing your Pitbull Boxer mix, you may want to consider local shelters in your area.

There are also a number of shelters specific to Pitbulls and Pitbull crossbreeds. One of the many great things about rescuing from a shelter is that the price is a fraction of what a breeder may charge.

Most adoption fees are typically $50 to $100, and many shelters will even take care of that first trip to the vet!

Are you the happy owner of a Pitbull Boxer mix? Want to share your experiences? We would love to hear from you in our comment section below!

Make sure you also check out our guide to the Pitbull Lab Mix

The Red Nose Pitbull
The Blue Nose Pitbull

References

• Turcsan et al. Owner Perceived Differences Between Mixed-Breed and Purebred Dogs.
• Howell et al. Puppy Parties and Beyond: the role of early age socialization practices on adult dog behavior.
• Sutter and Ostrander. Dog Star Rising: The Canine Genetic System, Nature Reviews Genetics.
• Acumen. The Genetic Connection; a Guide to Health Problems in Purebred Dogs.
• Purebred Vs Mutt-Common Objections to Mixed Breed Dogs .
• Carol Beuchat Ph.D., The Myth of Hybrid Vigor in Dogs…Is A Myth .