9 things to know before adopting a Boxador.

The Boxador is the type of dog that looks awesome and can be very awesome in the hands of the right owner but that many people struggle with. Shelters across the country are full of such crossbreeds because their owners didn’t realize what they were getting into so it’s wise for both your and your dog’s sake to read up on these dogs before adopting or buying them.

This isn’t to say that the Boxador is a “bad” breed in any way. A designer crossbreed between a Labrador Retriever and a Boxer, the Boxador is the offspring of two highly popular and beloved breeds. However, those two breeds are quite different, one being a gun dog and the other a mastiff, which means that the Boxador can often have surprising personality quirks its first-time owners didn’t expect.

So, let’s go over what exactly a Boxador is and how you can care for one by examining the following 9 fascinating facts about the Boxador.

Here’s what you need to know about the Boxador

Boxador, Boxerlab, Laboxer, or Boxerdor, this dog has many names and many possible physical and personality traits depending on which parent the individual pup happens to look more like. This is normal for all mixed breeds but is especially pronounced in dogs that are crossed from two vastly different parents. And that’s definitely the case here.

On the one hand, labs are a social, outgoing, and obedient hunting companion gun dog breed. Mastiffs like the Boxer, on the other hand, are bred to be guard dogs – wary of strangers, loyal to their owners, and always ready to spring in their family’s defense. Either of these breeds is wonderful and works beautifully as pets, but they are different and require different care. So, if you get a Boxador, you should be ready to bring home both a Boxer and a lab residing in the same dog.

1. The Boxador has a wonderful personality as long as it’s raised by an experienced dog owner

With all this talk about the differences between Boxers and labs, don’t get the idea that these are two entirely separate species. They are both dogs after all. So, your Boxador is all but guaranteed to be an exceptionally loyal, loving, and affectionate dog. So much so that you’d need to watch out for separation anxiety when you have to leave the dog home for more than a couple of hours.

However, as loving and loyal as this dog is, its tendency for dominance can be something to watch out for should your Boxador happen to be more Boxer-like. Obedience training is an absolute must with these dogs or they may try to become your “owner” rather than the other way around.

2. These dogs are highly intelligent and easily trainable

Once the initial obedience training is complete, however, you should be able to utilize the Boxador’s high intelligence and loyalty to train this dog to do whatever you want it to. Labrador Retrievers are the near-ultimate working dog companion after all and can be trained to be service dogs, seeing-eye companions, sniffing dogs, hunting companions, and more. Boxers, in their own right, were bred as more than just guard dogs too and are also highly intelligent and capable. So, as long as you’ve gone through some obedience training, you’ll have one incredibly smart dog on your hands.

3. These dogs are fiercely loyal to their families which can be a pro or a con, depending on socialization

Both parent breeds of the Boxador are loyal and protective of their human pack members. As the descendant of a guard dog, however, the Boxador can take that loyalty a little too far if you’re not careful. These dogs have the instinct to always watch out for potential dangers which can cause some accidents. If you want a guard dog, this can obviously be a huge boon. However, if you’re only looking for a family pet, you might want to avoid these risks with proper socialization.

4. Socialization is an absolute key for this crossbreed but it’s perfectly doable with the right approach

Don’t let the above point scare you too much – socialization is a must for any dog, whether it’s a Boxer or a lab. Even a purebred Labrador Retriever can grow to be anti-social and potentially dangerous if you don’t socialize it adequately. It’s just that the risk is much higher with a guard dog like the Boxer.

So – just socialize your Boxador early on and everything will be just fine. This means getting your puppy to meet and interact with guests, strangers, other dogs, and even non-canine pets. Such interactions should always be pleasant and should take place both outside on “neutral” territory and at home, once your dog is ready. Do this while your dog is still just a pup, and you should have no problems going forward.

5. Boxadors can be wonderful for families with kids and even other pets but only if you raise them right

As an exceptionally loyal and affectionate dog, the Boxador can work swimmingly with kids of all ages. Some supervision will always be required at first to make sure that both the dog and the child understand how to (and how not to) interact with each other, of course. However, the more significant issue is letting your Boxador interact with your child’s friends.

This is where the socialization we mentioned above comes into play. A poorly trained Boxador can accidentally mistake another child for a threat for your kid and jump in to “protect” its human. To avoid this, extensive socialization, training, as well as supervision are recommended.

6. The Boxador’s coat is short, dense, and sheds quite a bit but it’s easy to care for

Boxers have short double coats and so do Labrador Retrievers. Both dogs shed quite a bit too, so you can expect the same from a Boxador’s coat. Thankfully, because its coat is short, that shedding won’t be as noticeable as it is with Golden Retrievers or German Shedders.

You’d still need to do regular brushing and grooming, of course. Daily brushing with a regular hairbrush is recommended, or, at least, once every couple of days. Aside from that, a monthly bath, some ear and eye cleaning, dental hygiene, and the occasional nail trimming are all the standard for dog grooming.

And, if you’re wondering what color a Boxador can come in, the answer is – any color combination of tis parents’ coats. It will almost always be bi-color or a tri-color combo of the following – yellow, bronze, black, brown, or reddish gold.

7. These dogs are large and aren’t suitable for every home

As the offspring of two pretty big dogs, the Boxador won’t be small either. These dogs can grow up to 23 or 25 inches (61 to 66 cm) at the shoulder. They also tend to weigh somewhere between 50 and 110 pounds (23 to 50 kg).

Needless to say, this isn’t a dog for small apartments or tightly packed homes.

8. The high energy of the Boxador is fun but also something to keep in mind

In addition to its size, **the Boxador has a lot of energy to burn **too. This breed requires at least 90 to 120 minutes of outdoor time a day. It should preferably e divided into two trips to the dog park, some playtime there, and some jogging on the way to and from the park.

Longer weekend hikes are also strongly recommended as is some yard time every day too. If you don’t have a (well-fenced) yard, you can still get a Boxador – just get ready for a lot of extra time in the dog park to compensate.

9. These dogs are pretty healthy as long as they come from a good stock

As a crossbreed, your Boxador’s health will depend very much on that of its parents. Mixed breeds can either avoid all the health problems of their parents or have all of them at the same time. So, it’s important to always get a dog that comes with a health certificate from a reputable breeder. If you’re adopting from a shelter, you should always ask for detailed medical information. Look for Brachycephalic Syndrome, in particular, if you don’t want a short-faced dog. Do this and then care for your dog well, and you should have one very healthy canine on your hands.

To put it short and sweet – Boxadors are the absolute ideal pet for many people but only if said people know how to care for them. These dogs are smart, obedient, playful, loving, and gentle when raised adequately and can even be quite social. However, if you chance upon a more mastiff-like Boxador and don’t care for, train, and socialize the dog properly, you can have one large and powerful problem on your hands. So, get this breed only if you want a jogging and dog park companion, and only if you have some experience or at least know-how in caring for such a dog.