The Boxador or Boxer Labrador Mix is generally not aggressive unless provoked, they are an excellent mixed breed filled with love, playfulness, eagerness to please, fast learner, with just a dash of protectiveness! They are a medium-sized dog breed, with strong exercise and socialization needs throughout their lifespan.
If you are a couch potato or someone who generally does not want to do much exercise after work. Then this dog is not for you, this dog needs at least 45 minutes to an hour of exercise. On a daily basis in order to keep the Boxador happy with s/he station in life.
In this article, we will cover the parent breeds: the Boxer and the Labrador Retriever and then the offspring — the Boxer Lab Mix. (If you want just click that link to skip to that part of the article.) On that part of the article we will go through everything that you need to know in order to have a successful and happy Boxador.
The Labrador
- Weight – 55 – 80 pounds
- Height – 22 – 24 inches Tall
- Lifespan – 10 – 12 years
- Major Health Concerns – Hip & Elbow Dysplasia, Retinal Atrophy, Obesity, & Cold Tail
- Grooming – 4x weekly during shedding season 2x weekly during non-shedding season
- Fur or Hair? – Fur
- Colors – Black, Tan, White, Yellow, & Chocolate
- Eye Color – Brown
- Exercise – They need long walks and runs and playtime in the yard several times a day.
- Training – Labrador is very easy and very eager to train
- Socialization – Positive exposure to other people and dogs daily for best socialization.
- Temperament – Playful, loyal, even-tempered, outgoing, agile, trusting, gentle & smart
- Good in apartments? – No
America’s most popular dog breed, is the Labrador Retriever, is an agreeable and friendly companion. This breed holds the crown as the ever-popular choice for family pets award.
Why is that? It is because Labs, Labradors, or Labrador Retrievers are highly social and love all people, children, and animals alike, which explains their worldwide popularity.
The Labrador was bred in Canada. They worked to help fishermen and hunters retrieve their catches. The hunters needed a friendly dog that loved fetching and being in the water at any temperature all day if necessary. They also needed the dog to be very soft in the mouth when retrieving a catch.
The Labrador was sent over to England in the 1800s by some English noblemen who had discovered the breed while visiting Canada. Those breeds began the line that is now the English Labrador Retriever, bred more for show, companionship, and conformation.
The English Labrador is shorter, stockier, thicker necked, and more mellow than their American cousins. We have an article about the difference if you would like to know more about the American Labrador VS, the English Labrador.
The Boxer
- Weight – 55 – 70 pounds
- Height – 21 – 25 inches Tall
- Lifespan – 10 – 12 Years
- Major Health Concerns – Bloat, Hip Dysplasia, Arthritis, Ear Infections, & Seizures
- Grooming – Brush 2x weekly
- Fur or Hair? – Fur
- Colors – White, Fawn, & Brindle
- Eye Color – Brown
- Exercise – Minimum of two hours
- Training – 1 hour daily as a puppy
- Socialization – Every chance you get! Take your cute little puppy out to socialize!
- Temperament – Kind, Very Protective, Assertive, Territorial, Watchful, Loving, & Playful
- Good in apartments? – No
My father had an Army Boxer when he was little, and he was the best dog around. Since the Boxer was Army trained, he would not allow anyone with a gun at the house except for my dad. He would not even accept a toy finger gun without the Boxer growling and barking.
Boxers are bright, playful, energetic, powerful, watchful, and are ready to guard you and the house. They are also active and muscular dogs that need a constant stream of activity and objectives to strengthen their mind.
The Boxer has a distinctly broad head and a short muzzle; the Boxer’s origins began in Germany. The Germans bred them for dogfights and as herders. The Boxer has a powerful bite and iron jaws to hang on to large prey.
This breed is great with children and often very protective over them and their property. You must offer your Boxer plenty of exercises, and they do need some reinforcement of the rules while they are a puppy.
Boxer Labrador Mix
- Weight – 50 – 100 Pounds
- Height – 23 – 26 Inches Tall
- Lifespan – 10 – 12 Years
- Major Health Concerns – Bloat, Dysplasia, Cold Tail, Cancer, Canine Degenerative Myelopathy, Allergies, Separation anxiety.
- Grooming – Brush 2x Weekly
- Fur or Hair? – Fur
- Colors – Black, Brown, Brindle, White & Fawn
- Eye Color – Brown
- Exercise – At least 1-2 hours minimum on a daily basis
- Training – Training them for an hour daily as puppies and then thirty minutes daily as the puppy grows into an adult.
- Socialization – Where ever you go you should always take your pup with you.
- Temperament – Kind, Loving, Playful, Watchful, Protective Nature, Aggressive, & Territorial
- Good in apartments? – No
The Boxer Lab mix is a very active dog breed for both parent breeds are working dogs, their offspring are no different. They are not like the King Charles Cavalier, who are perfectly fine with sleeping all day and then sleep more with you at night.
If you are a person who is a couch potato, then this breed is not for you. However, if you are someone who can’t seem to stay still after work and must be out and about doing something. Then this breed is for you!
Training any dog no matter the size (Yes, I am talking to all of the owners who have ankle bitters! 😉😁) is very important. No matter the breed, if you want a well-adjusted dog breed, training, exercise, and socialization is the key to having the best well-trained dog.
The Boxador dog, does well with your other pets, with a fenced in-yard this guy can be let out to roam and romp around on his own. They have a wonderfully loyal temperament, and a bundle of energy that has to be doing something.
This is the last part of the article, in which we will be giving you the keys to having a successful long lasting relationship with your Boxador!
Training Needs Of The Boxer Lab Mix
The Labrador Boxer mix needs at least an hour a day of positive reinforcement training when s/he is a baby. I would suggest that you start obedience training your new puppy in segments. Like five minutes of playing and ten minutes of obedience training.
When do you start training your Boxer Lab Mix? Well, you start training your puppy as soon as you get home with him/her. How you start training your new puppy is crucial; start teaching him/her the basics. Later on once your puppy has mastered the basics you can move on to more advanced training.
As an adult your Boxer Labrador Mix should be highly responsive to you, and if you feel as if he/she is getting rusty and or becoming “deaf” to your commands. Simply take thirty minutes and brush up on your commands, and s/he should be as sharp as a tac in a matter of days.
How Much Exercise Should I Give My Boxador?
Your Boxador needs plenty of exercise during the day, they should be getting at least an hour or two of exercise every day. Now you can of course break it up into how ever many segments you would like. If the Boxer Labrador Mix does not get any or very much exercise, they form destructive behaviors, weight gain, depressed, and or hostile to the neighbors and other animals.
However, as a puppy start off with thirty minutes of excessing walking or playing around in the yard.
As they grow older and stop growing you can then begin to go out for an hour and give them the required exercise. Fare warning, if you do not give them the exercise needed as a full-grown adult, they will become a hurricane of destruction.
With regular exercise the Boxer Lab mix will be it usual, lovable self, so make sure to give them at least 60 minutes of exercise daily.
What Is the Socialization Needs of the Boxador?
The Boxer Labrador mix socialization needs are critical start taking your new puppy out into the neighborhood. Let the puppy smell everything and everyone you should also let the kids make loud noises around the puppy. This allows her to get used to the people who live nearby and let her/him get accustomed to the noises.
The one thing that you should not do is taking her to the dog park while he/she is unvaccinated. Avoid any dog park like the plague! Not only can she/he get an infection, but dogs there can be very rude to such a small and impressional baby! It could quite literally scar the puppy for life, and we would never want that!
So instead take him/her out to coffee shops, out shopping, or just out for a stroll, allow the puppy to get acclimated to the car/truck noises.
If you can’t get out of the house, invite friends and family over to your home and have them bring over any animal so that your new puppy can get used to other pets using and playing with his/her things.
What is the Boxador Temperament Like?
Their Temperament can be loving, gentle, playful, protective family companions, they make for great pets with families with children. Though if you are families with children make sure to teach your kid to be kind, loving, and to never kick the dog.
They fit well with active families, some Boxador’s may have the guarding instinct that is passed down from the Boxer. And maybe shy, hesitant, or even slightly aggressive to strangers approaching the yard or house. Another puppy from that pack maybe just like the Labrador kind, eager to greet, and loving to everyone who steps in or around their house/yard.
The Boxador Health Issues
- Bloat – Bloat is where the stomach twists itself into knots if this happens you need to take him straight to the animal hospital.
- Cancer – This dog breed like the Weiler Dane has a high rate of cancer.
- Canine Degenerative Myelopathy – This is truly one NASTY disease, we had a Doberman Lab Mix stray that we found at a local park. Long story short after many many fun and happy years with Onyx passed away due to this disease. CDM affects older dogs from eight years old on up. The CDM attacks the dog’s spinal cord which then makes him/her go paralyzed in the hind legs. Your only option then is to mercifully put him to sleep 😭 which is what we did early one morning.
- Allergies – could be anything and everything
- Joint and Hip Dysplasia – Hip and elbow dysplasia is very common for this dog breed.
- Separation anxiety – Some dogs do suffer from separation anxiety if you are gone for long periods of time.
- Heart Disease – Like heart failure, so make sure to ask for a heart check at the vet.
Above is a list of health issues on the Boxador, a Lab Boxer mix health conditions can change in a matter of years. If you give your Boxador a healthy life s/he which includes healthy meals, exercise in body and mind, along with socialization. Your dog probably won’t have any issues, But all the same make sure to take your pup for his or her annual checkup.
What is the Boxer Lab Mix Grooming Needs
The Lab Boxer mix sheds a lot which means they need regular brushing. And even more when it is not spring or fall time, so you will have to brush them maybe twice a week during the summer and winter months. But when spring and fall arrive, you will need to brush the Boxer Labrador Mix for at least 10 minutes.
To get a shiny coat during the whole year, give them a weekly brushing during the summer. During the winter months give them a daily brushing along with regular bathing during the year.
Conclusion on The Boxer Lab Mix Article
The Boxer Lab Mix is a fantastic dog for families, all that the owner needs to do is give the dog the proper amount of exercise, socialization, and positive reinforcement training. This will make them an outstanding dog!
We here at Labrottie give the Boxador four stars! They are great with all children and babies, great for older people. They need a bit of training and exercise through out their life which is why I won’t give them five stars.
But other than that they are a perfect mix of sweet lovable family dog that you can take any where. Splashed with a bit of protectiveness from the Boxer to make the dog seem like a scary dog to som people.
Not what you are looking for?
If the Boxador seems a little too tame or to much for your taste, don’t worry! We have an article several other articles that you may be interested in:
This concludes our article on the Boxer Lab mix! If you have any questions, comments, or photos that you would like to share Labrottie community, please Share Your Photos! For any questions, please email us, and thank you!
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