The Pitbull Boxer Mix (also known as the American Bullboxer, the Bullboxer Pit and the Pitoxer), is a very popular mix of two medium to large, powerful dogs: the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Boxer.
This dog, if well socialized, is a joy to have around. She has tons of energy; she'll shower you with affection, and she shows an unwavering loyalty to her family.
I've put together some information on this designer breed, so read on to see if the Pitbull Boxer Mix will be the one to win your heart and if you can be the owner she needs.
Boxer Pitbull Mix Photos
1. She might not be a 50/50 mix
It is very common for this breed to be a multi-generation cross, meaning that you may not get a 50/50 mix. If you buy from a reputable breeder, they should be able to provide details of the dog's relatives. So your Pitbull Boxer Mix could have more attributes of one breed than the other, both in terms of physical appearance as well as character.
In terms of physical traits, what I can say is that she is usually a medium to large dog who measures between 20-26 inches (50-66 cm) tall and weighs between 50-80 lbs (22-36 kg).
She often has:
- A large, broad head
- A short muzzle
- The long legs and broad chest of the Boxer
- A short, smooth coat
As for colors, she can come in quite a range, including:
- Cream
- Brown
- Black
- White
- Black and tan
- Fawn
- Brindle
2. She needs plenty of exercise and lots of play!
Given that both the Boxer and the Pitbull were bred for use as working dogs, these breeds are very energetic, so your Boxer Pitbull Mix requires a lot of exercise. If she doesn't get enough, she can become hyper and frustrated, which will invariably lead to mischievous behavior such as chewing, barking and digging.
This dog is a perfect running partner - intense exercise like this will burn off her excess energy, and when you get her home, she’ll be calm and relaxed. This is what a well-exercised Boxer Pitbull Mix should look like:
The Boxer Pitbull Mix is very playful and will need lots of toys at home. Careful, though! With her strong jaw and love of chewing, this dogs can destroy a chew toy within minutes. You'd better make sure it's durable, otherwise you'll be racking up a huge bill in no time. When you take her out, take a ball or a Frisbee to play fetch. She will love it!
You should take her out for a brisk one-hour walktwice a day. If you are running, twenty minutes to half an hour should be enough. If your dog tires (you will notice her slowing or beginning to pant excessively) you should stop for a five-minute break and hydrate her. I recommend taking out a collapsible doggie bowl in which you can give her water.
A note on exercising your Pitbull Boxer Mix puppy
This advice on exercise applies to the adult dog only, as when large-breed puppies do too much running and ball-chasing this can cause long-term injuries. With your Pitbull Boxer Mix puppy, it is best to do lots of short walks and indoor play until she matures, at about 1 year - 16 months.
Watch this 11 week old Pitbull Boxer Mix. She is curious, playful, active, and absolutely, jaw-droppingly gorgeous.
3. Whatever the weather - not with this dog!
These dogs are short haired and don't possess a double coat, so they are sensitive to extreme weather conditions. If you live in a place where it gets to below-freezing temperatures, or it goes above 86 degrees (30ºC), I wouldn't recommend this dog for you.
In rainy weather, she will need a doggie coat to keep her warm. During summer months, it is best to take her out in the early morning or the evening when the sun is less intense. She may still need sunscreen, but make sure you purchase one without zinc oxide, as it is toxic for dogs.
4. She'll be your companion and your babysitter
If you're looking for a faithful and loving companion, look no further. The Boxer is well known as a great companion dog who is incredibly people-orientated and likes to be close to its ´pack´.
The Pitbull is also a very affectionate dog when well-socialized, who will lick you all over if you give her an inch. She was in fact bred for both work and companionship, and due to her gentle nature, is beginning to be used more and more as a therapy dog.
Both breeds are also great with children; the dog trainer Cesar Milan rates the Boxer and the Pitbull as excellent family dogs. The Boxer is very patient and protective, while the Pitbull is solid, a people-pleaser and highly trainable.
So mix them together and what have you got? A companionable, affectionate dog who fits in perfectly with a family, wants a lot of attention and gives in return.
It is, of course, worth noting that as puppies they are going to be more hyper, and so their contact with children must be supervised. Also, your dog must be well-exercised to be around children, as if not she will be incredibly excitable and could knock over a small child.
5. She's a great guard dog, but be careful she doesn’t go overboard
If she takes after her Boxer relatives, the Boxer Pitbull Mix can be incredibly protective. Her guard dog instinct is strong, which can be useful if there is an intruder or attacker. These are courageous dogs who used to risk their lives baiting bulls, so have no doubt that she will defend you and yours if necessary.
If this instinct gets out of hand, however, it can become a problem. You must make sure that you socialize your Boxer Pitbull Mix from a young age with as many people as you can. Invite friends and neighbors to your home and provide her with a positive association by having the person give her a treat when they arrive.
As long as you train her well and stay consistent, this dog will be the friendliest dog around.
6. She might be too hands-on for older pets
Providing they are both socialized properly, both breeds can get on well with other animals, particularly Boxers. As for play style, Pitbulls can be rough and Boxers like to use their front paws when playing (much like a boxer... oh, that makes sense!), so if you have any older dogs already, this crossbreed might be a bit much for them!
7. She's highly trainable (if you're the leader)
These are intelligent dogs, which is no surprise, given that the Boxer is used in police and military work, as well as search and rescue. People are also beginning to look past the negative stigma around Pitbulls and realize their high intelligence and trainability, too.
Director of Operations at Universal K9 claims that out of the hundreds of dogs he has trained for police work, the Pitbull, Kiah, is one of the top three he has ever placed.
These dogs can be stubborn, though, meaning that you need to be firm and consistent with them. As long as you are in charge, your Boxer Pitbull Mix should pick up basic commands quickly. Make sure you do enough repetition and provide rewards and lots of praise.
As puppies, they are boisterous and energetic little characters. You will need to be assertive in order to get their focus.
8. She is a moderate shedder
Though these dogs have a short coat, they are moderate shedders and will require a good grooming session once a week. They will probably lose more fur in the Spring, from April through May, so it may be a good idea to brush her twice a week during these periods. Doing this will keep your dog's skin and coat healthy, and the hairs out of your carpet!
She will also need her ears checked monthly, either at the vet or with a reputable groomer.
9. She is usually healthy but has some potential health concerns
The Pitbull Boxer Mix is generally a healthy breed, as both pure breeds are (as long as she gets sufficient exercise, of course) and can live for up to 14 years. Having said that, it is always worth being informed on any potential health issues this breed can develop, so here are the main ones your dog could be prone to:
Cancer
While the majority of Boxers are healthy, they are at risk of an aggressive form of cancer called hemangiosarcoma, which occurs in the blood vessel cells.
It can be difficult to detect, but signs can include weakness, a distended abdomen, difficulty breathing and weight loss. If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, talk to your veterinarian as soon as possible, as this cancer can spread rapidly.
Hip dysplasia
This condition consists of a malformation of the hip joint, where it is unstable or loose in the socket. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals shows that this condition occurs in both breeds, although Pitbulls are more susceptible. Severe cases can lead to arthritic joints and lameness.
Signs can include walking or running with an altered gait and reluctance to fully extend their rear legs or jump. Weight control helps enormously with this condition; keep her slim, as any excess weight will put stress on her joints.
Heart disease
The Boxer is prone to a heart problem called aortic stenosis, which in most cases of the disease the dog is born with. This disease causes narrowing of the aortic valve, which puts pressure on the heart.
Symptoms can include rapid breathing or difficulty breathing, sudden loss of consciousness and congestive heart failure. If your vet picks up a heart murmur, the diagnosis can be confirmed with an X-ray and a cardiac ultrasound.
Allergies
Pitbulls can have various allergies, so your Pitbull Boxer Mix may be susceptible. They can be treated with antihistamines, and in the case of skin irritation, you should use shampoos specifically designed for sensitive skin.
Conclusion
Are you a family with children without any older pets? Are you ready to dedicate your days to plenty of exercise and play with your new lively companion? Can you give her the consistent training she needs?
If the answer is yes to all of the above, you are more than ready to own a Pitbull Boxer Mix, and she will be more than happy to have you. If you're in two minds, there are plenty of other dogs who could be the perfect fit for you, so keep looking!
Have you got a Pitbull Boxer Mix and a story to share? Comment below!
A deaf dog that looks like a 1-year-oldish white haired, blue eyed pit bull/boxer mix showed up on our porch swing the other morning when there was a -3 wind chill. Had her posted on the local shelter site but no takers. We have a 11-year-old Chihuahua and 8-year-old Yorkie so keeping the new dog inside is not possible. We took her to our vet, who told us that she looked like a pit bull/boxer mix, and said that we could keep her outside as long as we provide a warm shelter for her in the cold weather. For a temporary measure we put a cardboard box with lots of pillows and blankets (warmed in the dryer) on the porch swing. It has since warmed up into the 40-50 range. She appears to be happy running around outside and sleeping on the porch swing near the now chewed up box. We have ordered a dog house for her and are having her spayed tomorrow. We are a late middle-aged couple but I hope to be able to walk with her at least once a day. I hope you can wish us well for rescuing her. Would appreciate ideas of what kinds of toys would be appropriate for her to play with while she’s outside by herself as she has chewed up a quilted blanket, a towel and one of the cushions on the swing.
For any aggressive chewers, I recommend the Kong and dogzilla products. They are made for the aggressive chewers. You can also hide treats inside which will engage their mind. Hope this helps.
Hi Janice,
We have rescued 4 Pits mixes, our last is a Pitoxer 🙂
How is your pit boxer mix doing?
How are you doing?
Thank you for rescuing her! ♡♡♡♡
Pitties can be a handful for the first year. But they are such extraordinary dog, so loving and wanting to do good that we only want pitties now.
Our pit-boxer is nearly 11 months. She is even more of a chewer than our other pitties if that is possible lol
How old is yours?
I would love to hear from you (and help in anyway I can. My email is [email protected]) if I don’t here are my tricks to help her and to prevent frustration and upsets for you:
–Kong cone alone or better stuffed with treats like carrots, apples, part of her daily kebbles, coconut milk, coconut oil, 100% pumpkin filling, almonds, almond meal, flaxseed meal, chicken bits…..stuff your cone with any of those. Mix textures and find a good ratio of solid to liquid so you can freeze it and give it to her for play time, down time or when you leave the house.
–Antlers (All About Antler Dog Chews from Pet Expertise – Solve Dog Problems with Positive Dog Training! Featuring the Freedom No-Pull Dog Harness, Antler Chews and Treat & Train
http://www.petexpertise.com/about-antler-dog-chews.html)
-old leashes or old collars that you disgarded or were already chewed on (cut out hooks, snaps…). The extra tough woven texture is ideal for pups and it massages her teeth and gums, plus it is a safe toy and inexpensive.
–Himalayan woodblock for dogs to chew on like these. It very safe and extremely durable. Our dogs goes at it for hours, we have one we bought last summer on sale for $8 at Pet smart and it is still around!!!!
-buy for nearly nothing at a yard sale, clean them and take off the laces. Give her those to her as well so you can save yours.
-go to dog parks for extra socializing, play and workout.
(Keep in mind that because she is part pitties she has a cruel tag on her and people will stigmized her for it. So protect her from that by taking her out of rough play with other dogs that are not her kind and make friends with pitbull owner for safe and equal play. Because people are ignorant they will fault the pitbull when their dogs were the ones who entice bad behavior)
-provide her with every textures she seems to go for. Just substitute the “no no chews” (doors, shoes, pillows….with “good girl chews” as mentioned above and old things you don’t care about that are safe for her to chew on).
Try to be creative so you don’t feel like your pet is more than you can handle. Social her as much as you can, with people, children, pets…. the more the meilleur. She is worth it and she will probably end up the best pet you ever had.
Hang in there.
I have a bull boxer pit . male 9months old , great dog a sight hound for sure. energy plus, ruff .player/ but sweet, highs and lows really doesn’t like people, not mean but wont let strangers pet him we love him. he a good fit for us, thank you jbird mcm.oregon
Awesome Stan! Thanks for sharing 🙂
We just got one on Christmas Eve. She is 9 weeks old now. (Mia) Can’t wait to get her outside!! Our last puppy died of Parvo which according to the vet she got it at 4-5 weeks (never had a chance) so I am taking extra precautions this time. No outside till shots are done. We have two cats….one of which plays with her (supervised of course) but so far all is well. Thanks for the encouragement! 🙂 Future is looking bright!
Thanks for sharing Melissa 🙂
We have sibling pitty/boxers. They’re a year old. Bundles of energy and love. They’re receptive to training and want nothing more than to please us and shower us with wet, slimy kisses. They’re pure joy. The 16 year-old Shepherd mix and the cats tolerate them but they are really good with them. Best pick from the shelter. Highly recommend these pups. Just not ours. We won’t give them up. ❤❤
Haha 🙂 Nice Carolyn, thanks for sharing.
I have the most beautiful wonderful boxer pit mix ever he is my fur baby n I wouldn’t trade him for any breed out there he is everything this article said n much more
I have an 11 1/2 month old brindle pitbull/ boxer. I jus love her. We got her when she was 4 months old. Great family dog, phenomenal with all 3 of my boys, 11yrs old, 3 yr old, and 18 month old. She loves fetching the tennis ball. Full of energy! Shes my bisha boo!! Growing up ive had a boxer and pitbull , and with her being mixed..best of both worlds. Highly recommend one.
Just got scooby who is a pit bull boxer mix so far he is a bundle of joy I also have a 4 year old chihuahua and they are great together sometimes my chihuahua gets irritated but overall they are good together
I have a cute little pitbull boxer named Sadie who is at least 1 year old. She is a little bundle of love and loves to cuddle and doesn’t like it when my family has to leave the house to do something. I wouldn’t trade her for any other breed of dog no matter what nor would I give her away. I couldn’t bear it if she died. She always knows when I’m sad and always tries to cheer me up. She has light brown fur with dark brown eyes with a tail that seems to never stop wagging.❤
we have a pitbull boxer mix maybe 3 yrs old. got her from the boxer rescue. we also rescued a boxer male about 2 yrs old. the boxer pitbull mix (female) plays great with the boxer ( male) she has always been a little bit bossy with him. but plays well together. gradually she has gotten more aggressive with him ,especially when my husband and i are around them , like she does not want him around us. we do not like this behavior in her. any suggestions out there , she has started to attack him and aggressively fight .
I have a pitbull/boxer mix puppy who is now 14 weeks old. I brought him home when he was six weeks, and he stole my heart the very first day! He earned the name Crash by that first evening, because that’s what He did; he crashed through things and over things and under things lol… He is playful with tons of energy, and he’s also sweet and cuddly. He has even won over our 14 year old pitbull and has him playing just like he was a puppy again himself. Definitely happy with our newest addition to the family!!!
I have a bull boxer puppy named Piper. I rescued her when she was about 3months. There was a history of deliberate abuse with her and it has taken 6 months to be able to reach for her and have her respond without fear. I have two seniors so it takes lots of interference from me during play. My yellow lab has adopted her and body blocks her from any perceived danger. She is delightful but a real handful as a puppy.
I also rescued my pit/boxer who’s name is piper!! She’s a giant ball of crazy lol,wrestles my Shepard (he just shrugs it off) constantly on the move being mischievous but i think it’s mostly out of curiosity in everything,and always has to be chewing something wether it’s a stick,a toy,or army pant leg when she knows I’m leaving the house…with all that said she’s externally smart and just as loyal and protective as the Shepard..love her to death 🙂
My boxer/pit brindle bundle of joy joined our family last July. The shelter was going to euthanize all bully breeds because of crowded conditions. I took off my cast (broken ankle) and drove 45 miles to rescue the best dog ever. Her markings were almost identical to my pit bull that passed in December from bone cancer. She submits to my 9 lb. chiweenie terror and loves the cat.
We have a Pitbull/Boxer mix named Deuce who we adopted from a local animal shelter called Saving Grace. He is about four months old right now and an amazingly smart and loving little guy.
Our three kids have been working on training him and it took hardly any time whatsoever. After about a month, he is almost fully potty trained to go only outdoors. After having him home for about a week, he was able to follow and obey the commands “come,” “stay,” “sit,” my daughter taught him “high five,” where he puts a paw up to meet your hand, and my son taught him “bang!” where he drops to the ground and rolls over on his back playing dead. It’s so freakin adorable.
I’ve never had a more intelligent dog before. Of course, lots of healthy treats have aided the process, as he is highly food motivated. He also enjoys his Kong, which we fill with peanut butter and freeze overnight. The extra measure of freezing it provides more relief for his discomfort while teething, and also provides more mental stimulation because he has to work harder to get the peanut butter.
Despite all of the expensive, good quality toys we have purchased for him, he prefers old, used stuffed animals, cardboard boxes, and large sticks out in the backyard. He has also learned to fetch, retrieve, and return a ball and a frisbee (with treat rewards). He loves being outdoors more than just about anything.
He has a definite stubborn streak. If we’re ready to go inside and he’s not, he will firmly plant his bottom on the ground, sit there without blinking, and stare us down with a look that says, “Hell no.”
He is cautious and careful around our elderly cat. He gets really excited to see the cat because he wants to play, but the cat doesn’t want any part of that. So Deuce will run wide circles around the cat and/or get really low on the ground an inch his way towards the cat, but definitely stays out of his protective cat Bubble.
A favorite story of mine so far has been from when I was teaching him to fetch the ball and return. I would throw the tennis ball a short distance, he’d run after it and pick it up in his mouth and return it, and then drop it at my feet. I would immediately reward him with a small treat and then we’d do it all over again. One time while he was eating his treat, I was looking around the yard, lost in thought. Apparently he was ready to fetch again and I wasn’t fast enough. He barked once, which got my attention so I looked back down at him at my feet. As soon as we made eye contact, he picked the ball up himself, ran with the ball in his mouth over to the spot where I was throwing it, dropped it in front of himself, picked it right back up, ran back to me, and dropped it at my feet. He got a “jackpot” reward for that cute little stunt!
Love this dog, but he definitely needs a lot of exercise, play, water, and attention. We are going to have to step up our game because he is beginning to get bored at certain parts of the day when not receiving attention, and doing behaviors like loud barking, chewing things that are not toys, and getting too aggressive with play, like lunging towards us and trying to put peoples hands in his mouth. Otherwise, all-around wonderful dog and perfect fit for our family.
I rescued my fur baby she wad trying to walk into the elementary school 2 1/2 years ago this describes her to a tee, she looked l8ke she could be my male american/red nose pitbull twin and gave him a jolt of youth pit bulls full blooded or mixed are without a doubt THE BEST DOGS EVER IT’S IN THE WAY YOU RAISE JUST LIKE YOUR CHILDREN☺
I have a 3 year old female. I bought her from a low income shelter and fell in love with her right away. Unfortunately, I didn’t really know what I was getting into and in the first week, she ate through all of her toys, my couch cushions, my pillow, and 3 pairs of shoes. With lots of work, training, and exercise, she is now a completely different dog. She only chews her toys and is fine being left out of her kennel while I’m away. I do sguest that if you do decide on this mix of dog that you crate train and stay active. While I have personally never had any issues with her attacking other animals, her prey drive is pretty strong and I have had to incorporate changing her focus from the stimulus in her training. These dogs are like most other dogs where if you know what you’re doing, or seek help if you don’t, they make wonderful companions.