The Boxer Lab mix is an increasingly popular designer breed. Medium to large in size, these highly energetic pups are devoted companions and are best suited for active families.
What is a Boxador? The Boxador is a designer breed of dog, developed by crossing a purebred Boxer with a purebred Labrador Retriever. These playful and outgoing dogs form strong bonds with their owners and get along with kids and other pets. Due to their size and energy levels, Boxadors need a home with a backyard.
If you are looking for a loyal and affectionate canine that can be your workout buddy, the Boxer Lab mix may be a perfect choice! Keep on reading to find out more about this popular crossbreed.
What Is a Boxer Lab Mix?
The Boxer Lab mix, also known as Boxador, Laboxer, and Boxerlab is a designer dog breed. While both Boxers and Labs are purebreds and officially recognized by the AKC, the Boxador isn’t an official dog breed.
However, the Boxer Lab mix is recognized by:
- American Canine Hybrid Club
- Designer Dogs Kennel Club
- Dog Registry of America, Inc
Brief History
The Boxer Lab mix may have existed naturally over the years, but breeders started intentionally mixing Labs and Boxers in the 1990s. The idea behind these efforts was to create an energetic family companion and protective guard dog.
As the demand for designer dogs climbed, breeders continued to create Boxadors.
Boxer
Originating in Germany, the Boxer was bred to be a medium-size guard dog. Although working dogs at heart, Boxers make loyal and loving companions and are best suited for active families.
Labrador Retriever
Also a working dog breed, the Labrador Retriever was originally used as a gun dog to retrieve shot waterfowl. Best known for its easy-going, kind, and friendly nature, the Lab is a true family dog and a loving companion.
Boxer Lab Mix
When you mix the two you get a Boxador – a highly energetic, affectionate, and devoted dog. Boxadors form strong bonds with their families and are very protective of the people they love, so they make great guard dogs. Boisterous and friendly, this mix gets along with children and other pets, and is a great family dog.
Characteristics of Boxer Lab Mix.
Being a mixed-breed your Boxador can inherit traits from both its parent breeds or take more after the Boxer parent or vice versa.
Generally, you can expect your mix to have an athletic build, big head, floppy ears, and heavy jowls.
Boxador Highlights
| Size | Medium to large-sized dog |
| Weight | 50-110 pounds |
| Height | 23-25 inches |
| Coat Type | Short smooth coat |
| Shedding | Seasonal shedding |
| Energy Level | Highly energetic |
| Overall Health | Very good |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
Size
Having a Boxer and a Lab for parents means that your Boxador will be a medium or large dog.
Height
When it comes to height most Boxadors are between 23 and 25 inches tall at the shoulder. But since this is a new mixed-breed some dogs may be shorter or taller.
Weight
Expect your Boxer Lab mix to weigh between 50 and 110 pounds. Female dogs are usually smaller and weigh 50 to 65 pounds. Male Boxadors are noticeably larger and weigh between 52 to 110 pounds.
Coat Color
The Boxador’s coat is often a mix of its Boxer and Lab parents’ coat and colors. Generally, their coats are a mix of two or more colors and are rarely solid.
The most common coat colors are:
- Black
- Brown
- Brindle
- Tan
- White
Shedding
The Boxer Lab mix has a short silky coat that sheds moderately during the shedding season in spring and fall (source). Although moderate shedders, Boxadors aren’t hypoallergenic and as such not a good choice for allergy sufferers.
Temperament
There’s no way of predicting the exact temperament of any individual Boxador since they can inherit traits of either parent. But considering both parent breeds, it is safe to say that the Boxer Lab mix will be the happiest in an active family.
Most Boxadors are affectionate, loyal, playful, and protective companions. They crave attention and are usually very protective of their human families.
If your mix takes more after its Boxer parent, they may be suspicious of strangers and make excellent guard dogs. But if your Boxador takes more after its Lab parent, they will be more trusting and will eagerly greet strangers with a wagging tail.
Bred to be a family pet, the Boxador doesn’t like to be alone and may develop separation anxiety. If they don’t get enough mental stimulation and human interaction, they can easily get bored and become destructive (source).
Pet Friendly
Boisterous and fun-loving Boxadors get along well with other cats and dogs, especially if they are raised with them from an early age.
Child Friendly
Boxadors love children and are great playmates for kids of all ages. Due to their large size and enthusiastic nature, your mix can knock a small child by accident during play.
So, it is wise to supervise your kids while they are playing with your Boxador to avoid injuries on both sides.
Boxer Lab Mix Care
As with all other dogs, you should keep up with your Boxadors regular vet checkups and develop a care routine as soon as you bring your puppy home. Things you should pay close attention to include:
Health Risks
The Boxer Lab mix is a generally healthy breed, but some may be predisposed to the same conditions that affect Boxers and Labradors.
The most common health problems seen in this mix are:
- Joint dysplasia
- Allergies
- Heart problems
- Hypothyroidism
- Eye problems
The Boxer Lab mix has an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years when properly cared for.
Grooming and Maintenance
The Boxer Lab mix is a short-haired breed and their coat is very easy to maintain. Brush your Boxador once or twice a week to remove loose hair, dirt, and dander, and to keep their coat in pristine conditions.
Since Boxadors are seasonal shedders, you will have to brush your mix every day during spring and fall to stay on top of loose hair. Additionally, bathe your Boxador once every two months or as needed using a hypoallergenic dog shampoo.
The rest is basic care and involves regular teeth brushing and nail trimming. You will also have to clean your dog’s ears and eyes once a week to remove dirt and prevent the occurrence of painful infections.
Food or Diet
The ideal diet for Boxer Lab mix should be formulated for medium to large breeds with high energy. Find the highest quality food you can afford and make sure that it has higher levels of protein and fat to fuel your dog’s body.
Like Labs, Boxadors have huge appetites and can easily become obese if overfed. Avoid free feeding your dog and stick to a regular feeding schedule of two meals a day (source).
Also, limit the amount of treats your dog is eating and opt to substitute commercial treats with healthier options such as broccoli or carrots.
Training and Exercise
Like its parent breeds, the Boxer Lab mix is a highly energetic and atlethic breed that needs up to 90 minutes of exercise every day. Activities such as jogging, hiking, swimming, and running can physically challenge your dog and help them release pent up energy.
Due to their fun-loving nature Boxadors love to play, and you can keep your pooch exercised and mentally stimulated with daily play sessions.
The intelligent and eager to please Boxer Lab mix is fairly easy to train using positive reinforcement techniques. As they get older, Boxadors can become stubborn, so start training and socializing your Boxador puppy as soon as you bring it home.
Housing
Boxadors are best suited for active families and homes with fenced backyards where they can run, play, and release excess energy. They can be just as happy living in an apartment, just as long you can keep them properly exercised.
Where to Get a Boxer Lab Mix?
There are only two ways you can get a Boxer Lab mix – you can either adopt or shop.
Boxer Lab Mix Breeders
The Boxer Lab mix is an increasingly popular designer breed and you shouldn’t have trouble locating a reputable breeder that makes puppies available. Avoid dealing with pet stores and backyard breeders and only purchase a puppy with health certificates and proof of vaccination.
Boxer Lab Mix Price
On average, Boxador puppies cost from $300 to $800. However, you may end up paying more depending on the breeder, lineage, gender, and coat color.
Adoption
Although Boxadors are designer dogs, some end up in the care of animal shelters and rescue organizations. If you think that the Lab Boxer mix will be a great companion, check your local shelters to see if they have any Boxadors for adoption.
Since they are a mixed-breed, you may have a hard time locating a Boxador breed-specific rescue. However, you can try Boxer and Labrador Retriever breed-specific rescue groups since these organizations often take care of their mixes too.
Conclusion
Loyal, affectionate, and lively, the Boxer Lab mix is a popular designer breed and a great choice for families with children and active people. This mix is very protective of its owners and makes a great companion and family member in a loving home.
While they are fairly easy to groom, Boxadors are highly energetic dogs that need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. When left to their own devices or ignored, this mix can become destructive and develop separation anxiety.
But, if you have the time and energy to keep up with this boisterous dog, the Boxador will become your best friend and a fierce protector.
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