The Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix, or Boxer Pit Lab, is a crossbreed that has grown in popularity in recent years. This cross is a blend of three of the most popular breeds with families.
What are the most important things about a Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix? These dogs are unique, like every breed or cross, and the more you know about their traits, the more you can decide whether one of these dogs is the best fit for you.
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Get a Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix
This hybrid is very loyal and protective of its family; however, you shouldn’t expect one of these dogs to be best friends with everyone they meet. Reserve and a degree of aloofness are to be expected when these dogs encounter strangers.
In other words, if you’re looking for a dog with the Lab’s friendliness toward strangers, this designer cross may not be the dog for you. The presence of two other breeds in this dog’s makeup impacts the overall personality.
These dogs are more likely to become very big once fully grown. You might have an 80-pound or giant dog living in your house. Bigger dogs come with the possibility of increased health problems, as well as food expenses.
The combination of breeds may give your Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix a higher energy level than you anticipated. Although this won’t be a problem for active owners, it might be more than you bargained for if you were expecting a quiet couch potato.
If you’re away from home for long periods, a Boxer Pit Lab Mix may not be the crossbreed for you. All breeds in this mix enjoy being around their people as much as possible and don’t thrive very often in settings where they’re alone.
Dogs of this cross are somewhat prone to hip and eye issues that progressively worsen. Although many health issues are manageable, they may be costly to treat over time.
If you are not prepared to go on long daily walks, this dog may not be the right choice for you. Taking these dogs on walks is particularly important for people who live in apartments.
Prospective owners who aren’t dedicated to socializing their dog may want to consider a different breed or cross. Proper socialization around people outside the household and other dogs is necessary to ensure good behavior.
Reasons Why You Should Get a Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix
When you get a Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix, you’ve got a dog likely to have a reasonably long lifespan. At a minimum, most of these dogs live eight to ten years. Lifespans of 12-15 years are not unheard of with these dogs.
This mixed breed has a high likelihood of having strong protective instincts. A Boxer Pitbull Lab is unlikely to back down from a perceived threat to the family quickly. These dogs are likely to try to protect children very quickly.
These designer mixes are a delight to live with when adequately socialized from an early age. The dogs are eager to please and want to show appreciation for the rest of their “pack” in every way possible.
Most Boxer Pitbull Lab Mixes have moderate rather than heavy grooming needs. One of these dogs may be an excellent fit if you prefer more modest grooming needs. Some may shed a little more if they have inherited their Lab ancestors’ double coats.
If you live an active lifestyle, one of these dogs could be a perfect companion for all your adventures. Long walks and hikes are ideal for these dogs, making excellent running and jogging companions have once fully grown.
Appearance, Personality, Coat and colors, lifespan, and Traits of a Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix
An easy way to describe a Boxer Pit Lab Mix is as a powerful dog. These dogs are very muscular, having an appearance very much like Molosser family dogs.
Most dogs of this mix stand 25 inches or higher at the withers and may weigh more than 70 pounds. Most of the bulk in these dogs focuses on the neck and shoulder area. These dogs will always look ready for action, no matter what happens.
Most of these dogs will have large, broad heads because of the Boxer and Pitbull influence. The length will usually be in between somewhere. Snout length may vary because labs often have longer snouts, while Boxers and Pitbulls have shorter noses.
Although many associate erect ears with Boxers and Pitbulls, you aren’t as likely to see prick ears in Boxer Pitbull Lab Mixes. None of the breeds that make up this mix have ears that stand up naturally, so these dogs will have floppy ears.
These dogs are very dedicated to their families, with a strong protective streak. Most are also very playful, making them perfect companions for families with children. These mixes are reserved for unfamiliar people, owing to their protectiveness.
Although these dogs generally have short coats, some may have the double coat common with purebred Labs. This double coat provides extra protection against water and cold weather.
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mixes may have a variety of coat colors and markings, often depending on which of the three breeds is dominant. Some of the potential coat colors include:
- Brown and white
- Solid white
- Black and white
- Red
- Blue
- Yellow
- Chocolate
Most of these dogs will have an average or better lifespan than large dogs. The most typical lifespan for this cross is 12-15 years. Some may live for as few as eight years, although this is usually more common in dogs with severe health concerns.
Overall, these dogs are fun-loving and devoted to their families. If you’re looking for a dog with excellent family pet traits, you won’t go wrong with picking a Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix.
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix Puppies for Sale
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix puppies are not a type of dog that you’ll find very easily. These puppies are known as hybrids or designer breeds, and the major kennel clubs do not recognize them.
Many breed designers and crossbreed puppies. However, not all breeders have puppies’ best interests at heart. When looking for one of these puppies, you may have to look very carefully.
Many breeders who produce hybrids sell the puppies over the Internet or in retail pet stores, with little or no checking on the prospective owners to ensure they’ll give their dogs a good home. Puppies purchased on impulse are often given up easily.
Breeders who produce puppies in these circumstances often raise the dogs in unsanitary and inhumane conditions. Because money is the most significant factor for these breeders, they are more concerned with how many puppies they produce than how they’re raised.
When you’re interested in getting a designer breed puppy like a Boxer Pit Mix, it’s helpful to use the same criteria that you would use for getting a purebred puppy. Look for breeders with a good reputation and references from owners.
One of the most important considerations is making sure you can visit the kennel location. Seeing where the puppies live and interacting with the dogs will give you a better idea of the breeder’s practices.
Grooming Your Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix
The Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix has fairly conservative grooming requirements. One of the most important things to remember about these dogs is their waterproof coats.
A weekly brushing helps keep these dogs’ coats in top shape. These brushes specifically address shedding to keep the coat neater. You will find it helpful to keep a de-shedding brush at hand because these dogs do shed modest amounts of fur year-round.
Because these dogs have naturally oily coats and short hair, you will want to be careful about bathing them too much and drying their coats out. Unless they’ve gotten into something very messy, these dogs do well with baths every four to six weeks.
Other grooming tasks to keep in mind for these dogs include:
- Weekly toothbrushing to eliminate tartar
- Nail-trimming two or three times a week
- Weekly ear-cleaning to remove wax build-up
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix Health Problems
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mixes are similar to many other mixed breeds, generally healthier than many purebreds. With a lifespan that you can reasonably expect to reach at least ten years, these dogs will benefit from regular vet visits.
Although these dogs are healthy, owners will benefit from being aware of some health problems that may become an issue. Awareness of these issues can help you keep your dog in optimal health.
Dilated cardiomyopathy is one of the heart conditions that may affect these dogs. When dogs have this disease, the heart is less able to pump blood efficiently. This type of heart disease is common in Boxers and mixes.
Degenerative myelopathy affects the spinal cord and can cause paralysis in the rear limbs. This progressive disease is quite common in Pitbulls, and Pitbull mixes.
Hip dysplasia involves hip joint dislocation, which happens when the dog’s hip joints don’t align properly. This condition is common in Labrador Retrievers and mixes but may affect any large breed.
Regular veterinary care will help you catch severe health conditions that are still reasonably easy to treat. You may want to consider investing in insurance that may help ease the cost of medical expenses that go beyond annual checkups.
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix Food Requirements
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mixes thrive on healthy diets encouraging optimal growth and development. To meet these needs, the food you select should have a lot of protein.
A muscle-building diet can be most beneficial if you want your dog to have an active lifestyle. In this situation, an ideal diet for dogs should contain essential fats, carbohydrates, and protein.
When your dog has too much muscle or lacks optimal muscle mass, you may need to make some dietary adjustments. Your vet can guide any adjustments that you need to make.
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix Exercise Requirements
One of the best ways to meet your dog’s exercise requirements is to regularly take him to a dog park. Interacting with new dogs and people is a great way to show your dog how to be a “good citizen.”
An hour of exercise will meet most of these dogs’ needs. Remembering the hunting heritage is an excellent way to keep these mixes well-stimulated.
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix Training
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mixes are intelligent dogs that quickly adapt to new activities. However, you’ll need to provide plenty of stimulation because these dogs sometimes get bored quickly.
Positive reinforcement with healthy treats is a strong motivator for these dogs. Praising your dog for a job well done is always in order whenever he obeys a command you give.
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix and Families
Boxer Pit lab Mixes are excellent family dogs with protective solid instincts toward every family member. These dogs are easy to train, making them a welcome addition to family activities.
These mixes are excellent with children as well as adults. However, you may need to supervise the dogs around smaller children because of their size.
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mix and Other Pets
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mixes may not get along with other dogs very well. If introduced to new pets, the introductions must be careful to avoid any problems.
Proper training makes all the difference in how well these dogs get along with other pets. If your dog has been adequately trained and socialized, you can expect them to get along well with other dogs and pets.
Boxer Pitbull Lab Mixes are excellent dogs for anyone looking for a gentle, protective dog willing to be part of an active person or family’s life.
