The Boxer Lab Mix, nicknamed the “Boxador”, is the perfect family dog.
Kind, loyal and protective, these active dogs are the life and soul of any dog-party.
Best suited for families who live an active lifestyle, this overgrown puppy will be your best companion on all kinds of adventures.
You may have seen this famous Boxador on Instagram, but what is there to know about this adorable, albeit mysterious, mixed dog breed? Read on to find out.
| Size | 21.5 to 25 inches, females tending to be smaller |
| Weight | Females are from 50 to 70lbs and males 55 to 80lbs |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 years |
| Breed Type | Mixes and more |
| Purpose | Designer Cross |
| Suitable For | Active Families / Lifestyles |
| Color Variations | Golden, Chocolate, Black, Brown or Brindle |
| Temperament | Loving, Loyal, Obedient, Playful |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is a Boxador Dog? Breed Overview
A Boxador is cross breed between a Labrador Retriever and a Boxer (both purebred dog breeds) and sibling to the Borador. The resulting designer mix is a dog known for its intelligence and devotion.
Since this dog is a hybrid, it is not recognised by:
- The American Kennel Club
- The Kennel Club (UK)
- or any other Kennel Clubs
They are however recognised by the:
- American Canine Hybrid Club
- Designers Dogs Kennel Club
- Dog Registry of America
- International Designer Canine Registry
A Boxador’s lifespan, on average, ranges from between 12 and 15 years of age. However, there is some variation in how long they live, with some owners reporting them to live to be 15 years of age.
Boxador Puppies
Typically they cost between $350 and $800 USD. Being a larger dog, a dam’s litter is usually between 4 and 8 puppies.
The fact that their litters are on the smaller size, and that the breed is in relatively low demand, makes them difficult to source; especially from a reputable breeder. However, they are a common dog to find in shelters, therefore you might want to look into adopting one.
Puppy Growth Chart
| 2 months | 9 | 19 |
| 3 months | 15 | 28 |
| 6 months | 35 | 66 |
| 12 months | 40 | 75 |
Boxer Lab Mix Temperament
In order to understand the Boxador’s temperament, it is important to first understand its purebred parents.
Boxer Temperament
Boxers, whose name comes from a tendency to stand on their hind legs and “box” with their front, are playful dogs who are good with children and families.
A descendent of the German Bullenbiesser, originally bred for hunting, are tasked to seize the prey and then hold it until the hunters arrive. The boxer was bred from this to be smaller and faster.
In 1904 the first boxer was registered with the Kennel Club.
Labrador Temperament
Labradors were bred as gundogs from Newfoundland. Kind, loving and outgoing, they are the perfect choice for anyone from all walks of life.
Due to their considerate nature and passion for learning, they are the prime choice for service dogs. Unsurprisingly, these qualities make them one of the most popular dogs in the UK and the USA. They have been the most popular dog in America for 26 consecutive years.
It is impossible to guarantee the traits, size or temperament of any puppy when crossing two breeds, however, the breeder’s goal for a Boxador is to have the best personality traits from their purebred parents:
- The protectiveness of the boxer
- The kindness of the Labrador
As a result of their protectiveness, typically from the Boxer parent, they make wonderful guard dogs.
If you have a preference for one parental characteristic, over another, it is possible to encourage this behaviour through positive reinforcement.
Due to their large size and bouncy nature it is important to supervise contact with younger children to avoid any accidents. However, these dogs make wonderful family pets for families with older children.
Active and fun, they love to be part of what is happening within any family home. These dogs do not like to be left for long periods of time and can grow bored quickly.
Therefore, this dog may not be for you if you spend long periods of time away from the house or do not have the time to spend exercising your dog.
Neither boxers nor labs are prone to barking or howling so you shouldn’t expect much noise from your dog. However, they may bark out of fear as the boxer’s protective nature will compel him to protect you.
With time and patience your dog will soon realise there is no threat to them or to you. As well as this, the influence of the Labrador may result in the perceived intruder being licked to death!
How to Care for a Boxador
The Boxer Lab Mix has high energy requirements and consequently needs an owner who can keep up. Therefore, this dog is best suited to someone who loves the outdoors just as much as their pet.
As a result of their loyal temperament, they make a wonderful family dog. Their family friendliness means that the whole family can help with exercise and going out on long walks together.
Feeding a Bouncy Mixed Breed
| Daily Food Consumption | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 2,000 |
| Cups of Kibble |  |
Boxadors love to eat, like their Labrador parent! This hungry dog can eat his way through a lot of food, so it’s very important to watch their diet.
Four to five cups of dry kibble spaced over two even servings a day is ideal; you can throw in some tasty snacks too.
Top-Tip
Be mindful of the speed a Lab Boxer Mix eats, because if they eat too much food too quickly, they can bloat. We recommend splitting their food into a morning and evening meal which spaces their food evenly throughout the day.
Boxadors do well on both dry and canned food but it’s important to watch their weight and regulate their food intake accordingly.
Some Labradors are allergic to grains so it is important to pick a high quality, grain free food for your Boxer Lab Mix.
We recommend a high protein diet for your mix to help keep your dog’s coat shiny and sleek and their muscles fit and strong. As a rough guideline, theirdiet should be a minimum of 20% protein and 15% fat.
Exercising an Active Dog
| Daily Exercise Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Minutes | 60 minutes or more per day |
| Activity Level | |
Due to their large size, boxadors need at least one hour of exercise a day. These dogs are not lap dogs, they love to be active, channelling their roots as gun dogs by running through fields and following sent trails.
A quick run around the garden will not be enough exercise for these dogs.
Outdoor yard play may supplement this exercise requirement somewhat. However, you will find that when your dog is well walked, the physiological and psychological benefits will show.
It is a good idea to play some games with your Boxador to burn some of their gun dog energy. This mental and physical stimulation will be endlessly rewarding for your dog:
- Boxer Lab Mixes are playful and tend to have a boisterous nature. This means they are always up for a game of fetch or tug of war.
- It may be fun to play hide and seek with your dog; either hiding yourself, food, or your dog’s favourite toy.
Training a Boxador
Labradors are very food motivated dogs, so its not hard to imagine that a Boxador would be too.
These dogs respond very well to training as their intelligence, food orientation and devotion to their owner makes them fast learners.
It is important to be conscientious when training your Boxer Lab Mix, they respond well to positive reinforcement and poorly to punishment as their dedication to their owners gives them a strong sense of betrayal when scolded.
This breed responds very well to clicker training, but the Labrador in them may make them a little dopey.
When training, shorter, more frequent sessions will be much more effective than longer, infrequent stints as they may lose interest.
Boxadors are known to suffer from separation anxiety due to their loyal and devoted nature.
This can be treated when they are young, and training for this should start as soon as they arrive in your home.
Leaving your dog for just minutes at a time and slowly building up to longer periods should result in a much happier dog. Lots of positive reinforcement on return, such as verbal praise and play should result in a positive association with you leaving as your dog will learn that you always come back.
Known Health Problems
This dog is known to be a relatively healthy dog. Individually, Boxers and Labradors are known to have a host of potential health concerns such as hip dysplasia and obesity.
However, given that the Boxer Lab Mix is a cross they may benefit in hybrid vigor.
Like a Shorkie, Boxer dogs are brachycephalic dogs, meaning they have a flatter face. This can cause breathing and temperature regulation problems. However, this problem may be corrected due to the influence of the Labrador.
Research at the University of Georgia show cancer is the number one killer of Boxer dogs; with 4 in 10 mature Boxer dogs falling ill to the disease.
This is something to watch out for in your Boxador, common symptoms include: lethargy, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, limping, recurrent digestive problems or weight loss.
If you are concerned about any of these symptoms or can feel an unusual lump in your dog it is always best to consult a vet.
When adopting or purchasing a puppy, it is important to ask for a health test. The Boxer parent should have a clear heart check, good hip scores, a recent eye test and be declared cancer free. The Labrador parent should also have good hip and elbow scores and recent eye test.
Ideally, the puppy should have a note from a vet declaring that they have no breathing problems. You may be able to confirm this yourself, as your dog should not be wheezing as they breathe.
Appearance of a Boxer Lab Mix
Boxadors may be gold, brown, chocolate, brindle or a combination of the above. Some of these dogs may have white markings.
As this dog is a crossbreed, it is very hard to guarantee a specific appearance. Each dog will be completely unique, some leaning more towards their Boxer parentage, others leaning more towards their Labrador parentage.
Of course, some dogs will be a perfect hybrid. It is near impossible to predict appearance, but it is possible to gauge a general idea.
As this dog is a cross between a Boxer and a Labrador, it is on the larger side, weighing between 50 and 80lbs. Boxadors are usually between 21.5 and 25 inches tall. This can vary between the sexes, with females tending to be slightly smaller.
They tend to take after their Boxer parents when it comes to coat. They typically have smooth and shiny coats and are unlikely to shed. They have straight fur, and it is usually not wavy or rough.
If your dog’s coat takes after their Labrador parent’s coat it may shed seasonally and will require brushing plus bathing; this is much rarer to find amongst this breed.
Summary of Breed
Is the Boxador the ideal dog for you?
If you are looking for a super active sidekick and a new addition to your growing family, this dog could be a perfect match.
Loving and loyal, this dog will blend well into every aspect of your life.
Affectionate and obedient, this is the dog for you if you are looking for a new friend to go on long adventures in the countryside.
These dogs are relatively low maintenance and require relatively infrequent grooming compared to other dog breeds.
However, this dog may not be for you if you are inactive, regularly away from the house, or unable to manage their diet and potential health issues.
Please feel free to leave a comment below with your experience of this mixed breed.
Other Labrador Retriever and Boxer Mixes
If you’re interested in learning about other Lab mixes or Boxer mixes, check out the hybrid dog breeds below.
Lab Mixes
- German Shepherd Lab Mix
- Pitbull Lab Mix
- Blue Heeler Lab Mix
- Golden Retriever Lab Mix
- Rottweiler Lab Mix
- Beagle Lab Mix
- Border Collie Lab Mix
- Husky Lab Mix
- Australian Shepherd Lab Mix
- Labrabull
- Labradoodle Dog
- Mini Labradoodle
- Australian Labradoodle
I just got a boxador puppy. I am not one to be active at all and I truly do love the fact that she is getting me up and around plus gets my pitbull to play again. The only problem I seem to have is her barking and wining when I put her in her kennel for the night.
My partner and I rescued a boxador two years ago and we couldn’t be happier. It took him a while to adjust to his new life, as we believe he was wasn’t treated well by his former owner. But, he did so very well. This article accurately depicts what our dog, Harvey, is like. He has become our best friend and companion.
We rescued Coco from Battersea Dogs Home and it’s the best thing we could have done. Our Boxador has become our best friend and a truly wonderful guard dog. She needs long walks and play time which we find therapeutic for ourselves so we are all happy. The above description fits perfectly.
We just adopted a 12 week old puppy- she is the love of my life. She is so smart and attached to myself & my husband.. ❤️❤️
How long until the Boxador calms down a bit. Mine is 2 years old and still in full on puppy mode.
Boxers are renowned for being puppies for life! We joke, but they can seem to take a while to mature. It could be worth spending some time on games to teach impulse control, focus on brain games, or teach him to wait for things – to have his leash attached or to wait for his meal.
You can also introduce interval walks, so in a 20 minute walk you may ask him to sit 10 times or in a 25 minute walk you may ask him to sit 15 times. These tasks help teach focus which can show your pooch that good things happen when he’s calm too!
We have a four year old Boxador and he’s calmed down the last year. By calm down it’s mostly lazy until he notices a leaf or a kid outside. He’ll do nonstop zoomies, throw stuff around the house lmao. He doesn’t chew though. But he jumps and run around. Then battery dead, back to his couch by the window. Repeat cycle. It’s a lot of fun but he’s a very good boy. He’s a puppy forever though, we call him Puppy. His name is Hans.
mine is the same
Hi I am considering adopting a lab and boxer mix. I work and have to go to work daily but my husband works from home. He needs to travel often. Your article guided me very well on what to expect. The baby girl we are adopting is 1.5 months and I was curious to know if she will be ok some days being alone at home during daytime or saying a day boarding. I want to give her a perfect home can spend time with her, please guide.
Hi Neyhee,
It’s not generally advised to leave dogs alone for more than 3-4 hours at any one time and this is if they are well adjusted with no signs of separation issues. Some dogs can’t even cope with 30 mins to 1 hour being left alone. Not only do dogs need regular toilet breaks but they also need mental stimulation. Hours alone can lead to boredom which often results in distress and destruction. If possible, can you ask a dog walker to split the day up and take her for a good explore to engage her mind?
Or, if you would rather perhaps a daycare would be a better option? If cost is an issue, do you have friends or family that could pop in to walk her or spend time with her on those days she would be alone? Sometimes college kids are keen to dog walk so look for ads in your local area.
The fact that you are adopting may throw some curve balls into the mix also. Consider her history, has she already got separation issues? Is she sociable enough to accept a dog walker or attend daycare? Take things slow and at her pace, we probably wouldn’t be introducing new things until she is fully settled with you guys.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch. Good luck with the adoption.
We have a boxador who likes to play bite when he’s excited. It can tend to hurt the children at times (never puncturing the skin but putting his mouth around arms/legs) and we haven’t been successful at stopping the behavior, although it’s gotten better. We rescued him at 4 months and he is currently 7 months old. Is this normal behavior, and any tips to completely stop this? Other than that, he’s been a great pup and the kids absolutely adore him.
It’s difficult raising a puppy with children as sometimes, the puppy can receive inconsistent messages. Chances are when your puppy mouths the children, the children fling their arms around and move; which unfortunately your puppy then understands to be play. You say it happens when he gets excited; are there certain times of day?
If you are getting ready to go for a walk, it can help to attach his leash and simply head straight out the door – avoiding the build-up. If he simply wants to play, have toys and ropes in every room of the house and encourage your children to play with him with the toys. If he’s being a typical puppy and not settling, it could be worth training the settle command (like the stay) and teaching your children how to train it too.
If all else fails, you can set up a quiet space in the house and train him to go there if he’s getting himself too worked up (much like the settle), it can be partitioned. It must be remembered this isn’t a punishment, it’s simply teaching him self-control. As always its essential to supervise all interactions between your children and dog.
I got a five month old Boxador puppy (a rescue) back in April. I have had a few different breeds of dogs over the years, but Doc is one of the best I’ve ever had. He’s personable, friendly, playful, and protective, and gentle with the young children in my house. I had no idea his combination had a name until recently, but ‘Boxador’ sounds so much better than a “mix,” or “just a hound.”
I have a 12 year old brindle boxador and she is one of the smartest dogs I’ve ever had. While she is getting up there in age and has a little bit of a hip problem I couldn’t be happier. She is a wonderful guard dog and is gentle with the kids. We did have separation issues when she was a puppy so put your shoes where your dog can’t reach them. Other than that she has been very obedient and gets along well with our over active Miniature American Shepherd. These are great dogs if you’re considering getting one but make sure you socialize them at an early age
We had a Boxador we rescued at 8 weeks old for almost 10 years. He was the most wonderful family dog, smart, loved the children. He grew up with my 9 and 14 year old boys. We would get another one in a heartbeat and have slowly started to look for another puppy. He calmed down around 3-4 years old and was the perfect family dog. He use to jump we would turn our backs when we got home ignore him for a few and it broke the habit it in a week. Very loyal especially to the “pack” leader. They love to walk and play they need to exercise love playing catch and soccer. I wish everyone the best with your Boxador you have the best of the best dogs when it comes to two great breeds combined.
We have two 11.5 yr old Boxadors. They are such great dogs with lots of energy, especially for the first 4 years, we got 2 hoping they would keep each other entertained because we both work – and let me tell you that they play and play and play and play….they use to “Box” each other all the time. Our boy is a very dark brindle with almost no white markings and is 26″ tall weighing 78lbs and our girl is the red/brown with a darker face that started turning white at age 3 and is 24″ tall and weighs 82 lbs. We HAD to keep them exercised and entertained when they were young. Our girl dog would chew – ANYTHING. If you aren’t going to walk / exercise / socialize your dog DON’T get a Boxador. Wonderful family dogs for an active family. At 11.5 they have slowed down but still go camping with us and enjoy their walks. I love this blend of dog and highly recommend it as long as you are very active! Or expect your stuff to get destroyed. 🙂
My female Boxador is 4 years old. She was left at the pound. I rescued her when she was 1. I had cats the entire time I had her, but in the last 6 months they both died. Now she seems sad and depressed. Do these dogs require companionship? I want to do what is best for my Layla girl.
I can’t imagine my Echo being an “only child.” I suspect he would feel lonely and depressed unless he was with me every second. Maybe a new kitty buddy might help your baby?
I have a 6.5 year old, male Boxador, silky black with a white chin. He believes he’d the CUTEST DOG IN THE WORLD! He’s great with kids and other dogs of all sizes; just a great big heart that loves. He’s active and playful, but not quite as hyper as this article would suggest. He’s like a living stuffed animal and loves to be snuggled and loved on. His intellect and loyalty are fierce and I suspect he would have severe separation anxiety issues if it weren’t for the other two beasties we have. I’m definitely sold on this breed and it influenced my other adoption choices as well!
I was asked to take a puppy found on a road. I was apprehensive at first but I took in this sweet Buddy. He was flea and tick ridden & to this day hates to be “picked over”. The vet said he was a lab boxer mix. Long story short, he has turned out to be a very loyal and playful dog. He gets along with other dogs and cats but doesn’t trust men. He is getting better as I am socializing him. Couldn’t ask for a better companion as we walk/play for at least 2 hours a day.
We adopted Loki from one of the local shelters. He was billed as a Lab mix. He fits into the Boxador mold. We are very pleased with him. He is smart as a whip. Picks up social clues quickly, responded to housebreaking almost immediately. He is 6 months old. We are looking forward to a LOT of fun.
Our family just took in a 9 month old female boxador. Her first owner left her with an ex and he couldn’t be home all day so she started chewing out of separation anxiety. I can say with full confidence, she’s a wonderful pup. I agree, this breed needs A LOT of exercise. I have two toddler sons and while they nap, I take her outside for at least an hour of very active play plus in the evening. We are working on the separation anxiety but I’m home 99% of the time so that helps. This breed is made to love and please. I think I might have the sweetest pup ever, our family just adores her. Smart, can be great as hunting companions etc. Do your research, it’s a wonderful breed to consider.
Someone left 2 litters in a cart at a grocery store I work at and I brought one home. Shes about 18 weeks now and ive had her for about 6 weeks. Shes a sweetheart and has been surprisingly easy to train, very mellow (when she doesnt have the zoomies!), and loves to play fetch. She loves to go on walkies and sniff all the critter tracks (we live in alaska). Based on her appearance and descriptions of the mix, my best guess so far is boxador. Absolute darling of a dog. An aggressive chewer, but really only on her toys – and SUCH a cuddler! I dont know how anyone could abandon a cart full of this sweet face.
I have an 18mo boxador, he is black with brindle paws and a tuxedo chest. He is CRAZY 90% of the time but learns commands very fast. We haven’t mastered no jumping but everything else he learned very easily! He is so loyal to me that he learned to be off-leash by the time he was three months old. Worth noting-it took about a year to completely potty train him. He would do ‘attention accidents’ if we didn’t spend enough time playing with him. Crate training did not work. He is finally calming down a bit and cuddling again! He loves our cat.
GREAT BREED!!!! We just had to put our boxador down today.Hardest thing ever!!! She was 14 wud have been 15 in October. She was the best …from day one she was easy to train she never barked …was great with my young son .They were best friends growing up together!!! She couldn’t stand with her back legs anymore and had developed cancer in her eye yet she still tried to comfort us today on her last day 😪 She (Diamond) u will GREATLY MISSED)