Pit Bull Boxer Mix: The Ultimate Breed Guide To This Bouncy Boxer Mix

Pitbull Boxer Mix Feature
Pitbull Boxer Mix

The pit bull boxer Mix, also known as a bullboxer, is a mix of a pit bull like the American pit bull terrier and a boxer.

Pit bull breeds were used in blood sports and original boxers were known as bull biters.

However, what we actually get when we cross these intelligent and eager to please dogs, with early training and socialization, is a loyal, playful and energetic family companion.

Providing this bouncy mix is legal in your state, the pit bull boxer mix is a superb contender if you are looking for a large dog with an even larger personality.

Let’s take a look at him in a little more detail and see what it takes to care for him on a daily basis.

Pit Bull Boxer Mix Facts Table
Size17-25″ in height
Weight30–80lb dependent upon size of parents
Lifespan 10–14 years
Breed TypeMixes and more
PurposeCompanion
Suitable For Active families with large powerful breed experience
Color VariationsBlack, red, white, grey, brindle, fawn, blue, brown and tan
TemperamentIntelligent, loyal, family orientated, playful and energetic
Known Health issuesBoxer and pit bull mix and Bullboxer

Pit Bull Boxer Mix – Breed Overview

Pitbull Boxer Mix Dog
This dog is a mixed breed with pit bull and boxer parents.

The pit bull boxer mix is a loyal and energetic family companion. When trained and socialized correctly, they are the most loving comrade you could wish to meet.

Being a hybrid dog, you must remember that you could end up with more pit bull characteristics than Boxer or vice versa. You may notice that pit bull smile, or you may be bowled over by the boxer’s paw – where else did you think they got their name from?!

Cross-breeds aren’t registered with the any major Kennel Club, but, the boxer and pit bull mix has found its way into several registries including:

  • International Designer Canine Registry
  • American Canine Hybrid Club
  • Designer Breed Registry

It is not clear when the boxer pit bull mix first originated, however, interest in this bouncy mix started gaining momentum around 2009.

The Boxer was first registered with the American Kennel Club in 1904, but, their popularity didn’t peak until the 1950s. Pit bull terriers arrived in the US in the early 20th Century, so it is not surprising that these two impressive breeds were eventually mixed.

On that note, let’s look at the parent breeds in a little more detail.

American Pit Bull Terrier Information

American Pitbull Terrier Sleeping

A pit bull is actually just a class of dogs which includes the:

  • Staffordshire bull terrier
  • American bulldog
  • American Staffordshire terrier
  • American pit bull terrier

More often than not, in this pit bull boxer mix, either it is the brindle or red nose pit bull that is the parent.

The American pit bull terrier stands slightly taller than the other pit bulls, but, they all have a very similar temperament.

Pit bulls originated in Britain. For sport, those barbaric Brits would tie a bear or bull to a post and set a dog to attack. For the dog to succeed, they had to breed stronger, fiercer and more game dogs.

Dog fighting found its way over the water and to this day, pit bulls are still used in illegal dog fighting rings here in the US.

What people lose sight of, is the pit bull’s unwavering loyalty, eagerness to please and intelligence. Whatever you ask this dog to do, he will do – that is why they are so popular in the wrong hands.

In the right hands, a Pitty is the most happy-go-lucky dog, they excel in obedience and activities like agility and are perfect family dogs.

Boxer Information

Boxer Dog
The boxer dog (pictured above) is one half of the boxer pit bull mix.

Equally intelligent, the Boxer just has a little more energy and bounce.

Maybe that’s being polite… if you have never been knocked down by a boxer, you have never truly been owned by one!

Originating also as a fighting dog, they were used by the Germans to chase and hold down bear, bison and wild boar. Over the years, the Boxer size diminished which made it more suited to family life.

The Boxer name comes from how it spars – they use their front paws to defend or fight. Watch them play with other dogs – they will use those front paws.

Being in the American Kennel Club’s top 10 for popularity, it is possible to see why they have had such great success as working dogs as well as pets.

When we combine these impressive breeds, we end up with an intelligent, energetic and playful puppy – a great personality for an active family with experience of large breeds.

Pit Bull Boxer Mix Puppy

Pitbull Boxer Mix Puppy

Thanks to the boisterous boxer – these pit bull boxer mix puppies can lose focus quite easily. You need to be on your game when training this guy (but don’t let that put you off).

If you are looking for a puppy, you can expect to pay anywhere between $500 – $1000 USD and this will vary depending on the breeder.

Due to the size similarities across the Boxer and the pit bull, it doesn’t really matter which breed is the sire or dam, but you can get a good idea of how big your puppy will be by looking at the parents:

  • A boxer pit bull mix can range in size from 30-80 pounds
  • A boxer and pit bull mix puppy that weighs between 20-25 pounds at 3 months old will likely grow to between 50 and 70 pounds at around 1 year old
  • Your pit bull boxer mix puppy will be fully grown between 12-18 months old.

Their size will also depend on which pit bull type the parent is, if it’s not an American pit bull terrier (APT). Remember we mentioned the APT is the largest of the Pitty types.

Pit Bull Boxer Mix Temperament

When sourced from a reputable breeder, and with early training and socialization, you really do get the best of both worlds with this bouncy boxer pit bull mix.

The pit bull boxer mix is dependable, bright and wholeheartedly family orientated.

He is super energetic, so is best suited to active families who spend a lot of time outdoors. Not only this, but he can get bored quite easily, so mental stimulation is a must too. For that reason, they aren’t suitable for families who are going to leave them for periods of time on their own.

They can suffer with separation anxiety which results in distress and destruction. If you do need to leave them for longer than three hours, to keep them calm and occupied, source a local doggy walker.

When socialized from an early age, the boxer pit bull mix makes friends with everyone: other dogs, people, even other pets in the home. They are a devoted friend to kids of all ages. Just be mindful with those smaller bodies – their size and energy mean its relatively easy to knock people over.

Like other pit bull guarding mixes, this breed can be protective, so they are often alert and watchful – they will also bark to let you know something is amiss. Other than that, you’ll barely hear a peep from them – that and their house-shattering snoring!

Particularly flat faced boxers are renowned snorers, so if your hybrid has inherited a shorter snout, don’t be alarmed.

Owning a Boxer and Pit Bull Mix

Boxer and American Pitbull Terrier Dogs

Best suited to active families, who are super energetic, this mix needs upwards of 60 minutes exercise every day.

To get that energy, they eat a lot of food too. Thankfully, their short coat means less grooming time, which frees up your time to train that sometimes-stubborn puppy.

Food and Diet Requirements

Daily Food Consumption
Calories 1,000
Cups of Kibble Two Bowls of Kibble Required per Day

As the Boxer and Pitbull mix is a hybrid, you can never be entirely sure how big your puppy will get.

Your veterinarian will be able to give you the best prediction as puppies are fed based on their target adult weight, so this information is crucial.

The important thing is to monitor his weight as he grows, this will let you know if you are feeding too much or too little.

He should have a waistline and from a bird’s eye view, he should have an hour glass figure. You should be able to feel his ribs, but not see them. If you see his ribs, you need to up his daily intake.

Being high energy, ensure his food meets his daily nutritional requirements. At least 18% of his adult diet should be protein and 5% should be fat (this is where he gets his energy from).

Sometimes stubborn, you may notice you are feeding a lot of treats during training. Make sure you consider how these fit into his daily allowance, consider using low calorie treats as an alternative (if he’s putting on weight) or just hand-feeding and stop bowl-feeding.

Exercising a Boxer Mix

Daily Exercise Requirements
Minutes 60 – 120 minutes
Activity Level This is a high activity dog breed

The pit bull boxer mix is super-energetic, and pretty high on the exercise requirements, for that reason, they thrive in busy and active homes.

Ideally, they should be getting between 60-120 minutes of exercise every day.

Whilst out exercising your dog, it’s probably best to keep them on leash, firstly, there are restrictions relating to pit bulls in many states requiring them to be kept on leash, and secondly, their love of everyone means they will run to everyone – not everyone wants a bouncy ball of muscle careering towards them.

They are happy in the dog park, walking around the city or hiking in the mountains. You would struggle to find a more adaptable dog.

Their intelligence and eagerness to please lends them to activities like agility and flyball – but again, check restrictions. Some classes or clubs don’t allow pit bulls to participate.

How to Train a Pit Bull Mix

Training a Pitbull Mix Dog

As we’ve mentioned, a pit bull boxer mix puppy can be stubborn, so they are best suited to experienced handlers who have a firm grip on training and socialization. Here are some puppy training tips to help.

Your dog will respond best to positive reinforcement and reward-based training.

Avoid the use of punishment. Simply put, it just doesn’t work. It is more likely to create problematic behaviors or exacerbate existing ones.

When he’s behaving how you would like him to, praise and reward him – encourage this positive behavior.

Dogs learn through operant conditioning – that is, they learn based on the response to their behavior.

They are more likely to repeat a behavior with a positive consequence and less likely to repeat a behavior with a negative consequence (i.e. ignoring).

Rather than punish a dog, you should re-direct their behavior. He’s picked up your slipper and ran into the garden with it – find something he wants more, a toy for example and swap.

Known Health Problems

Despite the understanding that cross-breeds are healthier than pure-breeds, this is not necessarily the case. A crossbreed can still inherit health issues from their parents. We know the pit bull boxer Mix is at risk of the following:

  • Hip dysplasia – abnormal development in the hip joint causing pain and lameness.
  • Allergies – from food to pollen allergies, this can result in scratching and subsequent skin infections.
  • Thyroid issues – common in Boxers, the thyroid can over-produce or underproduce hormones.
  • Aortic stenosis – a congenital heart defect found in large breeds.
  • Cardiomyopathy – an enlarged heart with poor function.
  • Degenerative myelopathy – a progressive disease of the spinal cord.

Breed Appearance: Coat, Color and Grooming

Boxer and Pitbull Mix Face

As both parents have short, smooth coats, you can be relatively sure that this is what your pit bull boxer mix will end up with.

The bonus here, is that a smooth coat falls low on grooming maintenance. Brushing 2-3 times a week is ample to keep his coat in tip top condition. 3-4 baths a year will retain the natural oils in his coat but keep him smelling sweet.

Pit bull Boxer Mixes come in a range of colors including; black, red, white, grey, brindle, blue, fawn, brown and tan. They are more commonly fawn or brindle just like the brindle pit bull.

They tend to have a longer snout that their Boxer parent, thanks to the elongated muzzle of the pit bull. For that reason, they don’t tend to suffer with the typical brachycephalic health issues.

Their size ranges drastically, they have been as small as 17″ in height or as tall as 25″ and weighing anywhere between 30-80 pounds – as we’ve mentioned, their parents will be the best predictor of size and appearance.

Summary of Breed

The pit bull Boxer Mix is a smart and dependable companion.

High in energy, they are best suited to active homes.

When trained and socialized correctly, they will adapt to any family dynamic; being brilliant with kids of all ages. Their boisterous nature can knock small bodies over, so be mindful of this and spend some time on some specific training to nip it in the bud.

Check the legal status in your area and whether pit bulls are banned or restricted. If you are lucky enough to fall outside of any breed specific legislation, the boxer pit bull mix is a playful, bouncy, and loyal companion.

In summary, a great family addition who is wholeheartedly devoted. Let us know your comments below!

Other American Pit Bull Terrier and Boxer Mixes

If you’re interested in learning about other American pit bull terrier mixes or boxer mixes, check out the hybrid dog breeds below.

American Pit Bull Terrier Mixes

Boxer Mixes

About John Woods 300 Articles
John Woods is the founder of All Things Dogs, member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, graduate in Animal Behavior & Welfare and recognized author by the Dog Writers Association of America.

6 Comments

  1. We have a 3 yr old female boxer/pit mix. She’s the very best companion I’ve ever had!! It didn’t take her long to train us either! Lol I heard her telling her friends that we are very smart & trained easily! Lolol. Her name is Samantha; she’s a gorgeous fawn girl.❤🐾❤🐾❤🐾

  2. We have a 6 year old boxer/pit mix. His name is Han Solo, because the kids say he has a brown vest/jacket and a white shirt on Like Han Solo from Star Wars. We have 2 sons one is 15 and the other 4. Solo is very protective and a bit pet aggressive. We wont let other dogs come near. We have a routine where we play catch 2 times a day and he will bring us his ball and give a yap when he is ready. We will get another Boxer/Pit mix because they have been the best for our family.

  3. I have a bullboxer mix. Her name is Sadie. We’ve had her for several years. When she was younger, she would chew up things when we were gone. We got her toys, but she had no interest in them. Now, she’s fat and lazy. I’m not complaining or anything. We have enough hyperness with our brindle pitbull and our (maybe)Rottweiler mix, but I’m still a little concerned about it!

  4. I had a stafy pitmix that died 13 years. I adopted a boxer pitmix (8 yrs old). He has white blue eyes, a little brown mark over eye. Healthy except skin issues.

  5. We just adopted a 6 month pitbull/boxer mix from our local shelter. His name is Oliver and he’s the biggest baby and loves to snuggle on the couch, sit on our laps throughout the day or and run and play. He loves to meet new people and other animals and is very energetic. He’s a little hard to train though.

  6. We have a 5 year old blue nose rescue (she was a bait dog) and 2 days ago we “adopted” a 1 ½ year old boxer pit. He was found on a very busy street chasing empty food bags/containers. My pit (Chloe) was very anxious and becoming depressed (excessively so since I tore a ligament and pandemic hit)and we were so lucky that her new little brother joined us.She is 64# and he’s about 45#. They play all day (we have a doggie door and a huge back yard) and he takes his cues from her. He also does this hop/jump thing over her when he’s worn her out, which is hysterical and she likes to grab his harness on his chest and pull him. He’s curious about our cats but seems to sense that the 3# kitty is the alpha, lol. We haven’t named him yet, but he will have a meaningful name. Eventually. He is the sweetest dog (so is our other one).Neither gets food aggressive and my pit loves my grandkids, 10months to 8 years old(we can ALL can take food out of her mouth) , and I’m sure Nameless will love any baby, kid,too. He does like to take my shoes, 1 blanket, and the remote, though he doesn’t chew any of it. I’m so excited these 2 have each other (in addition to making our family bigger). They have been incredible companions, especially as I have lost 3 people within next week. They have been wonderful companions.

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