The Boxer Lab mix is also known as the Boxador. This is a hybrid designer dog with one Labrador parent and one Boxer parent. Boxadors are lively, clever pups are a great fit for active families. The Boxer Lab mix has a varied history, with fighting and sporting dogs in each lineage. Your Boxador puppy will thrive with human companions who are available to spend lots of time with them, and are keen on positive dog training.
Contents
- Boxer Lab mix characteristics and appearance
- Grooming and coat care
- Boxadors temperament traits
- Boxer Lab mix puppies
The Boxer Lab mix is playful, energetic, loyal and loving. Boxador puppies are known for being intelligent and enthusiastic dogs. But their spirited temperament is not right for every family setup.
Where Do Boxer Lab Mix Dogs Come From?
The boxer lab mix, also known as the Boxador, is a hybrid of the Boxer and the Labrador Retriever breeds. The Boxador is an extremely popular cross-breed, which is perhaps not surprising given that its parents are both in the list of America’s top ten breeds.
Compared to its parent breeds, the Boxador mix itself is very new. But, its parents have long histories living and working alongside humans.
Labs originated as working dogs, retrieving game for fishermen in Newfoundland, Canada. Nowadays, they’re seen as working dogs in a huge variety of roles, and as a beloved family pet. When they were first bred in 19th century Germany, Boxers were used as fighting dogs. Over the years, they’ve filled just as many working roles as the Lab, and are very popular as a companion.
Boxer Lab Mix Characteristics
With cross breeds it is often hard to predict which parent a puppy will resemble. But with Boxers and Labradors in the mix, it’s a safe bet that your Boxer and Lab mix puppies won’t be small. Boxers can weigh up to 80lbs and reach 25 inches tall. Labradors are similarly large. Boxador full grown tend to be between 23 and 25 inches tall and weigh up to 80lbs. Although females are smaller than males.
Regardless of the mix of your genes your pup ends up with, your Boxer Lab Mix dog is likely to be a medium to large dog, active, loyal, easy to train and very fond of challenges – of both the physical and mental kind!
Boxer Lab Mix Coat and Colors
Labrador coats come in black, chocolate or yellow. Boxers are fawn or brindle. Often with white patches. Their offspring can be any mixture of these! The Boxador is usually brindle, and these dogs often have white markings. If you want a black Lab Boxer mix, your puppy will likely still have some white on them. Your best bet is to mix a black Lab with a dark Boxer. But, even a black Lab Boxer mix can have unpredictable coloring, despite the dominant genes for black fur.
Do Boxer Lab Mixes Shed?
When it comes to coat, the Boxer Lab mix usually takes after its Boxer parent. These pups typically have short, smooth hair that sheds very little and is easy to care for. However if your Boxador dog has more Labrador in its genes you might have to deal with some shedding. Thankfully this is usually seasonal and can be kept in check with regular grooming.
Are Boxadors Hypoallergenic?
The Boxer Lab mix might have a short coat, but it is likely to be a high shedder at least part of the time. They produce allergens in their dander and saliva, and are not suitable for dog allergy suffering owners.
Boxador Temperament
The Boxer Lab mix will fall somewhere between its parents. But, luckily, the Labrador and Boxer breeds have quite similar temperaments. Both Boxers and Labradors are very loving and loyal. So, Boxadors are extremely affectionate and will often behave as if they’re lap dogs. They think nothing of climbing on their people for a cuddle, despite their large size!
Both Boxers and Labradors are usually great with older children. They are considered gentle giants and will eagerly run after little ones. Although they have been known to accidentally bowl over smaller family members in their excitement. It’s therefore important to supervise small children around them at all times.
Labradors also love playing with canine companions, but Boxers are less reliable in this area. Poorly socialized Boxers can be prone to aggression towards strangers and other dogs. Boxers are instinctive guardians and proud to play the role of family protector. But you can reduce this through thorough socialization during the puppy stages and by meeting the Boxer parent and ensuring that they seem happy and confident around strangers.
Boxer Lab Mix Socialization
It’s important that every dog breed is socialized well as a puppy to minimise the risk of behavioral problems and aggression. Even the most friendly breed, like the Labrador, will benefit.
To make sure your Boxador mingles well with other dogs, it’s important to socialize them from a young age to other dogs too. Finding them puppy friends to play with will encourage them to be calm and docile with other dogs when fully grown. Attending puppy classes is a great way to do this. But, make sure you also socialize them to unfamiliar people, children, cats, other animals, and more. This will ensure your Boxador dog is as friendly outside the home as he is inside.
Training and Exercising your Boxer Lab Mix
Given its parentage, your Boxer Lab dog will be happiest with active humans. They require a lot of exercise and enjoy running around with the family or playing a game of fetch. If they don’t get enough exercise every day, Boxadors can become depressed, bored, and stressed. This can result in unwanted behaviors like barking, digging, or chewing. But, be wary of a shorter snout in the Boxador. Boxers suffer from a conformity issue called brachycephaly, which can cause trouble breathing and overheating when exercising.
Both Boxers and Labradors are eager to please, so training shouldn’t be too difficult. Use positive reward techniques for best results. Keep training sessions short, consistent, and engaging to keep your Boxador’s attention. You could even take your mix to a puppy training class, or attend an online dog training class.
Boxador Health and Care
Genetic diversity is improved in a cross breed compared with the parent breeds and the coefficient of inbreeding (COI) is much lower. Put simply, the COI of any mating describes how closely related the parent dogs are. Higher COIs are associated with an increase in health problems.
Many dog diseases are recessive which means that they won’t affect your dog unless he gets two faulty copies of the gene, one from each parent. The risk of this happening is lower if the puppies parents are not closely related. There are however, some health issues that are not recessive and can be passed on from just one parent. And there are common ancestors in some of our dog breeds that mean some diseases are present in both breeds.
For that reason it is still possible that a cross bred dog could inherit genetic health problems. So it’s important to be informed about health conditions in the parent breeds and especially about common ailments affecting both Boxers and Labs.
Labrador Health
Labradors are not without their issues. This breed can suffer from hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. This is a painful condition where the joint doesn’t form properly. It can cause lameness and severe arthritic pain. Another issue to be aware of in Labs is eye disease. Retinal dysplasia was first noted in the breed in 1959. Progressive Retinal Atrophy is a degenerative eye disease that is common in Labs.
Only buy your puppy from a breeder who health tests the parents for all the potential problems their respective breeds could suffer from. And remember, your puppy’s care is important to avoid issues like obesity.
Boxer Health
A 2017 study found that Boxers are one of the most likely breeds to get cancer. According to Petplan, mast cell tumors are the 5th most common illness in Boxers. This breed is unfortunately also associated with heart disease. Aortic Stenosis is the most common major problem in the breed. Fortunately there is a screening programme for this condition and if you are buying your Boxador pup, it’s very important that your puppy’s Boxer parent has been tested
Boxer Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) can cause heart failure and/or sudden death in dogs. The causes are not known but it is genetic and passed along certain bloodlines. ARVC affects males more than females and is most common in dogs older than 10. Symptoms include coughing, difficulty breathing and weight loss.
Boxers can also suffer from Canine Degenerative Myelopathy. This is a neurodegenerative disease that can cause paralysis.
Brachycephaly
One problem that is on the rise in Boxers is brachycephaly or ‘shortened skull’. This is due to breeders trying to exaggerate the breed’s characteristic facial features. Unfortunately more is not necessarily better and brachycephaly causes breathing difficulties and overheating
It may be that being the Boxador rather than a purebred Boxer offers some protection against these diseases. It certainly reduces the skull shortening we see in brachycephalic breeds. This is a bit of a two edged coin because while the Boxer physique may benefit from a longer muzzle, the Labrador physique is unlikely to be improved with a shorter one.
Boxer Lab Mix Health
There’s always a risk that your Boxador puppy will inherit these problems, but that risk is massively reduced if your breeder health tests their dogs. Reputable breeders will only breed from dogs that have been tested and cleared of these serious hereditary health problems. To give your pup a long and healthy life, make sure he gets plenty of exercise, a balanced diet and regular vet check-ups.
Boxador Life Expectancy
Labrador Retrievers have a lifespan of 11-12 years. And, on average, Boxers live around 9-10 years So in theory you can expect Boxer Labrador mix puppies to reach anywhere between 9 and 12 years old.
In practice studies tend to find that crossbred dogs in general, live longer on average than most purebred dogs. But we currently have no evidence that this is the case for the Boxador in particular.
Do Boxadors Make Good Family Pets?
Only you can decide if the Boxer Lab mix is the right fit for your home. These are large dogs with big hearts that will give as much as they take. Boxadors love being part of a family. They are great with children and enthusiastic playmates for families with school age children and up. But this cross breed needs lots of exercise. So, if you’re not prepared to be active then perhaps it isn’t for you.
It’s also a large breed that doesn’t do well in confined spaces. They are fiercely attached to their people and dislike being left for long periods of time. Boxadors who don’t get enough exercise or attention can display destructive behavior such as chewing or scratching.
This is a dog that suits a family with an active lifestyle and lots of love to give. As long as they’re well socialized, they have a very happy and content disposition and will be the perfect partner in crime and cuddle buddy.
Boxer Lab Mix Rescue
Adopting a shelter dog always comes with risk. Without documentation about the dog’s parentage and health, it’s hard to know what kind of pup you’re getting. But Boxadors in shelters need homes and rescuing puppies or older dogs can be very rewarding.
If you’re looking for a rescue Boxer Lab mix, inquire with your local humane shelter, or get in touch with the Humane Society of the United States. Labrador and Boxer breed rescues also sometimes have crossbreeds available. Dogs from adoption centers are usually much cheaper than puppies. But, remember you may need to spend lots of time helping them work through behavioral issues from past experiences.
Finding Your Boxador Puppy
Never buy a dog from a puppy mill or pet store. Or from the back of a vehicle. Always visit the puppy in his own home in the presence of his mother, who should be relaxed, healthy and friendly. Sadly with any very fashionable breed, or breed mix, there are many out there who are just looking to make a quick buck.
(paid link)As with all puppies, Boxadors shouldn’t be taken to their new home until they are at least eight weeks old A knowledgeable breeder will be able to give you some idea of the puppy’s personality, appearance and size once fully grown.
Socialize your Boxador very thoroughly, exposing him to all kinds of fun experiences and making sure that he meets many different types of people, places, machinery etc. Given Boxadors intelligent nature and working history, get started on training your dog right away.
Boxador Breeders
It can be challenging to find a responsible breeder of cross breeds as there is currently quite a stigma against mixed breeding in the dog world.
A good breeder will have documentation on the puppy’s parentage and health checks. You must ask to see those certificates – they are very important. The parent dogs must have been screened for any genetic diseases and the breeder should be very forthcoming with any questions. There should also be a ‘waiting period’ after you get your puppy for you to take it to your own vet to confirm that it’s in good health.
The Labrador Site Founder
Pippa Mattinson is the best selling author of The Happy Puppy Handbook, the Labrador Handbook, Choosing The Perfect Puppy, and Total Recall.
She is also the founder of the Gundog Trust and the Dogsnet Online Training Program
Pippa's online training courses were launched in 2019 and you can find the latest course dates on the Dogsnet website
We just got a blacklab/boxer aka boxador. He’s 9months old. Handsome boy, very loyal, very very smart, I have no regrets he’s a rehome. In short time he has learned to trust us and knows he safe and will be loved. loves car rides and long walks. He has stole my heart for sure
I have a boxador he is a year old , I got him for my 9 year old grandson he lost his dad when he was 5 years old , his dogs name is trucker he is the best
My baby name is abby she is so smarty loveable n love everyone she is so kind n good with everyone.
I have a.boxador. I’ve had him for 7 years now. His name Walter and is the most amazing dog I’ve ever had or even ever heard of. I have only had to tell Walter anything once and he does what he is told. Sometimes I really don’t understand how w he is so good or smart. When I just read about the Boxador it was correct. He is the most loyal dog ever and loves me almost too much. If I go to the store you can guarantee he will be in the window looking g out until Iget back. It doesn’t matter if there is someone there with him HD is still going g to be at the window waiting for me. If anyone is considering one of these get it cause you will be very happy from day one. He never has done anything g wrong. He forgot want anything except your love and being acknowledged as good.
Walter’s mother was a brown boxer and father a black lab. He is black with white on his chest. I love this dog so much Idont like leaving him at all. Again if your thinking about a boxador stop just get him tomorrow and you will be a happier person.
I lost my boxer/labrador mix 6 weeks ago. He was my best friend and I will miss him everyday for the rest of my life. My life will never be the same. He was 10 1/2, black with a white chest. Best dog I ever had. Just typing this about him gives me a pain in my stomach. I have never cried so much in my life and still do every day. I often said that I hoped that I would die before Doc did but it didn’t work that way. My kids gave him to me for Father’s Day and at that time I had no idea how that little pup would change may life for the better. I am crying as i type this. I knew it was going to be hard but I had no idea. I am in the process off finding another, not to replace Doc but to help me deal with the endless pain of losing him. My kids always said that I had an un-natural relationship with Doc, I believe them now. I don’t expect the pain to ever go away. It is hard to explain.
I adopted a Boxodor about 5 years ago from the shelter, her name is Mandy, she was about 5 months old. She has been picked up as a stray and was in pretty bad shape, very thin, only 18 pounds and a lot of hair loss. They had her listed as a Labrador but she looked more like a Pitbull which I thought she was a mix. DNA confirmed that she is mostly Lab and Boxer. She is now 48 pounds and 100% Mamas girl. She was so scared at first and insecure, but now so sweet and very loyal and protective. Well live in the country where she has plenty of room to run and she can REALLY RUN fast. She has a little Min Pin sister named Ruby who also likes to run. Besides running they both are most content napping in my lap. Most people who don’t know Mandy are scared of her because she does bark and has a very deep loud voice and because of her heavy wide jaws they think she is Pitbull. I love Pitbulls too so it doesn’t really matter. I love her so much, one of my best decisions was getting her out of that shelter.
I recently adopted a rescue Boxador named Maximum. So far, he’s a menace. He’s a big goofball and I love him to pieces but every single shoe is chewed on, he has a huge nipping problem and dealing with a severe case of separation anxiety. This article really helped me have some hope that with diligence he’ll be okay. He seems to love people and other dogs but is a huge attention barker. I’m going to try exercising him even more (although I have to wait for his doggy wheelchair to come in as he has a growth deformity in his hind legs and spine). He’s only a year old so there’s still time and still hope. I’ve also just started my professional dog training journey so it’ll be nice to see how he grows alongside of me. I just really hope that the problems we have now don’t turn into full blown aggression or any actual biting. Boxadors seem like amazing dogs and I hope with more exercise and patience, maximum will be too.
I have a lab/boxer mix at first she was very gentle when we got her, then she got aggressive the day I started socializing after her healing process from getting fixed, I have taken her to the park around people and walked her let her run in a fenced area, she won’t let people get close though her fur rises and she barks when mail or anybody comes to the house. I’m trying everything and when she is in that state she doesn’t want to listen,. Any ideas?
We were blessed to have a boxador. we didnt know there was such a breed, just that it was a boxer/lab mix.
It was the best dog I ever had, so lovable She is so missed by our whole family
If anyone knows where We could find another boxador , please contact us,
We just adopted a boxador and her name is Sadie Mae and she is the sweetest lovable most calm mannered dog we have ever had, she is wonderful with kids of all ages and her favorite thing to do is snuggle. We would highly recommend her breed for any family
I put in a picture of my dog, Louis (he’s two), and Google seems to think he is a boxador. He’s a rescue so we’re not sure exactly what he is. After reading about their temperament it describes him perfectly, the appearance on the other hand, though its quite accurate except for one thing- he isn’t 23-25 inches tall. The vet said he has dwarfism, so aside from the height the description of boxadors appearance is spot on almost. After reading this, I’m now certain he is a boxador. I love him to bits! He is definitely a great dog and very smart and protective. He has a scary sounding bark but he wouldn’t hurt a fly haha. He gets along well with our other dogs, a beagle and a miniature pinscher too!
ok, so here we go… upfront I will be honest, I’m tearing up. What I mean by this is that our family had to put Max down 2 weeks ago but he made it past his 10th birthday-July 3rd. Approximately 11 years ago we had to put our Black Lab “Molly” down, she was 12 and just couldn’t do it anymore so it was time. We waited about 1 year and it was about that time when my wife came home with an ad she got at the store showing boxador’s for free! We went and looked and played with them all for about an hour and sure enough, we left with Anni (short for Anniversary) and Max and we celebrated the new editions to our home with the kids and our two cats. Well in the 2nd year we acquired a pug, my daughter had gotten but she was moving to FL and we took him in and was an excellent addition to the pack. He and Anni were best buds the whole time she was with us. Anni past away just 2 months before Max did and was so devastated losing the matriarch of the pack, Anni was the best protector and boss to the other animals in the family. Just such a super smart boxador and Max I never knew a dog would be so attentive to my every movement, Max was my best friend we did everything together and I am just so heartbroken to have lost him so soon. Max had the classic cancer and heart issues that Boxers can endure and he stayed true to me up until he just said I’m done and if he could have talked he would have said it but he showed us instead and it was over he was done. We didn’t make him suffer and he had the best treatments and best homemade dog food (made from the heart and he loved it!) they all did! Now to why I am here… we are in the country and now that we only have the pug (Burkley) there are no pre warnings of others in the area and we just love the boxador breed but I told the wife I just can’t think about another dog right now I’m just not ready to do all the training and everything it’s going to take to have a possible Max or Anni in our lives right now. The wife wants another big dog it makes her feel comfortable knowing they can hear and see intruders etc. and I totally get that but it’s only been 2+ weeks since Max has passed away and I’m just worried I wouldn’t be diligent as I was with Max and Anni. Besides the Boxador mix being one of my most favorite breeds they can come at a huge cost if you don’t watch the jumping and running they will most def be doing it could get very expensive down the road. Max was a huge jumper and loved to run …hard and eventually he had to stop, his hips and joints were worn out. But it didn’t stop him from playing, just not as hard I guess you’d say.
Anyways, I think this is one of the best breeds out there, and they can read your darn minds I swear! But I would do it all over again if I got the chance so we’ll see how this time goes and see if we can find a good breeder out there. But I’m not jumping into anything right this moment I need time to grieve my Max and then we’ll see.
So sorry for your loss, it sounds like Max was really special.
I’m sorry for y’alls’ loss….I lost my Trudi-Lou to Lymphoma, 5months ago….best dog I’ve ever had. ..3/4Boxer 1/4Lab
I would love to find another mix like her…my best friend.
I have a labrador I believe she is so loving my cousin gave her to us and we dont know her birthday ,but I did take her to vet and get shots so thinking she is a little over a year, at least we have had her for a 13months. Sassy likes to jump on people how do I stop her from that it’s very hard. She dont jump on me as much anymore but everyone else and some people not dog friendly.
We have a boxer/lab which we love very much. My problem is she has tore both acl tendons one in each leg. This is going to run us about 5 grand a leg. If we fix it what are the chances of them tearing again.
We have an almost 12 year old Boxador, her name is Sensei. Her right rear leg required surgery for her cruciate ligament. Dr. Mayfield in Crystal River, FL inserted a hinged metal plate with pins and screws. I can see them on the X-ray printout. Sensei and her biological sister have had long and actively happy lived. Although Sensei has a life RX for Rimydil, she doesn’t require it daily. Their have been no further issues and her “bionic” leg works fine. She was a rescue pet, $80. Another 2K for the surgery, money extremely well spent. She ran evenly with the other dogs and was very active. I love this breed of dog and will continue to seek another and hope you find the same joy with yours after the operations. Best wishes.
I never knew there was a “Boxador” until I started to see more and more of these dogs that resemble my rescue pup Buster. I was told my Buster was a Rottweiler-Lab mix, but she didn’t know, it’s what she was told. I see no Rottweiler in him at all and he is the spitting image of many of these black Boxadors with white markings on his chest, splashes across his paws and chin. I also think his chest is much more chiseled and legs too long to belong to the Rottweiler family. My puppy and his whole litter had already had their tails docked, I don’t really know why since I thought they looked more like their Lab parent. I must say although I would never have a puppy’s tail docked, my Buster is quite handsome and a beautiful dog! Everything I read about the Boxador fits him perfectly. The only thing I would like to add is that he is a free feeder, so maybe if a pup parent could encourage this kind of feeding their baby would get the small frequent meals without the gobbling and bloat. My boy has always eaten this way and he is 4 years old now and still just as lean and energetic as ever.
Hi, I just adopted my male Boxador at a pound and he is awesome. He is going on 4mo and I have had him for about
1 1/2 mo. Old and I named him Bruno, this is all without knowing he was a Boxador. Though it’s only been a short time he has learned a whole lot since. He is so eager to please me. He looks forward to his treats when I give him a command. I lost my short haired pointer last year and I was devistated. One day I was near the pound and a little voice said go check out the pound. So I did, as soon as I walked in there he was waiting for me. And sure enough I feel like he has my Nicos spirit. I’m completely in love.
We got our Boxador, Molly, in 2004 when she was six months old. At that time, we were her third home. She is now getting close to 15 years old and nearing the end of her life. I’m tearing up right now writing about it.
She has been, by far, the best dog I’ve ever had. She acted like a puppy until she was about ten years old, and she didn’t even really start to slow down until about a year ago. She has always been very headstrong and stubborn and aggressive with animals that didn’t belong like groundhogs or raccoons but gentle as could be with our cats or ducks or any other animal we had around. Our daughter was born when Molly was eleven years old, and even though Molly was starting to get a little cranky at that age she still tolerated the ear pulling and climbing very well. Our daughter is four now and very attached to Molly. I don’t know how I’m going to explain to her that in the near future Molly probably won’t be coming home anymore.
Everything in this article is true. I can’t imagine a better type of dog.
I have a pound puppy named Molly that I got when she was 4 mos old . She was labeled as retriever mix brother is brindle , I’m thinking mixed with boxer.She is tall ,thin with short hair that doesn’t shed much. She loves meeting new people and new dogs . I hope she is going to be as good a dog as your Molly. she also has eyes that look like she has smokey eye shadow , so instant love. i’m sorry she is getting to end stages of life , I hope she goes easily, but heart breaking I know.
Bot is this information right on the money! We got our little lady ‘Boxador’ about three months ago from a rescue. We picked her out online at 4 weeks and picked her up at 8 weeks, right before Thanksgiving. She is BEAUTIFUL dog, leaning a little more toward the lab side. The prettiest brown eyes.. and that face! It was instant love. She made herself at home as soon as we got home! We have several acres for her to run around and play with her sister… (10 year old longhair mini dachshund). Though her sister is set in her ways and doesn’t always want to play! Which makes for some tense standoffs, lol. Talk about easy to train, our new addition to the family has been potty trained for the last 6 weeks! She’s SMART. And talk about playful! Can you say.. “she likes to bite!” lol. Oh it’s all in good fun and she is getting better now that some of her new teeth are starting to come in, but dang.. play time consists of biting, biting, nibbling, biting and biting some more!! Although she’s all but stopped biting our pant legs and shoelaces! And talk about loving! She’s a big baby! Lap dog anyone? She’s the SWEETEST dog we’ve ever had, she is a little-big love bug who who gets so excited to see us in the morning! She’ll start wining and barking ( just a little) at the bottom of the stairs to get us to come down when she hears us getting out of bed! We couldn’t be happier, she is a GREAT addition to our family!