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Boxer energy+ Poodle smarts= your ultimate adventure buddy. Meet the Boxerdoodle!
This Boxer-Poodle mix has become a favorite breed of dog lovers across the United States in the last couple of decades. If you’re searching for the perfect pet to welcome into your home, a Boxerdoodle might be for you!
A typical Boxerdoodle embodies several of its parents’ favorable traits, including unwavering loyalty and high intelligence. These lovable dogs are also often playful and love to go on long walks with their humans. With consistent training, these dogs can make wonderful additions to families with children, although they’ll be just as happy living with an active individual who takes them along on hikes.
Read on to learn more about this sweet-natured crossbreed!
Quick Boxerdoodle Facts
Name: Boxerdoodle (sometimes spelled “boxer-doodle”), Boxerpoo
Origin: Unknown, but likely started in the United States
Size: about 55-80 pounds and approximately 21-25 inches tall, but can be smaller if they have miniature Poodle ancestry
Lifespan: about 10-12 years
Appearance: usually wavy brown fur but can come in white, black, red, or a mix of colors
Temperament: playful and intelligent
Compatibility: usually suitable for families, including those with kids
Intelligence: very smart and eager to learn
Exercise & Energy: energetic, need frequent walks
Grooming Needs: regular trims required for Boxerdoodles who inherit the Poodle’s thick fur
Training: most are easily trainable, but their Boxer heritage can make them stubborn
Health: susceptible to bloat as well as colitis
Highlights: love to play, plenty of energy, loving, affectionate, loyal
What Makes Boxerdoodles Great
Energetic: Both their Boxer and Poodle sides are known for being on-the-go and having moderate-to-high activity levels, which is wonderful news for people who love outdoor adventures.
Loyal: This Poodle-Boxer mix loves hanging out with their owners, making them the perfect fit for someone who wants a constant companion throughout the years.
Hypoallergenic (sort-of): While no dog is technically hypoallergenic, their Poodle genes mean they often shed less than other breeds. Less shedding means less dander and fewer allergy symptoms!
Intelligent: If you love teaching your dog new tricks every week, the Boxerdoodle is for you! They’re quick-on-the-uptake and up for learning as much as they can.
Protective: They make excellent guard dogs because they serve to protect their families. You can rest assured your Boxerdoodle will alert you to any strange noises in the night!
Friendly: Families with other pets often find the Boxerdoodle fits right in with their own animals in a short amount of time.
What Do Boxerdoodles Look Like?
There aren’t many breeds who look as different from one another as the Poodle and the Boxer. A purebred Poodle typically has thick, woolly hair while a purebred Boxer has a short and smooth coat. While Poodles are beloved for their low-shedding coats, Boxers are moderate shedders.
Their coloring differs as widely as their coat types, too. Boxers are often brindled (sometimes known as “tiger-striped”) or fawn-colored, but Poodles are usually just about any color possible, including solid white, black, or even blue (technically a faded black color). Crossbreeding can result in a brindle Boxer-Poodle mix or other color combinations, including brown, white, gold, and many others.
How Big is a Boxerdoodle?
With any mixed breed, it’s impossible to know precisely which traits a dog will inherit. In other words, you don’t know if your Boxerdoodle will show more of its Boxer side or its Poodle side as it grows up. This can make predicting a Boxerdoodle’s size tricky, especially if they have miniature Poodle ancestry rather than Standard Poodle ancestry.
Know that most Boxerdoodles will weigh somewhere between 55 and 80 pounds and between 21 and 25 inches tall at the shoulders when fully grown.
What is a Boxerdoodle’s Coat Like?
Poodles technically have hair rather than fur, while Boxers have fur. The Boxerdoodle’s combination of Boxer-Poodle heritage usually results in wavy fur that can be short or long. Occasionally, a Boxerdoodle might inherit the smooth coat gene, which makes brushing them a breeze. That Poodle-derived coat, on the other hand, will take a little more work. One plus is that both parent breeds typically have single coats. Boxerdoodles almost always have single coats too, which makes grooming less intensive than it would if they had double coats.
What Are Boxerdoodles Like?
All Boxerdoodle puppies are cute and sweet, but what are adult Boxerdoodles like? Fortunately, they retain a lot of those same qualities! Keep in mind that no dog, not even a purebred, is completely predictable. Just because the parents of a dog are mild-mannered, that’s no guarantee that their offspring will be. However, with Boxerdoodles, it’s more likely than not that your pup will be gentle and make a fantastic companion for life.
What Kind of Personalities Do Boxerdoodles Have?
Boxerdoodles are often friendly and love being around humans. They’re usually even loving with other pets in the household! Be aware that some of them may show a stubborn streak if their Boxer side is more dominant. Conversely, if they inherit certain Poodle characteristics, they will be willing to learn and demonstrate their knowledge of tricks. These smarties will trick you out of a pocketful of treats in no time!
Do Boxerdoodles Make Good Pets for Kids?
Boxers are known for making lovely pets for children. Most are smart enough to know they should be gentler with young humans. Poodles can be equally good around kids, but that doesn’t mean that your Boxerdoodle should be left unattended around children. Fully-grown Boxerdoodles weigh significantly more than many little ones and can easily bowl them over when playing!
How Are Boxerdoodles with Other Animals?
Generally, Boxerdoodles get along well with other dogs and even cats. For the best chance of peace in the household among your pets, socialize your Boxerdoodle as soon as possible. Introduce them to other animals and humans when they’re still puppies if possible. This way, your Boxerdoodle can learn that strangers aren’t always a threat.
What Kind of Care Do Boxerdoodles Need?
A Boxerdoodle mix craves love and attention. You’ll need to treat them as a part of the family and keep them indoors with the rest of the human family. Since they’re usually on the larger side, Boxerdoodles can eat quite a bit of food throughout the day, so be ready to spend some money on significant food bills.
How Do You Groom a Boxerdoodle?
A Boxerdoodle’s grooming needs vary from dog to dog, depending on which type of coat they inherit. A Boxerdoodle can inherit the thick, woolly hair of the Poodle or the straight, smooth coat of the Boxer. Interestingly, some even have a unique blend of both!
Boxerdoodles with the Poodle-derived coat will shed very little but need regular trims every 4 to 6 weeks. They’ll also need to get brushed multiple times a week to keep the hair free from tangles. Dogs that have Boxer-derived coats will need less care. For these Boxerdoodles, a weekly brushing will usually be fine.
Are Boxerdoodles Easy to Train?
The Boxer-and-Poodle mix is known for being fairly simple to train if the owner is consistent. These pups are incredibly smart thanks to the intelligence inherited from both the Poodle and Boxer lines.
However, firm training is sometimes necessary because that sneaky Boxer side will try its best to outsmart you! Using training treats and other positive reinforcement tools like praise and attention can encourage your pup to respond appropriately to your commands.
If you find that training is getting to be too much for you, don’t hesitate to enlist professional help. Formal training can be well-worth the cost since a dog that responds to your wishes will be safer around the house and out in public.
How Much Space Does a Boxerdoodle Need?
Boxerdoodles are not meant for tiny apartments or similarly sized homes! You’ll find that a small dwelling isn’t sufficient for this breed since they need to get out their energy. Boxers and Poodles are both moderately (sometimes highly) energetic, and they’ll get bored without outlets for that liveliness.
We all know that dogs with bottled-up energy can quickly become destructive, turning couch cushions into chew toys. Regular walks and trips to the dog park can help them get the exercise they need, while puzzle toys keep their minds stimulated.
What Do Boxerdoodles Eat?
Since Boxerdoodles are fairly large, they need to eat food that’s specially designed for breeds their size in terms of kibble size and ingredients. Look for dog food that’s lower in calories and fat to help them maintain their ideal weight. Additionally, feeding your Boxerdoodle food that’s high in omega-3 fatty acids can help protect your dog’s joints. This is important because larger breeds, especially those that are overweight, are impacted more by arthritis than other breeds.
Are Boxerdoodles Healthy?
No dog breed is immune from health problems, and Boxerdoodles do sometimes have issues. While most Boxerdoodles will live healthy lives, pet owners should read up on the symptoms of certain conditions so they can seek medical care when necessary.
What Health Issues Do Boxerdoodles Have?
While it can be scary to think about your beloved pup getting sick, know that early intervention can often keep problems from getting worse. Moreover, some problems can be treated with medication or are resolved with surgery.
Spondylosis Deformans
Unfortunately, Boxers have a high risk of developing this disease, which means your Boxerdoodle is at risk, too. Spondylosis deformans is a disease that affects dog’s vertebrae. Bone spurs form at the vertebrae’s edges and can cause back pain, stiffness, and loss of muscle mass. Some spondylosis cases can be managed with pain medication, but others require surgery.
Bloat
While bloating may not sound like a serious problem at first, it is in fact a medical emergency that must be addressed immediately. Bloat happens when the stomach’s blood vessels get twisted from large amounts of stomach gas. The condition can lead to shock if not treated promptly with surgery and other life-saving measures. Larger breeds that weigh more than 99 pounds are most at risk, but Poodles and Boxers are both susceptible to bloat.
Colitis
If your Boxerdoodle has diarrhea, either chronic or seemingly random episodes, there’s a good chance they have colitis. Colitis refers to inflammation of the large intestine and can be caused by a dietary allergy, antibiotics, or a number of other problems. To diagnose colitis, the veterinarian may need to perform physical and fecal examinations. Blood work and X-rays may also be required. Treating colitis depends on what caused the issue in the first place. Your pup’s vet may suggest a special diet or medication.
Should Boxerdoodles Have Health Insurance?
Investing in dog insurance is a great idea for Boxerdoodle parents. As a loving Boxerdoodle owner, you want to ensure your furry friend receives the best possible care. While accidents and illnesses can happen unexpectedly, pet insurance can provide financial protection and peace of mind.
When comparing pet insurance plans, look for a plan that offers comprehensive coverage, flexible options to fit your budget and needs, swift reimbursements, and additional benefits like wellness programs or preventive care coverage.
For Boxerdoodles, a wellness program can be particularly valuable addition to your pet insurance plan, as it helps you budget for expenses like annual check-ups and vaccinations, dental cleanings, heartworm prevention, and grooming (a valuable benefit for Boxerdoodles with their various coat types).
Where Did Boxerdoodles Come From?
Boxerdoodles are a relatively new breed and most likely started in the United States. Interest in breeding more hypoallergenic dogs has increased in recent decades, and the Boxerdoodle was probably a result of these efforts.
It’s important to keep in mind that since there are so few generations of the Boxerdoodle around, researching the breed’s parent ancestry can give you better insights into your pup’s possible behavior and appearance. Boxers started out as a bull-baiting breed in Germany in the 1800s, but thankfully, they are now known as gentle, loving dogs!
Poodles also have Germanic roots, and you may be surprised they were once working dogs. They were bred as water retrievers, but as we all know, seamlessly transitioned into lap dogs and lazy companions in more recent generations!
How Do You Get a Boxerdoodle?
You’re not likely to find a Boxerdoodle in the local shelter or animal rescue since there aren’t many of them. It never hurts to look though, and you might be able to save one!
Most likely, however, you’ll need to contact a breeder to find a Boxerdoodle in your area. Always research a breeder before supporting them. Puppy mills have become a huge problem, and it’s far too easy to accidentally buy a dog from one of these unethical breeders. Check breeder reviews and explore their facility yourself to ensure the Boxerdoodles have a clean, hygienic living environment with plenty of space to run around and socialize with the other pups.
Boxerdoodle Frequently Asked Questions
Are Boxerdoodles aggressive?
No, Boxerdoodles aren’t normally aggressive. While you can’t know for sure what kind of behavior a dog will exhibit, the Boxer-Poodle mix is usually amiable and loves human attention.
Do Boxerdoodles shed?
Boxerdoodles do shed, but they’re not as prolific shedders as breeds like Siberian Huskies or Golden Retrievers. Brushing your Boxerdoodle regularly can keep loose fur around the house at a minimum.
Are Boxerdoodles stubborn?
They can be! They’re a little more prone to stubbornness than other dogs due to their Boxer heritage. Begin training your pup as early as possible to nip unwanted behaviors in the bud. Otherwise, you can bet your Boxerdoodle will do his or her best to rule the roost!
What is the lifespan of a Boxerdoodle?
Boxers usually live between 10 and 12 years while Poodles (especially smaller ones) can live a few years beyond that. To increase the chances of your Boxerdoodle living a long and healthy life, take them to the vet for their annual exams, keep them up to date on vaccinations, and feed them high-quality, nutritious dog food.
Do Boxerdoodles like cats?
In general, Boxerdoodles get along with cats. Socializing them with felines from a young age can help them view cats as friends rather than enemies.
How big do Boxerdoodles get?
Boxerdoodles can get quite large! On the higher end, they weigh around 80 pounds. If they have miniature Poodle ancestry, they can be significantly smaller.