One is tall and lean. The other is bulky and muscular. Just what can you get if you decide to cross breed the Rottweiler and the Boxer together? A Rottweiler Boxer Mix that you can be proud of.
Read on and you can learn more about what they call the Boxweiler. We’ll examine its appearance, look at a bit of the history of its parent breeds, and learn about its personality and how to take good care of it should you decide to get a puppy.
Are you ready? Let’s get going then.
Table of Contents
Rottweiler Boxer Mix Key Characteristics
- Adaptability: 60%
- Affection Level: 80%
- Apartment Friendly: 40%
- Barking Tendencies: 60%
- Cat Friendly: 40%
- Child Friendly: 80%
- Dog Friendly: 60%
- Exercise Need: 100%
- Grooming Needs: 80%
- Health Issues: 20%
- Intelligence: 80%
- Playfulness: 100%
Rottweiler and Boxer Mix Breed Highlights
- Both the Boxer and the Rottweiler are of German origin and descend from the larger Mastiff sub-species.
- The Boxer takes its name from an unusual fighting stance it assumes when fighting against other dogs.
- The Rottweiler is named after the Rote Wil area, where artifacts of the Roman occupation have been discovered and where it has been found herding cattle in modern times.
- The Boxweiler inherits the high energy levels and impressive intelligence of both the Rottweiler and the Boxer.
- While Rottweilers are thought of as serious and stand-offish dogs, they also have a comical side as well. However, this is not always seen as Rottweilers are almost always employed as guard dogs and police dogs.
- The Rottweiler Boxer Mix has better health and a longer lifespan than its Boxer parent, which has historically suffered from various health issues.
- It is one of those dogs that suffer brittle bones from eating human food. Most other dogs will develop allergies or upset stomach from consuming food for humans.
- The grooming requirements for owners of Boxweilers is not that intensive – it is sufficient to brush its coast 2-3 times a week, and a monthly bath, except if it gets itself too dirty.
- A single puppy sells for $150 to $500, excluding expenses on medical checkups and vaccinations.
- The only registry to recognize the breed is the Dog Registry of America Inc.
Rottweiler Boxer Mix Appearance
Although you won’t see it when you’re browsing at puppies, you can already tell from its parents that it’s going to be a very big dog. The Rottweiler itself is huge!
You should consider the space available at your home beforehand because this dog can weigh up to 100 pounds and match its parents in size. We’re talking about 21-27 inches at the shoulder in height.
As with all mixed breeds, the Rottweiler Boxer mix dog is expected to take on a variety of its parents’ characteristics and physical attributes. However, it’s been observed that most Boxweilers take on the muzzle and shape of the Rottweiler’s head.
As for its body structure, it would depend on which genes the dog inherits from which parent. If it takes after most of the Rottweiler’s appearance, it’s body will be stocky, bulky and muscular. While muscular, the Boxer is leaner in shape than the Rottie.
Both the Boxer and the Rottweiler have double-layered coats. Its texture is harsh, and the hairs are thick and short. This means that they don’t require much work regarding grooming, although they do shed a little bit and will require some brushing.
Their coat can come in various colors, including fawn, brindle, black, white and brown. Some individuals can inherit the black mask on the muzzle from the Boxer, and the floppy ears of both breeds.
Boxer Rottweiler Mix History
Both the Rottweiler and Boxer are of German origin and descended from the larger Mastiff lines. The Rottweiler’s size is a testament to that. Its ancestor is thought to be the Roman Mastiffs used by the Roman Empire to herd and control the cattle that marched with them in their conquests.
In due time, the Mastiffs crossbred with the herding dogs in the area that eventually became Germany, producing the early progenitors of the Rottweiler breed. They continued to flourish in the Rote Wil area, after which they were named until they were nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century.
Their population recovered, and now, Rottweilers work as police dogs and assistants to security guards.
The Boxer is also descended from the Mastiff, but from the Tibetan family. Its name comes from a stance it assumes when fighting other dogs, utilizing its front paws. In any case, the breed was created by Germans in the 17th century. To recognize breeders and their stock, the Germans established the Boxer Breed Club.
The American Kennel Club gave recognition to the breed in 1904.
As for this crossbreed, the practice of breeding them began in the 1980s. However, no records exist, and no one can pinpoint when exactly breeders start to cross the two breeds in that decade.
Boxweiler Trainability
This mix dog descends from two highly intelligent and trainable dogs. You can expect them to be as responsive to commands as its two purebred parents.
There are many things that you can train this dog to do, like socialization and potty training. With their boundless energy and intelligence, you can teach them to play fetch or even catch frisbees. It’s a good routine to add to their exercise regime, which they need a lot of.
For training to be a success, it needs to start early on. Puppies are generally weaned by the mother at 4 weeks of age and are considered independent at age 8 weeks. The ideal age for beginning obedience and socialization training is Between 4 to 8 weeks of age.
The earlier the training commences, the more stable and controllable your Boxweiler’s disposition will be. You can get a dog that is attentive to commands, is calm and reserved, and is generally not aggressive towards visitors and other animals.
You’d also have to observe consistency and firmness in your training. The Boxer genes in this hybrid dog means that it can be proud and very sensitive to tough training. They require upbeat training and encouragement from you, and not punishment-based training.
Offering a few treats in exchange for good behavior wouldn’t hurt, of course.
Rottweiler Boxer Mix Temperament
As with most mixed breed dogs, it’s impossible to accurately tell the temperament until it’s grown into an adult. However, we can gain a bit of insight by studying the temperament of its parent breeds.
Let’s begin with the Rottweiler. The Rottweiler is generally considered to be obedient and disciplined, thanks to its association with police work. Indeed, they are very intelligent and can be taught to respond to specific commands. However, they still require training as early as their puppy days to be that responsive.
People who initially see Rottweilers are afraid of its bulk and its serious disposition. However, Puppy Toob explains that Rottweilers also have a comical side that they show only to people whom they have established affinity with, i.e., their trainers and owners.
Because they are highly intelligent, Rottweilers can also become a little bit hard headed sometimes. They require a firm and patient trainer/parent to put them to heel and be obedient. They’re also strong-willed; if not socialized properly, a Rottweiler may think that it is the most dominant animal in the pack and act like it towards you and other animals around it.
On the other hand, the Boxers are highly energetic and comical dogs especially when they are young. Puppies demand a lot of attention, which means that they need somebody who has the time and patience to play with them.
When they grow older, they outgrow their playfulness and energetic predisposition. They become calmer, and assertive, but can also be patient dogs.
Just like the Rottweiler, the Boxer can exhibit a streak of stubbornness in their characteristics. Keeping one as a family pet means that you have to have a forceful personality that the dog can take as leadership.
They’re also very sensitive, which means that they don’t respond well to disciplinary measures like spanking. This will cause them to sulk and become inattentive to your commands. Instead, they need positive reinforcement for them to respond positively to what you’re trying to make them do.
Both breeds are known for being loyal to their owners, but this can also mean that they’re fiercely territorial towards people and animals that are not part of their turf. You can train a Rottweiler or a Boxer to be friendly to your other pets, but they can be aggressive towards other people’s pets unless they are given time to socialize.
Because of this, the Boxweiler usually becomes cheerful, playful, and highly affectionate. They are always happy to be around their human companions, especially children.
Rottweiler Boxer Mix Nutrition
Like all dog breeds, they need a balanced diet to receive the optimal amount of nutrition it needs from a single meal. Unlike humans, however, dogs need more protein than carbohydrates and fats.
When choosing dog food for your Boxweiler, make sure to check the protein content. Protein is the preferred source of calories for canines, which means that it is their main source of energy. Fats follow at a close second, which they need not only for energy but also for maintaining their hearts and nervous systems with the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
Watch out for animal or meat by-products in the composition of their food. These can trigger adverse reactions, like allergies and upset stomachs. You should also avoid food with preservatives because dogs cannot tolerate the ingredients like salt and vinegar the way we humans can.
One should not overfeed the dog. This can lead to arthritis, which will develop only in their older years. Also, avoid feeding them the same protein source for a prolonged period. This can cause allergies to develop when the puppies grow older.
It’s never advisable to feed dogs human food. It can lead to problems in the gastrointestinal tract. For a Rottweiler Boxer mix dog, it means developing brittle bones.
Health and Care
Given the right attention to proper nutrition and utmost care, you can expect quite a long life from your Rottweiler Boxer Mix. Afull-grown mix can live up to 13 years, and at least 8 years. There are even accounts of this mixed breed dog living up to 15 years!
That’s already long enough to spend life with a huge but highly affectionate buddy that you can count on every minute at home.
Boxers suffer from many forms of health issues. The website suggests that this could be a result of poor breeding practices in the past, which resulted in various deformities in the boxer’s physical constitution.
These health issues include:
- Colitis, a condition of the digestive system. This is due to the unstable function of the Boxer’s GI tract.
- Prone to allergies
- Degenerative Myelopathy
- Epilepsy
- Blood-related diseases
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Eye diseases
- Thyroid disease
- Hip dysplasia
On the other hand, the Rottweiler can suffer from the following health conditions:
- Hip dysplasia
- Aortic stenosis, or an obstruction of the heart’s main vessel, the aorta
- Elbow dysplasia
- Cancer
- Cold water tail
- Wet eczema, an itchy fungal infection of the skin
- Juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy
- Entropion and ectropion
- Cruciate ligament rupture
When individuals who are affected by any of these diseases are used for breeding, they are certain to pass along the condition to their offspring. Thus, if a Boxweiler has one parent or even both that have one or more of these conditions, some if not all of the resulting puppies are prone to such health conditions.
It’s best to check with the breeder, who is ethically bound not to breed individuals who are problematic, before purchasing a puppy. To be sure, bring your pet regularly to the physician for testing so issues can be spotted and addressed as early as possible.
Because the parents are highly energetic, this hybrid can be expected to be the same as well. Avoid confining your dog indoors because this will trigger boredom and rambunctious behavior especially during their puppy days.
They need lots of exercise outdoors but don’t keep them out in the sun for too long. They could get dehydrated as a result. Daily, regular exercises can also help to manage their weight and prevent obesity. Make sure to have a bowl or two of water ready after!
Boxweiler Grooming
The Rottweiler Boxer Mix is short-haired, but its coat is thick. This means that, despite being short-haired, the thickness of the coat means that it will shed some fur regularly throughout the year.
Like most dogs, this one is capable of grooming its self, but it’s not enough to manage the shedding. Keep the amount of fur lying around your living room floor to a minimum by regularly brushing the coat. You don’t have to do it every day. 2-3 times every week should suffice for this short-haired dog.
You don’t have to give them frequent baths. Once every month is enough. However, since this dog is highly energetic and loves the outdoors, you might do more than that if it gets itself dirty. This is something you should watch out for during the rainy seasons.
Boxer Rottweiler Mix Puppies
The litter size will depend on which genes were inherited from either parent. The female Boxer can give birth to 6-8 puppies on the average, while the Rottweiler female can give birth to up to 12 puppies in one go.
You can’t discern the appearance of the puppies during the first two weeks of their lives. Instead of their adult coat, they will be covered with a soft, infantile coat that mommy dog cleans regularly. They can’t walk around yet, because their eyes are closed.
The mother dog is in charge of their care, grooming, and feeding up until the fourth week of their puppy life. At four weeks, the puppies will be up and about exploring their surroundings. They can also start eating puppy food, but not 100% yet as they are still reliant on their mother’s milk. They have to be 8 weeks old so that they will be able to eat puppy food for their meals.
It’s also recommended that you start obedience and potty training when they are at least 4 weeks of age. Allow them to socialize with one another, so they establish their identities. Insert a little training in as well so they can be well-rounded adult dogs.
Rottweiler Boxer Mix Price
A single Boxweiler puppy can cost you at least $150. The most you can pay for a single puppy is $500. However, that does not include, of course, costs for medical concerns like periodical medical checkups, shots, and neutering/spaying.
You can spend up to $1000 annually on both medical concerns and non-medical issues like toys and dog supplies.
Breed Organizations
Being a designer dog, the Boxweiler is not generally recognized by clubs such as the AKC as a separate breed onto itself. Even the American Canine Hybrid Club does not include it in its list of recognized hybrids.
It is, however, recognized as a breed by the Dog Registry of America, Inc. Breeders can register their litters to the Registry to establish its lineage, together with many other benefits.
Now that you know the facts about the Rottweiler Boxer mix, are you ready to adopt or take care of your new dog? Just make sure to train, exercise, and feed them well so that you can have the friendliest and most loyal companion at home.
