20 Things You Didn’t Know About the Boxerdoodle
Often for dog lovers, it becomes difficult to decide on which breed to have as a pet. If this ever becomes a case for you, you might be glad to know that there are plenty of mixed breeds that combine two great pedigrees into one. Breeders are continuously getting more and more creative with breeding, and the possibilities surely are endless. We’ve seen breeds that have been incredibly imaginative, and the Boxerdoodle happens to be one of our favorites. There are many reasons why this is so, but it starts with these 20 things about Boxerdoodles that you probably didn’t know.
1. Name
Is it a boxer, or is it a poodle? It’s hard to imagine that it’s both. Boxerdoodles also go by the name of Boxer poo and even by its formal name of Boxer Poodle mix. However, we’ve heard plenty of other names for this breed including Bodoodle, Pooxer, Boxpoo, and Poodlebox among others. These names are just as adorable as the dog for sure.
2. Origin
We know the pedigree of this breed. Both Boxer and Poodle breeds are relatively old breeds, recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1904 and 1887 respectively. Believed to be descended from purebred German origins, the Boxerdoodle’s exact creation is unknown. The breed didn’t start gaining popularity until the 1980s, and they’ve grown in numbers exponentially since. Today, Boxerdoodles are as common as they’re ancestors. Several hybrid dog clubs formally recognize the breed. These clubs include the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), the Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC), the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), and the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).
3. Size
It’s rare for a dog breed to not have a standard size. It’s likely due to the fact that its parent breeds could vary in size as well. Boxerdoodles can vary in size from small to medium and even large. Given that it’s still a fairly new breed, we expect that the size standard for this breed will become clearer in time. Because of this size variation, Boxerdoodles can range widely in both height and weight. These dogs can grow anywhere from 10 to 25 inches in height and anywhere from 12 to 70 lbs. in weight.
4. Grooming
Brushing and grooming of your Boxerdoodle will depend largely on the type of coat it has. Generally, brushing twice a week is recommended regardless. In order to keep your Boxerdoodle’s skin healthy, try not to bathe it often. Only bathe when necessary and use appropriately mild dog shampoo to clean your pup. Proper grooming is especially vital for Boxerdoodle dogs because they are prone to have skin problems. Not cleaning enough will lead to these problems as well as cleaning too much.
5. Coat
Speaking of grooming coats, you should know that Boxerdoodles come in all manners of coat types and colors. Even though brown is the most common coat color, you’ll find Boxerdoodle in every imaginable coat. This breed’s coat is curly and wavy, and they vary in length from short to long. Most Boxerdoodle coats are highly reminiscent of their Poodle parents rather than their Boxer origins. However, you’ll also find Boxerdoodles that look more like their Boxer parents when it comes to coat and appearance.
6. Temperament
Naturally fearless and intelligent, Boxerdoodles take the best from both parent’s temperament. Boxers are known to be fierce protectors, while Poodles are known for being highly intelligent dogs. While protective when it comes to strangers and intruders, Boxerdoodles are gentle when it comes to family. This makes them great pets to have at home, especially if you’re looking for some type of protection. You can sleep peacefully at night knowing that the safety of your home is your Boxerdoodle’s priority. To know what the temperament of your dog would be like, it’ll be best to learn what the temperaments of its parents were. The offspring Boxerdoodle would likely have a combination temperament of its mom and dad.
7. Personality
Boxerdoodles are extremely affectionate creatures. They are loyal and playful, and they’ll likely want to spend time with you every chance that they can get. They are quite loving dogs that will require lots attention and interaction. Boxerdoodles are the type of dogs that will feel and act as if they’re still pups even when they’re all grown. It’s a good indication of just how much fun you’ll have with this breed as a companion.
8. Training
Training a Boxerdoodle shouldn’t be difficult. This breed is smart and willing to learn. It’s best to start training and socializing a Boxerdoodle as early as possible. Teaching your pup structure early on will help it harness its enthusiasm properly as it gets older. It’s also important to use positive reinforcement during training, except you shouldn’t use food as a reward. In addition, you’ll have to keep training interesting and varied in order to keep your Boxerdoodle’s attention on point. They tend to get distracted easily because of their curiosity and intelligence.
9. Activity
When we say that Boxerdoodles are highly active, we mean that they will probably wear you out if you try to keep up with them. Boxerdoodles require a lot of activity and exercise because of their high energy levels. While most dogs might be happy with an hour of exercise a day, your Boxerdoodle will need about 2 hours. That said, you could easily take your Boxerdoodle with you when you do your runs or walks. You could also take your Boxerdoodle for a swim, an activity that they love to do.
10. Solitude
Because of its tendency to get attached to its humans fairly quickly, a Boxerdoodle doesn’t do well on its own for long periods of time. It will prefer your company more than it won’t, and you’ll find that you might not want to leave it alone anyway. When left to its own defenses, a Boxerdoodle will find ways to entertain itself. It’ll likely cause a bit of destruction in your home if you’re not careful.
11. Temperature tolerance
Boxerdoodles are likely to be intolerant to extreme temperatures because of their Boxer heritage. They really have no preference towards heat or cold; they actually would do best in temperate climates. They will suffer in extreme heat, and they don’t have the capability of surviving extreme cold either. This is the reason why Boxerdoodles are regarded as indoor dogs. If you live in an area that has extreme seasons, make sure you take measures to keep your dog safe from the outdoor elements.
12. Social
When it comes to socializing with adults and older children, the Boxerdoodle does really well. It’s friendly and playful, and it thrives on attention. However, the Boxerdoodle is not recommended for families with smaller children. Boxerdoodles get excited at the prospect of kids and might hurt little ones accidentally because of this. The Boxerdoodle does not understand its size. They can easily jump on a small child thinking its only playing with it. As far as socializing with other pets or animals is concerned, you’d have to train your Boxerdoodle to tolerate this as well. Boxerdoodles will feel jealous of any other animal that might be vying for your attention. A Boxerdoodle will prefer to be the only pet in your home—if it could have its way.
13. Shedding
Fortunately, you’ll only get minimal shedding with Boxerdoodles. You might even experience no shedding altogether. This is excellent news for people with allergies or for people who’d rather not deal with cleaning up dog hair on a regular basis. Boxerdoodles are considered to be hypoallergenic animals for this reason.
14. Drooling
Compared to other dog breeds, Boxerdoodles drool considerably less. Although you’ll get some drooling here and there, you won’t be wiping up slobber in excess. Boxerdoodles will drool for usual reasons—normally food-related. Otherwise, you really shouldn’t see it. If you happen to see your Boxerdoodle drooling excessively, you might want to take it to the veterinarian. The underlying cause for excessive drooling might be an illness, so its better to check before it’s too late.
15. Diet
Boxerdoodles should consume about 2 to 3 cups of dry dog food every day. This is the recommended amount, but your pup will definitely keep eating if you keep feeding it. This is mainly because of its high activity and energy level. It’s important that you give your Boxerdoodle food that’s rich in protein in order to provide it with a solid energy resource. These dogs burn through their energy sources rather quickly, and if not fed properly they can get tired and even ill.
16. Health
Unfortunately, both the Boxer and Poodle breeds have some serious health issues that could be passed down to the Boxerdoodle. It’s highly recommended that you check with your breeder to make sure that proper health checks and screenings are performed on your Boxerdoodle. Some of the more usual health concerns for Boxerdoodles include hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, gastric bloating, Cushing’s disease and more. Each parent breed will also have a few other health problems to contribute to this list such as heart problems and respiratory syndromes. With proper diet, exercise, and regular check ups, you should be able to keep up with your Boxerdoodle’s health.
17. Barking
Boxerdoodles are considered to be occasional barkers. Because of their protective nature, they will bark if they see or sense an intruder. They will also bark if they ever feel that their territory or their/your home is being threatened. Other than that, you really won’t hear a Boxerdoodle bark out of place. Some dog owners have preferences on whether they like barkers or not. Regardless dogs bark, and you really need to have at least some tolerance for it if you were to own one.
18. Wandering
It could be because of their intelligence, or it could be because of high curious tendencies. Boxerdoodles happen to have strong impulses to wander. These impulses are actually strong enough for a Boxerdoodle to leave the comforts of home. The notion of your dog escaping and running away is a scary one, but it’s also very much preventable. Taking the necessary precautions to secure your home every day in order to prevent your Boxerdoodle from running away is extremely important. It might take a little bit of work, but it’s all worth the trouble if it means your Boxerdoodle will be safe.
19. Lifespan
Boxerdoodles have an expected lifespan of 10 to 14 years, but one of its parents—the Poodle—is known to have incredibly long lifespans. The Poodle average can go up to 18 years, and we’ve actually heard of poodles that have lived to almost 30 years. One can only hope that his or her pet could live a long life. Boxerdoodles definitely have the predisposition to live well beyond their average lifespan, but this is only achievable with proper care, sufficient exercise, and positive affections. It also helps to get your Boxerdoodle screened early for disease so you can be prepared for whatever may come in the future.
20. Cost
The average cost of a Boxerdoodle can set you back anywhere from $1,200 to $1,500. This price can go up or down depending on your breeder and on several factors as well. Boxerdoodles may hard to find depending on your area. In addition, you’ll want to set aside money for monthly/yearly expenses of keeping a Boxerdoodle. This amount could be anywhere from $500 to $2,000 during the first year and an additional $500 to $1,000 thereafter. It might cost a bit to own and care for a Boxerdoodle, but having one as a pet is definitely worth it all.
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