The Bull Boxer temperament is generally a reflection of the two breeds that make up its ancestry: the English Bulldog and the Boxer.
The American Bull Boxer is a relatively new designer breed that was created in the 1990s.
Designer breeds are cross breeds with purebred parents of different breeds. Other designer breeds include Labradoodles (Labrador Retriever and Poodle) and Goldendoodles (Golden Retriever and Poodle).
This article will provide you with a basic introduction to Bull Boxer behaviors and traits to help you decide if a Bull Boxer might be the right dog for you.
Bull Boxer Temperament: 5 Common Bull Boxer Traits
Below you will find the five most common components of the Bull Boxer temperament.
However, it is important to keep in mind that all dogs are individuals and will vary from each other in some ways.
If you adopt a Bull Boxer, it may not display all of the characteristics in the list below.
1. Silly and Fun
Owners describe the Bull Boxer temperament as goofy, cheerful and entertaining.
The Bull Boxer is a clown who will keep you amused with silly antics.
These dogs love to play and goof around. They also make hilarious grunting noises and they snore!
If you own a Bull Boxer, it will definitely keep you laughing!
2. Very Energetic
The Bull Boxer temperament is very energetic.
Bull Boxers are athletic dogs that require a significant amount of daily exercise and mental stimulation.
If you adopt one, you need to make sure you can provide an outlet for its energy.
Without enough daily exercise, your Bull Boxer may display destructive behavior such as digging, barking, or chewing.
Doggie Daycare is a great way to provide your Bull Boxer with enough daily exercise.
Other forms of Bull Boxer exercise can include activities such as jogging, hiking, biking, or a canine sport.
3. Protective, a Good Watchdog
The alert Bull Boxer temperament tends to make this breed an excellent watch dog.
Bull Boxers are naturally protective of their homes and families.
They will bark to alert their masters to strange noises or suspicious strangers.
If you are looking for an alert watchdog, the Bull Boxer is a good choice.
4. Playful with Kids
The good-natured Bull Boxer temperament makes this breed a great choice for families with kids.
Bull Boxers make fabulous playmates for children.
Due to their size and strength, they are a better choice for homes with older kids rather than very young children.
As with all breeds of dogs, your Bull Boxer should be socialized with kids and should always be supervised when interacting with small children.
5. Needs Socialization with Animals
The Bull Boxer can coexist peacefully with other animals, but they require socialization and training.
Their behavior around other animals is heavily influenced by the amount of training and exposure that they receive.
Since they are large and strong, they do best with dogs of a similar size.
If you have small pets, such as cats or small breed dogs, be sure to carefully supervise their interactions.
Bull Boxers are not always aware of their own strength and may play too roughly with a small animal.
Bull Boxer History
The Bull Boxer is a very new breed.
It was developed in America in the 1990s during the height of the “designer dog craze.”
Designer breeds are not formally recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) or any other major kennel club. This is a problem because their breeding is widely unregulated.
The current “designer dog craze” means that unscrupulous breeders can breed two dogs, call it a “designer breed,” and charge thousands of dollars for the puppies.
This type of culture definitely lends itself to corruption, so be very wary when acquiring a Bull Boxer or any kind of designer dog from a breeder. If possible, avoid the breeder scene altogether and adopt a rescue dog.
The Bull Boxer is a blend of two well-known purebred dogs.
The English Bulldog originated in Great Britain and the Boxer originated in Germany. Both of these breeds have been around for hundreds of years and are popular in America and around the world.
It is no surprise that the Bull Boxer, which is a hybrid of the two, is gaining popularity as well.
Bull Boxer Training
Trainability is definitely a component of the Bull Boxer temperament.
Bull Boxers are smart and eager to please.
They love to learn new things throughout their lifetime.
Like all dogs, the Bull Boxer responds best to positive reinforcement training.
If you can, sign up for a basic obedience class with a positive, force-free trainer. Classes are a great way to form a bond with your new dog.
However, make sure you avoid old-school trainers that use “dominance” or “punishment-based techniques.” These types of tactics will weaken your relationship with your new pet.
Training should be a fun and pleasant experience for you and your dog.
After you have completed basic training, you can get involved in more advanced activities such as canine sports. Agility, nosework, rally obedience, disc dog, and flyball are just a few examples!
Helpful Dog Training Resource:
The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan a world-class Dog Trainer from New Zealand is worth taking a look at. This online resource has hundreds of fun informative dog training videos that can help you learn the basics and more.
Bull Boxer Grooming
The Bull Boxer is an easy dog to groom.
The short coat of the Bull Boxer does not require any fancy grooming techniques.
In fact, you will simply need to provide a little weekly brushing and the occasional bath. This will keep Bull Boxer shedding to a minimum.
Your Bull Boxer will also need occasional nail trims and ear cleanings.
If your Bull Boxer is especially wrinkly, you may need to keep an eye on their wrinkles to make sure that they do not collect debris.
Like all dogs, your Bull Boxer will also need periodic dental care.
Is the Bull Boxer Hypoallergenic?
This breed is not hypoallergenic. To view examples of hypoallergenic breeds, check out this list.
Staying Healthy: Bull Boxer Health Issues
Unfortunately, the Bull Boxer is a breed that is prone to a lot of health issues.
Both the Boxer and the English Bulldog have a host of common medical problems. Due to overbreeding and inbreeding, the English Bulldog is arguably the least healthy breed of dog in the world. Bulldog mixes tend to be a bit healthier, but you should still be prepared for extensive veterinary care.
Before you bring home a Bull Boxer, talk with a veterinarian to make sure that you are emotionally and financially prepared for the care of a Bull Boxer.
Below are some of the most common Bull Boxer medical issues:
- Bloat
- Cherry Eye
- Heart Disease
- Hip Dysplasia
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Dry Eye
- Skin Issues/ Allergies
- Cancer
Helpful Dog Health Resource:
Note: if you agree that your health and your dog's health should be a top priority then get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health. Your doggy friend will love you for it. This guide will help save you money, time and most of all help you keep your dog healthy.
Other Bull Boxer Health Tips
Take your Bull Boxer to the vet at least once per year for a thorough exam and yearly vaccinations.
Also make sure your Bull Boxer receives monthly flea, tick and heartworm prevention.
Spaying and neutering is highly recommended for health and behavior reasons, as well as to prevent the birth of unwanted litters. Talk with your vet about the right time to schedule this procedure.
Feed your Bull Boxer a high-quality diet. Avoid cheap brands with filler ingredients such as corn or animal by-products.
With good care, the Bull Boxer lifespan is generally between 10 and 12 years. However, it can be shorter in the case of serious medical conditions such as heart disease or cancer.
Bull Boxer Rescue and Adoption
If you would like to add a Bull Boxer to your household, the best option for many reasons is adoption.
Why Adoption?
There are many reasons to adopt your new pet.
First of all, there is an overabundance of these types of dogs in American animal shelters.
When there are already so many sweet and friendly Bull Boxer dogs being euthanized for lack of a home, it is not ethical to support the breeding of more Bull Boxers into the world.
There are other perks of adoption as well. For example, Bull Boxers that are up for adoption often have some prior training—such as housetraining or crate training.
Additionally, dogs that are available for adoption are usually a little bit older and calmer than puppies. This can be the perfect arrangement for someone who works and needs to leave their pet alone during the workday.
Finally, the Bull Boxer cost is significantly lower when you work with an adoption group rather than a breeder. Plus, you can rest assured that your money is not supporting a puppy mill.
Where to find a Bull Boxer for Adoption?
The easiest place to start your search for an adoptable Bull Boxer is at your local animal shelter or humane society.
The staff at the animal shelter can help you find a Bull Boxer that will be a good match for your household.
There are also specialized Rescue Groups that focus on Bulldog or Boxer mixes. Many of these organizations are based out of foster homes. The foster parent can usually give you a good sense of the personality of a particular dog. If you are looking for a particular quality (such as a Bull Boxer that is good with other dogs or good with cats) it may be helpful to adopt from a foster home.
These days, the internet is a great tool for finding pets for adoption as well.
Check out the national adoption websites such as Petfinder.com, Adoptapet.com, and Getyourpet.com. These sites will allow you to search by breed and geographic location. It will also allow you to filter the results by age, gender, and other characteristics. You can even set an alert that will notify you when new dogs become available in your area.
With no shortage of Bull Boxers in need of loving homes, it is only a matter of time before you can rescue the dog of your dreams.
The Cost of Adoption
When you adopt through a rescue group or adoption agency, the price varies depending on the organization. Some adoption fees may be as low as $25. Others may be as high as $300. However, this is still cheaper than buying a Bull Boxer puppy from a breeder.
Additionally, adoption fees usually include basic veterinary services such as spay/neuter, vaccinations, deworming and microchipping.
Finding a Bull Boxer for Sale from a Reputable Breeder
If you decide to look for Bull Boxer breeders, be very careful to find a reputable breeder and avoid puppy mills.
What is a Puppy Mill?
A puppy mill is a commercial breeding operation that churns out puppies with little regard to health, temperament traits, or humane living conditions for the breeding dogs.
Puppy mills take advantage of whatever is the “fad dog” of the moment and they produce them in mass to make a profit.
Bull Boxer puppies that come from pet stores are usually from puppy mills.
Puppy buyers who order puppies online are usually inadvertently buying puppies from puppy mills.
In addition to supporting a cruel industry, these puppy buyers are setting themselves up for heartbreak. Puppies from puppy mills are often sickly and prone to genetic defects.
The Signs of an Ethical Breeder
To find an ethical breeder, a good course of action is usually to contact the American Kennel Club or an official breed club for a list of breeders in good standing.
Since the Bull Boxer is not a recognized breed and does not have an official breed club, this will be extremely difficult for this breed.
If you find a potential breeder, make an appointment to visit the breeder in person. If a breeder will not allow you onto the property, this is a major red flag.
Make sure the breeding dogs are happy, healthy and being housed indoors as part of the family. Ask to see medical records and the results of genetic testing.
A good breeder will probably ask you to sign a contract promising to return the puppy to their care if things do not work out for any reason.
A good breeder will also probably ask you to sign an agreement promising to get the puppy spayed or neutered at the appropriate age. A responsible breeder never wants their puppies or their puppy’s offspring to end up homeless or dumped in an animal shelter.
If the breeder does not seem concerned with these things, and only seems concerned with selling you a puppy and taking your money, do not purchase a puppy from them.
The Bull Boxer Price
The price of a Bull Boxer puppy will vary depending on the breeder. The price could be anywhere from $600 to $1200 or more. Talk with any potential breeder about the fees and what (if anything) they include.
Conclusion: Why the Bull Boxer?
There are many aspects to love about the Bull Boxer temperament.
These dogs are happy, goofy clowns that will fill your home with joy!
Just be sure you are prepared for a playful, high-energy dog that needs a lot of attention and may rack up the veterinary bills!
Definitely, do your research before bringing a Bull Boxer into your life.
Allie has worked in the field of animal welfare for over ten years and as a freelance writer the space for many years. She has had many different kinds of dogs (and cats) throughout her life—all adopted. She currently shares her home with a lovable pit bull mix named Huckleberry.