Hybrid dog breeding has become very popular over the last several years. Worry about purebred dog health combined with an interest in developing new dog breeds is fueling the current craze for designer dogs.
But while there are many critics of hybrid dog breeding, this is actually the same basic process breeders used to create today’s registered purebred dog breeds.
The Boxer Rottweiler mix dog is one of the new crops of crossbred dog breeds being developed today. There is a lot to love about this hybrid dog.
But because canine genetics can be uncertain, there is also a lot to think through before you choose your Boxweiler puppy. We will review what you need to know now in this article.
Boxer Rottweiler Mix
The Boxweiler is a Boxer Rottweiler mix dog. This is not a mutt or a mixed breed dog but a true hybrid crossbred dog breed.
The Boxweiler has one purebred Boxer parent dog and one purebred Rottweiler parent dog.
Meet a Boxer Rottweiler Mix
This cute YouTube video showcases the adventures of two Boxer Rottweiler mix sisters.
Not only can you get a quick visual idea of what a full-grown Boxweiler dog might look like, but you also get to experience the Boxer Rottweiler personality and energy level close up.
These dogs can take a lot of work and they are worth it. Ready to find out more about the Boxweiler dog? Keep on reading!
Meet the Boxweiler Dog’s Parents, the Boxer and Rottweiler
As we mentioned in the introduction here, the Boxweiler is a hybrid or designer dog. This means the Boxweiler inherits DNA from two purebred dog breeds. In this case, those two breeds are the Boxer and the Rottweiler.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), which publishes an annual popularity ranking of their 197 dog breeds, the Boxer is currently 14th and the Rottweiler is currently eighth.
So these are two very popular dog breeds in their own right. Let’s get to know each parent dog as a pathway to learning more about the new evolving Boxweiler dog breed.
Meet the Boxer
The American Kennel Club describes the boxer as a bright, active dog that loves to have fun. These dogs can be sizable – 65 to 80 pounds and up to 23.5 inches tall is normal for an adult Boxer.
Interestingly, as the American Boxer Club explains, the Boxer is one of the most ancient dog breeds. There is genetic evidence that modern Boxer dogs date all the way back to 2,500 B.C. and ancient Assyria!
Boxers may have originally been called Bullenbeiser, which translates to mean bull biter in their home country of Germany. The earliest Boxers were bigger, stronger, and brave enough to fight large game animals like wild boars.
Boxers may also be influenced by the Great Dane, the English Bulldog, and other mastiff-type dog breeds down through the centuries.
Today’s Boxer is tall, sturdy, and yet elegant in appearance. They are both beautiful to look at and smart. The breed takes their breed name from how these dogs use their front paws to “box” when they are playing or in self-defense.
Meet the Rottweiler
In the case of the Rottweiler, the American Kennel Club describes these dogs as loyal and loving guardian dogs.
Intriguingly, like the Boxer, the Rottweiler is also a dog that originally was developed in Germany. Fully grown adult Rottweilers may weigh anywhere from 80 to 135 pounds and stand up to 27 inches tall. These can be really big dogs!
As Britannica points out, the Rottweiler is also one of the oldest modern dog breeds.
It is thought the Rottweiler breed dates all the way back to around 73 A.D. in the little town of Rottweil, Germany.
Rottweilers back then were probably even larger and stronger than they are today. They were drover dogs that hauled heavy loads, guarded and herded livestock, protected people, and sometimes even fought alongside human soldiers.
Rottweilers still have the unstoppable energy level and work ethic of their ancient drover dog ancestors. They are also incredibly strong both physically and in their chase and prey drive and protective instincts.
So this brief overview gives you a better idea of the types of genes a Boxweiler puppy might inherit from their Boxer and Rottweiler parent dogs.
What Will Your Boxer Rottweiler Mix Dog Look and Act Like
One key thing most dog lovers don’t know about canine genetics is that inherited DNA can be very unpredictable.
What we mean by this is that for now at least, there is no way to accurately predict in advance how each parent dog’s genes will influence each puppy in a litter.
Breeding Business explains that this uncertainty can be reduced (although never completely eliminated) by carefully choosing your hybrid dog breeder.
Why do we say this? There is a process that dog breeders go through when they are trying to create a whole new dog breed. We will give you just a brief overview so you know what to ask the dog breeder you want to work with.
F1 Boxweiler litter
Hybrid dog breeding always starts with what professional breeders call F1 breeding.
This is when two different purebred dog breeds – like the Boxer and Rottweiler – are crossbred. That first litter of puppies is called an F1 litter.
F1 litters are the most genetically uncertain of all hybrid breedings. These are the litters where even experienced breeders can expect big surprises in terms of how each puppy turns out. There just isn’t any good way to predict which genes each puppy inherits.
F1b Boxweiler litter
The next breeding is called F1b. This is when the breeder takes one purebred dog (either a Boxer or a Rottweiler) and one F1 Boxweiler dog and crossbreeds them. Here, you want to be sure the F1 dog is not inbred but comes from another breeder!
The F1b litters of puppies will still have a lot of diversity, but not as much as the F1 litters.
F2 Boxweiler litter
Starting at F2, the two-parent dogs are both first-generation (F1b) Boxweilers. This is when you will start to see a little more similarity between all the puppies in each litter in terms of size, color, temperament, and more.
The whole process continues until the puppies are so alike in every way that the Boxweiler breed really starts to develop in its own right.
So if you have a strong need for your Boxweiler to be a certain size, height, color, or temperament, you want to look for a hybrid dog breeder that works with the later generations, such as F2, F2b, F3, F3b litters or even later.
Learn About Boxer Rottweiler Mix Dog Health
Whenever you are considering making a commitment to a new pet dog, it is easy to get sucked in by a cute face…to the point you forget to make sure your new puppy is healthy.
This is another area where it is vitally important to know the difference between a responsible dog breeder and a puppy mill or occasional breeder.
Only the responsible dog breeder will have taken the time and gone to the expense of running health tests on the parent dogs before breeding. Why are these health tests so important?
The reason they are so important is that there are many genetic health issues that can be passed from parent dogs to puppies. And today there are even databases to tell you which health issues occur in which dog breeds.
While not all of these genetic health problems have pre-screening tests to match, many do. When you work with a breeder who has pre-screened the parent dogs for the health issues affecting their breed, you have much more information about puppy health.
When you consider how much you will spend just to acquire your Boxweiler, you are already looking at a significant investment – something into the hundreds or potentially thousands of dollars for a rare hybrid breed like this.
According to ASPCA, however, it is typical for large dog owners to spend around $1,000 annually just for basic care needs for their dogs. And this amount does not include veterinary emergencies.
In the next section, we will take a look at what types of veterinary issues you might face if you don’t buy your Boxer Rottweiler mix from a reputable breeder who does health pre-screening on parent dogs.
Genetic Health Issues of Boxer Rottweiler Mix
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, or OFA, keeps records of breed-specific genetic health issues. Responsible dog breeders voluntarily contribute data to the OFA database, which is called CHIC for Canine Health Information Center.
The data on CHIC is available to everyone. You can visit the database and search on the dog breed you want to buy and see what health tests need to be done on the parent dogs.
You can also have your veterinarian do these tests on your puppy or rescue dog before you make a firm commitment to a dog you are considering.
So let’s take a look at what the OFA database has for the Boxer and Rottweiler parent dog breeds of your Boxweiler.
Boxer genetic health problems
According to the OFA CHIC breed health database, these are the heritable health issues associated with the Boxer dog breed.
- Hip dysplasia.
- Degenerative myelopathy.
- Cardiac issues.
- Autoimmune thyroiditis.
- Arrythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
As the American Boxer Club points out, Boxers are also prone to developing canine cancer.
Common cancers for Boxer dogs include skin cancer, organ cancer, lymphoma, and blood cancers. Unfortunately, there are no screening tests to rule out breeding dogs predisposed to developing cancer.
Overall, the Boxer has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years, which is about average for a large dog breed.
Rottweiler genetic health problems
The OFA CHIC dog breed database states that Rottweiler dogs can be more likely to have the following genetic health concerns.
- Hip dysplasia.
- Elbow dysplasia.
- Eye problems.
- Cardiac problems.
- Juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy.
In addition to these significant genetic health issues, the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) states that Rottweilers are also more prone to develop osteosarcoma.
Osteosarcoma is bone cancer. Aggressive tumors develop in the bones and it is considered nearly impossible to treat. UFAW estimates 100 percent mortality without prompt treatment and only 10 percent success with treatment.
Rottweilers already have a shorter life expectancy than many other similar-sized dog breeds. The average age of osteosarcoma onset in Rottweilers is eight years.
Unfortunately, there is no genetic pre-screening test that can be done to avoid breeding Rottweilers who are prone to osteosarcoma.
However, UFAW states that there may be less risk if you choose a breeder whose breed line (parent dogs and puppies) rarely contract osteosarcoma. This can take some careful research on your part, but it is worth it if you get a healthy puppy as a result.
How to Choose Your Boxer Rottweiler Mix Puppy
When you work with a reputable dog breeder, you will get certain perks as a part of the higher cost you pay for your puppy.
You can expect your Boxweiler breeder to give you records of all required immunizations and pest treatments.
Your breeder should give you an initial guarantee of good health for at least six months. This is typically accompanied by a requirement that you have your puppy examined by your canine veterinarian soon after acquisition.
And your Rottweiler Boxer mix breeder should give you a take-back guarantee if your new puppy doesn’t work out for some reason. Typically this lasts for your dog’s lifetime because reputable breeders do not want their dogs sent to a shelter or given away.
When you find a breeder who offers these perks, you can feel confident buying your Boxweiler with them.
