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Boxpei (Boxer Shar-Pei Mix): Info, Pictures, Care & More

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Boxpei (Boxer x Chinese Shar Pei)

Boxpeis are quickly becoming a popular breed around the world, even though the breed is relatively new. Being a cross between a purebred Boxer and Chinese Shar Pei, this breed has only been around since the early 2000s when it was developed in the United States.

Breed Overview

Height:

18 – 24 inches

Weight:

45 – 65 pounds

Lifespan:

8 – 12 years

Colors:

Black, golden, light brown, merle

Suitable for:

Families with children and pets who want an affectionate breed

Temperament:

Loyal, affectionate, great with other pets and children

This breed is ideal for families that already have other pets or children and are looking for a large, affectionate dog. Although this breed is large and strong, it is really affectionate, loyal, and gets along with almost any member of the family.
If you are considering reading a Boxpei, read this article first. This complete guide tells you everything you need to know about Boxpei ownership so that you can decide whether or not this adorable breed is right for your home. Let’s get started.

Boxpei Characteristics

Energy
+
High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability
+
Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
+
Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Lifespan
+
Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Sociability
+
Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.

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Boxpei Puppies

Given that you are reading this article about Boxpeis, you clearly know about this unique designer breed, placing you in the minority. Even though Shar Peis and Boxers alone are really popular dogs, this mix is not. Because of the rarity of this breed, finding a Boxpei puppy can be a bit challenging.

There is almost no chance that you will be able to find this attractive breed in a local shelter, especially if it is a puppy. Occasionally, you can find an adult Boxpei at the local shelter, but even that is not a given.

Once you find a puppy, the price should not be very expensive in comparison to other breeds since there is not a lot of competition and there aren’t a lot of dangers for the mother.

In addition to paying for the puppy, you will have to pay other puppy prices, such as getting the dog vaccinated, licensed, and comfy in your new home.

Parent Breeds of the Boxpei
Image Credit: Left- volofin, Shutterstock | Right – Vladimir taranova oxana, Shutterstock

Temperament & Intelligence of the Boxpei 🧠

Boxpeis seem to have it all in terms of temperament and intelligence. They are incredibly loving and loyal, even to other animals and children. At the same time, they are moderately intelligent and want to please. Together, these factors make Boxpeis one of the more loving and easier to train dogs.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Boxpeis are a great dog for families. They are patient, gentle with children, and like rough playing with older members of the family. Most often, Boxpeis simply change positions or move whenever they are getting annoyed, meaning they don’t act aggressively. These facts make Boxpeis a great addition to any family, whether the family includes adults, children, or teenagers.

With that being said, socialization is really important for any dog. If you socialize the Boxpei early, it will be more likely to get along with every member of the family.

Additionally, it’s important to always supervise playtime between the dog and young children. Even though Boxpeis tend to be a very gentle breed, that does not mean that an individual dog will not act aggressively to a child that is pestering it. At the same time, make sure that you teach your child how to play with dogs respectfully and appropriately.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽 

In addition to being great family dogs, Boxpeis tend to be really great with other animals as well. When it comes to other dogs, they are much more friendly than other breeds of its size. For best results, get puppies at the same time so that the two dogs grow up together.

For cats and other small animals, the Boxpei is likely to get along with them too. Many Boxpei owners claim that their cats love to curl up and snooze with their dog. Once again, socialization with cats and other animals is an important step to ensuring your Boxpei gets along with them.

Dogster divider_v2_NEW_MAY_24_Things to Know When Owning a Boxpei

Even though Boxpeis are a large breed, they don’t require as much maintenance as others. This is true in terms of exercise, training, and grooming, though they do eat a lot. These facts make it a great dog for people who want a low-maintenance breed or who have never trained a big dog before.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Despite their gentle and affectionate nature, Boxpeis are really big. Because of their large size, you need to fuel them with the right amount and type of food. It’s important to get a high-quality dog food formulated for large dogs. It’s also a great idea to select a brand that has age-specific lines so that you can tailor your food to your dog’s size and stage of life.

Make sure to always provide your Boxpei with a lot of water. Since this breed isn’t very active, it may not drink as much as other large breeds but always have fresh water available.

Exercise 🐕

Boxpeis certainly need more exercise than small breeds, but they require notably less exercise than other dogs of its size. Taking your Boxpei on a walk once a day will be enough to keep it happy and healthy.

At the same time, your Boxpei will be more than happy to be active with you if you are an active person. With working roots, these dogs can keep up, even though they tend to be a bit lazy by choice. This makes them a great breed for both active and moderately active families alike.

Training 🎾

One of the biggest benefits of owning a Boxpei is that training is relatively easy. These dogs are very eager to please their owners and are moderately intelligent, resulting in an easy training experience. Focusing on encouragement and praise goes a long way with these dogs.

On the other hand, negative reinforcement does not work very well with Boxpeis. Because they want to please their owners so much, negative reinforcement often causes them to withdrawal from the task. Remember to be patient with your Boxpei and use as little negative reinforcement as possible.

Grooming ✂️

Boxpeis need a bit more grooming than other short-coated dogs, but grooming is still really simple. Brush their coat once or twice a week to keep it healthy and minimize shedding around your home. Only give your Boxpei a bath when they need it and use a dog-approved shampoo.

One thing you have to be careful about when it comes to Boxpeis is their dental help. This breed is known to have poor dental checkups. Brush their teeth once or twice a week using toothpaste formulated for canines. Also, clean out their ears as necessary, and clip nails every other month.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Because Boxpeis have two healthy parents, this breed is considered a healthy designer dog. However, to unhealthy parents will often result in an unhealthy puppy. Talking to your vet for screenings can help you rule out severe illnesses from an early age.

Because the parent’s health matters so much for designer dogs, as well as any other breed, it’s important to only purchase puppies from reputable breeders. Reputable breeders make sure to use parent dogs that are healthy and never abuse them.

Still, there are a couple of illnesses that are most prevalent in Boxpeis. These conditions can range from minor to serious.

Minor Conditions
  • Eye infections
  • Ear infections
  • Dental issues
  • Epilepsy
Serious Conditions
  • Joint dysplasia
  • Degenerative myelopathy
  • Aortic stenosis
  • Cancer
  • Patellar luxation

In most cases, caring for your dog through regular grooming can help minimize the chance of minor conditions.

Dogster_Website dividers_v1_Jan 18 2026-01-TEST Male vs Female

As you would expect, male Boxpeis tend to be larger and stronger than females, but the females tend to be more territorial. If you get your dog spayed or neutered, the differences in sex will be minimal at best. Because of this fact, there are very few differences when it comes to Boxpei puppies.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Boxpei

1. Boxpeis are a modern designer breed.

Many of our favorite breeds today are considered relatively modern in that they originated in the 1800s. Although the 19th century may not sound modern, the 19th century is much closer to today than other dog origins.

Still, Boxpeis are modern by everyone’s standards. The breed originates in the United States in the early 2000s. This makes Boxpeis one of the more modern breeds available today. The modern breeding is part of the reason that they are not as popular as other breeds that have been around for a longer time.


2. Even though it is a designer dog, Boxpeis can be good working dogs.

When most people think of working dogs, they think of hardy dogs that aren’t always the cutest or most loving. In contrast, very few people associate designer dogs with working breeds. Boxpeis bring the best of both worlds since it is a designer breed that can be a good working dog too.

The reason that Boxpeis can be good working dogs is that both of their parents are working dogs. Sharp Peis and Boxers alike were originally bred for working purposes. Because both of the parents have work in their genes, Boxpeis can be working dogs too.


3. You can keep a Boxpei in an apartment.

Most medium and big dogs need a full house and yard to play in, making them less suited for apartment living. Despite Boxpeis’ large size, you can easily have a Boxpei in your apartment home. Even though this breed is pretty large, they don’t require as much exercise or space to be happy.

Of course, you will need to take your Boxpei out for a walk once a day. By doing this, your Boxpei will be more than happy inside your apartment. If you do not do the bare minimum with a walk, Boxpeis can become antsy inside, leading to destructive and annoying behaviors.

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Final Thoughts

Even though Boxpeis are a new breed, they have roots in older working dogs, making them a healthy, loyal, and fun breed. Although their popularity is growing, this designer dog isn’t very well known, meaning you may have to search a bit to find a reputable breeder.
For most families, a Boxpei will fit in perfectly. If you have children and other animals, this breed may be the choice for you. Just remember to feed this dog enough food and take care of its grooming to prevent minor conditions from popping up.

See Also: 


Featured Image Credit: Mary Swift, Shutterstock

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