It may seem like all the dog hybrids you see are 6.5 pounds, fluffy, and cute. Not so! Starting with the popular Poodle yet again — though this time a Standard Poodle — someone decided to throw a Boxer in the mix and a handsome, big, lovable, noble hybrid is what came out. Boxerdoodle dogs do not blind you with their adorableness, they don’t look like little teddy bears, and they don’t fit into a purse (unless it’s a very big purse).

DOGSTER WARNING: If you are in the market for a Boxerdoodle, please be forewarned that this is not an established breed, and the chances that you will encounter backyard breeders or puppy millers trying to capitalize on this fancy mutt’s popularity are pretty high. As with any breed, please DO YOUR HOMEWORK and resist the urge to impulse buy. If you see “buy it now” PayPal buttons on websites hawking these dogs, this is a huge red flag and we implore you to run screaming in the opposite direction.

We are also huge fans of adoption here at Dogster, and urge you to look at local shelters and rescues for lovable pups that might just — gasp — be the offspring of a Boxer and a Standard Poodle. It’s really not too far-fetched. But anyway, onto the profile …

What Boxerdoodles Are Like to Live With

When the playful, rather goofy Boxer is mixed with the more staid and noble Poodle, you get a jester who is occasionally overcome with serious moments. As with any hybrid, it’s impossible to know exactly what the temperament of a Boxerdoodle will be when grown. This hybrid tends to be full of fun and very friendly, but when there’s a job to do, he can be very studious.

Without the Boxer’s more streamlined and athletic look, the Boxerdoodle does not look as formidable, but he makes a good watchdog and excels at activities such as agility training.

Things You Should Know About the Boxerdoodle

Boxerdoodles are very active dogs. Apartment living is not recommended for this mix. They need lots of exercise, on and off lead, and room to move around. The Boxerdoodle has the intelligence of the Poodle and the instinctual sense of the Boxer. This means you can get a dog that can be trained to do almost anything, but you may find your Boxerdoodle a bit stubborn as well. A very general rule of thumb is that the more a cross looks like one of its parent breeds, the more he’ll be like that parent breed.

Some Boxerdoodle breeders tend to recommend a household with older children and no other pets, but if a Boxerdoodle is raised well (and the children and other pets are raised well), he can get along with anyone.

Some Boxerdoodles are prone to skin conditions and allergies.

Boxerdoodle History: Fast Facts

1. The Poodle is an old breed used originally as a water dog. Boxerdoodles often have this trait.
2. The Boxer was first bred in the 19th century to work as an all-around farm dog, and was used later in dog fighting. Boxerdoodles tend not to have dog aggression traits, but owners should be aware of the possibility.
3. The date that the first Boxerdoodle came into this world is not known.
4. It’s thought that the Boxerdoodle originated in the U.S. in the last 10 or so years.

The Look of the Boxerdoodle

Wow, this Poodle/Boxer hybrid dog has so many different looks it can be tough to identify one (or even to know what your Boxerdoodle puppy will look like when grown). The Boxerdoodle most often has the wavy/curly hair of the Poodle, but he can also have the smooth, short fur of a Boxer. The short snout of the Boxer is usually replaced with a longer, more Poodle-like muzzle — in fact, often most of the Boxer characteristics are overruled by Poodle characteristics.

If you come across a hybrid dog and are trying to figure out if it’s a Boxerdoodle before asking the owner, look for these more common characteristics: a grizzly face, a stubby tail, and big (perhaps slightly protruding) dark eyes. Boxerdoodles usually weigh between 50 and 70 pounds.

10 Things You Might Not Know About the Boxerdoodle

1. Boxerdoodles often make good hunting dogs.
2. Unlike many Poodle breeds, the Boxerdoodle tends to shed.
3. Both of the Boxerdoodles’ parents, the Boxer and the Poodle, originated in Germany.
4. The Boxerdoodle is one of the most difficult types of Poodle hybrids to identify because their looks vary so much.
5. The Boxerdoodle is mentioned in the dictionary.
6. Some Boxer owners and advocates are against the Boxerdoodle hybrid, with the thought that it ruins two already excellent breeds.
7. You can find Boxerdoodle rescues in Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and other states.
8. Boxerdoodles are used in military work and were researched by the military as a possible “super dog.”
9. Boxerdoodles are great jumpers.
10. Boxerdoodles usually have very thick toenails, which require a bit of strength (or a nail grinder) to cut.

Here are some Boxerdoodles in action:

Do you live with a Boxerdoodle? Tell us what they’re like to live with!