Bullboxer Pit Care

The Bullboxer Pit (BP)--like its Boxer and American Pit Bull Terrier parents--is muscular, athletic, protective, and energetic. While these hybrids are friendly and enthusiastic, they can be overprotective and even aggressive unless trained otherwise. Overall Bullboxer Pit care will take some work, and will need to include a great deal of exercise and some early training and socialization.

Here you'll find details on caring for a Bullboxer Pit, including info about puppy development, exercise needs, feeding recommendations, and more. Get answers to your questions about raising a Bullboxer Pit in the following sections!

As the offspring of two athletic, strong, and energetic breeds, Bullboxer Pit exercise requirements are extensive. These hybrids will need activities that both condition them physically (walking, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). BPs also make great jogging companions, and a weight training session once or twice a week to work out their considerable muscles will be good as well.

Adult BPs will need 90 minutes or more of dedicated exercise per day, with the total amount depending on the dog's age and overall activity level. You can start exercising your BP puppy when it's three months old by going on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Bullboxer Pit exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're ten months old
• A leash is an absolute must when exercising in public; leash training during puppyhood is recommended
• Yards must be securely fenced to keep the dog from escaping
• Possible separation anxiety; exercises best done together with people
• Prone to gastric torsion (bloat); don't feed a BP for an hour before or after exercising

Owners must exercise their BPs a good bit every single day. Without consistent activity these hybrids will become frustrated, disobedient, highly destructive, and even aggressive--all of which could make them dangerous. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging: Two 30-minute walks (or 20-minute jogs) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: These hybrids love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Tug-of-War: Great indoor activity; use a rope or old towel
• Weight Pulling: Attach one end of a rope to a heavy object like a spare tire, and the other end to a harness for the dog
• Canine Sports: BPs can excel at agility trials, cart pulling, and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity

When indoors, giving your BP access to balls or toys will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks or jogs in the morning and evening and playtime in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these hybrids need a good bit of care. Bullboxer Pit shedding is moderate to heavy all year long, and drooling can be an issue as well.

These hybrids have short, flat coats that shed regularly year-round (they don't have a heavy shed in the spring and fall, in other words). Owners can brush their BPs 2-3 times per week with a bristle brush or grooming glove to help minimize the shedding, and hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors, and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be necessary on a pretty regular basis.

And Bullboxer Pit mixes might drool in anticipation of food, after drinking water, or when especially excited or nervous. Owners can keep old towels or rags in rooms where the dog spends time, to use to clean up excess slobber. If your BP is drooling excessively and regularly, though, that might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

The Bullboxer Pit diet will need to include animal proteins, healthy carbs, vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids--nutrients every dog needs to maintain its health in the long term. This means the best dog food for a Boxer-Pit mix is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients. While some owners choose to feed their BPs a "raw" diet of fresh meats, fruits/veggies, eggs, and other protein sources, premium dry food is the most popular and sensible choice.

These hybrids do best with premium food that's formulated for active breeds. SportMix, Dr. Tim's, and Royal Canin are recommended brands that carry excellent lines of high-energy food.

(NOTE: BPs are highly prone to obesity, which can lead to numerous health problems and a shortened lifespan. Owners are advised to stick to the recommended food portions for these dogs: four cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals.)