I've had this puppy for a few months and I see that she has Boxer characteristics, but she seams like she's mixed with another breed like Pit Bull or something. Can anyone offer a suggestion?
By Hailey
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The best person to consult is your vet (or a vet who specialises in canines if you haven't already got a vet).
However, I raised AKC Boxers (40+years) and also worked with breed rescue groups whilst living in the US, and from that experience I think I'd hazard a guess that your darling (what a cutie!) is more likely a Boxer-Lab or possibly even a Boxer-Lab-Rottweiler.
Boxer of course is quite apparent in your dog, and she's clearly a mix of something else-I'm thinking Lab because of the snout and face shape (Pits have more of a pointed face, yours is more square-rectangular like Boxers and Labs); and Rottweiler because of the wide, thick paws and chest. She's going to be a very big, meaty dog! If you scroll through the image link I'm posting you'll see what I mean:
www.google.co.uk/
She's a gorgeous puppy! The mix of the three breeds is either 'an accident' or the result of deliberate breeding to create a 'status' dog, unfortunately. In the US and the UK dogs are being used as intimidating status symbols, the bigger/fiercer the better. Some gang members are actually injecting these dogs with steroids to increase the intimidation factor.
Depending on where you got the puppy (dog pound or rescue group), she may be the result of this kind of irresponsible breeding-you will need to start her training NOW to prevent any bad traits from making her dangerous. Leash, muzzle, extreme caution for the rest of her life when around children or the frail of any age; you may need specialty insurance too depending on your locale-some areas ban these dogs as dangerous so you'll need to check into that.
No matter how or why she came by her breeding, all three breeds have special traits that should be trained from very early on to prevent problems in the future. Also, the large breeds mature slower than smaller dogs, expect that your puppy will take at least 2-3 years to reach full maturity so expect her to take a lot longer to 'settle down' (although she will be able to become pregnant from around age 6-8 months, so as a responsible dog owner you'll need to have her spayed once she hits 6 months old).
All three breeds are highly intelligent and have been used as service and police dogs over the years. The Boxer and Rottweilers aren't used as often any more because of their shorter life spans (8-10 years on average) and because irresponsible breeding (for size, looks, and/or aggressive traits) have made them difficult to handle for the average pet owner.
Additionally, all three breeds come with their own set of congenital predispositions to cancers and hip dysplasia-you need to be aware of that and keep an eye out for those things to develop. The conditions are treatable if caught early and all three breeds have the potential for a high quality of life.
You'll need to study up on all three breeds if your vet agrees that is what she is a mix of, and provide an environment for her and anyone she may come into contact with that is safe and happy for all concerned. Boxers and Labs have a great reputation as wonderful family dogs, Rotties are good family dogs but have a tendency to be 'one-person especially' dogs. A mix of all three breeds might well turn out to be the best canine companion you have ever had, with proper attention and training, so don't give up on her unless you don't have the time to give her the training and attention she'll need:)
If you decide she is too much dog for your situation, PLEASE find her a new home through your vet or a rescue group. Vets and breed rescue groups are able to rehome these dogs into an environment fully aware of the dog's needs.
I agree that you should definately ask your vet but it kind of looks like a boxer/pit mix to me. Not all pits have a pointed face. I had a dog that looked very similar and was a boxer/pit mix.
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