The husky boxer mix, also known as the Boxsky, is a relatively new crossbreed that combines the best of both of these two popular breeds.
Boxskies are highly energetic and require a lot of training from an early age to socialize well with other animals and people. They are not for first-time owners but are extremely rewarding for people who have the time to commit.
Disclaimer – it’s impossible to know what traits a crossbreed will inherit, especially one like the Boxsky that is quite new and rare to come across. For the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on the known characteristics of the parent breeds.
Contents
Quick Profile
- Other Names: Boxsky
- Average Lifespan: 10-14 years
- Average Height: 21 to 25 inches
- Average Weight: 40 to 80 lbs
- Coat appearance: Typically short and smooth, in a variety of colors & markings.
- Eye Color: Usually brown or blue.
- Activity Level: Minimum of two hours per day
- Grooming Frequency: Usually will have a short and smooth coat that doesn’t need much grooming.
- Typical Temperament: Very friendly and affectionate towards other people who they know. Can be wary of strangers and difficult to train due to stubbornness.
- Daily Food Consumption: Very high – 2 to 4 cups of dry kibble daily.
- New Owner Friendly: Not suitable for new owners, as Bxskies require a lot of exercise and training.
- Suitable to live with children? Suitable, but need to be careful with smaller children as they can be full of energy.
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Suitable for living with other dogs.
- Suitable to live with cats? Not very suitable due to a very high prey drive. Early socialization is absolutely crucial.
Appearance
Husky boxer mixes have a similar coloring and coat length to the boxer, with plenty of physical characteristics inherited from the husky, such as erect ears, longer snouts, and longer tails.
This article is packed with examples, but to get a better idea, it’s important to know what each parent breed looks like to see where the mix gets its appearance from.
Boxer Appearance
Boxers are medium to large-sized breeds like the husky, although slightly larger on average, with fawn or brindle coats and black masks.
They have a short snout with large and gentle eyes. Boxers have a very muscular physique with short coats and short tails that are often docked.
Husky Appearance
The Siberian Husky is a medium to large-sized dog. They are slightly longer than they are tall.
They have graceful lean bodies. They are very strong and athletic because they were used to pull sleds across the Arctic ice.
They have an elongated head and a medium-length snout. They have medium-sized, erect ears.
They sport a long bushy tail that they can curl around their body to keep them warm.
Huskies come in a wide range of colors, which can have a direct impact on the appearance of the Husky Boxer mix. These include red, black and white, agouti, and many more.
Average Size
Huskies and boxers are similar sizes:
- Huskies reach 20 to 23.5 inches in height and anywhere from 35 to 60 lbs in weight.
- Boxers reach 21.5 to 25 inches in height and 50 to 80 lbs in weight.
Due to this, you can expect a Boxsky to be slightly larger than your average husky.
Coat Appearance
Boxskies usually have a short single coat like the boxer, rather than the thick double coat seen in huskies.
In terms of color, it tends to take after the boxer coloring with various shades of brown and white with a black mask.
Physical Features
Boxskies will (usually) show a lot of features inherited from both of the parent breeds.
For example, their coat is short and is commonly brown and white with a black mask like the boxer.
They inherit medium-sized, erect ears from the husky, although these can also be down when relaxed.
Their snout is longer than that of a boxer but wider than that of a husky and shorter in length. Their tail is also longer than that of a regular boxer and can be bushier as well, as seen in huskies.
I highly recommend looking through the pictures in this article to get a better idea of how the physical features of the parent breeds come together in the Boxsky.
Grooming Guide
In terms of grooming, Boxskies tend to be much easier to groom than huskies as they usually have a much shorter coat that they inherit from the boxer.
This is important to know because huskies are notorious for shedding as they have a thick double coat that sheds A LOT, and this is seen in other husky mixes, such as the Cocker Spaniel Husky mix.
This means that you only need to groom them every week or so to keep their coats in good condition, rather than every day or even multiple times per day when double-coated mixes blow their coat.
Bathing
Boxskies should be bathed every 4 to 6 weeks or whenever they need it.
They will handle bathing well as they are not double-coated, which means that you don’t need to worry about bathing interfering with the oils in the coat.
Nail Trimming
Boxskies shouldn’t require nail trimming often, as they are highly active, which means that their nails should stay short naturally through friction during exercise.
If their nails do need trimming, we recommend using an electronic nail grinder.
Is The Husky Boxer Mix Hypoallergenic?
The Boxsky still sheds year-round, but they shed much less than a husky would, for example.
This makes the mix more suitable for people with allergies, although, like any short-haired dog, there will still be some shedding all the time.
Temperament
Boxskies have great temperaments and can inherit a lot of different personality traits from the parent breeds:
- High energy – It should be no surprise that the Boxsky is high energy, given the parent breeds. Huskies can pull sleds for hundreds of miles when trained properly, and boxers require at least 2 hours of exercise per day.
- Affectionate – Huskies and boxers are highly affectionate and love to be around people. If you want a loving dog, the Boxsky is a great choice.
- Stubborn/Independent – Huskies are notorious for their stubbornness, which is common across many arctic breeds, and boxers are no slouches in this area, either. Expect training to be difficult.
- Protectiveness – Boxers are protective of their families, whereas huskies are the opposite and are more likely to befriend a stranger than anything else. Boxskies will usually be on one side of this – either protective or not at all.
Are They Aggressive?
Boxskies are not very likely to be aggressive at all.
Huskies show very little aggression, and boxers only show aggression very rarely if they feel like their families are being threatened.
Both breeds can sometimes get into altercations due to how friendly they are with other dogs, which can provoke them to protect themselves if the other dog is not friendly, but this is common across many dog breeds.
Are Husky Boxer Mixes Good Family Dogs?
The Boxsky is an exceptional family dog.
Both parent breeds love to be around people, and there are a few traits that this mix can inherit from either parent that make them great family dogs:
- Huskies have a strong pack mentality, which is ideal for a family environment.
- Boxers are very protective of their families, which is why they are known to be great with children.
You’ll have to be careful with small children, however. Boxkies won’t intentionally hurt them, but they can sometimes knock them over due to their size and how much energy they have.
Health
Given the scarcity of this mix, it’s hard to say for certain what type of health issues they are predisposed to.
There are a few health problems that both parent breeds can suffer from, however:
- Hip dysplasia – This is a condition where the ball and socket of the hip joint don’t form correctly. It causes discomfort and pain and can eventually lead to a complete loss of function.
- Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) – This is also known as bloat. GDV requires immediate medical attention and often occurs when food is consumed quickly, leading to an expansion in the stomach which can have several consequences, including causing the stomach to twist.
- Hypothyroidism – An abnormality of the thyroid gland that reduces the dog’s metabolic state. This can cause many issues, such as weight gain, susceptibility to infection, and much more.
Is The Husky Boxer Mix Intelligent?
According to canine psychologist Stanley Coren, huskies and boxers are pretty average when it comes to intelligence.
Owners will tell you a very different story, however, and it is important to note that Coren based this ranking on how fast dog breeds learn basic commands.
When you consider how stubborn these breeds can be, and also how breeds like the husky are not people pleasers, it’s clear to see why they don’t rank highly on standardized tests.
Are They Easy To Train?
Unfortunately, Boxskies are very likely to be difficult to train.
Both parent breeds are known for being stubborn, and huskies, in particular, are not very interested in pleasing their owners.
This is one of the reasons why this breed is not great for first-time owners. Obedience training with this type of dog is essential, but it will require a lot of patience and experience to get right.
How Much Do They Cost?
Given how rare this mix is, there isn’t really a standard for the price as there are not many breeders who breed for this mix.
You could pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand, although it is likely that you will adopt this kind of mix rather than purchase it from somebody.
In Summary
Boxskies are incredible family pets, but they need a lot of exercise as well as mental stimulation in the form of obedience training and playing games.
They are definitely not for first-time owners, but if you commit to this mix, you’ll be rewarded with a close companion who loves to spend time with you.
If you’re interested in learning about more husky mixes, check out some of our other recent articles today:
