LYNSHANES
BOXERS
Training your Boxer
Most would agree that the day you bring your puppy home, you must already pick the direction in which you want to go with him. Disciplining one is a matter of thinking and working a step ahead of your Boxer. Do it with love, gentleness but firmness as well.
Also, a Boxer that is well behaved today may not remain so forever. Dog behaviour constantly changes; new problems can always develop and existing ones could get worse. So make the discipline constant.
Training your puppy is the most important thing you will do for him and for yourself in order to have a much better relationship together.
A trained Boxer will listen and can safely be allowed freedom more than an untrained one.
A disciplined and well-trained Boxer puppy is more confident and makes a wonderful companion that is smart, soulful and blessed with boundless energy - a pleasure to live with.
A poorly trained dog can be a loud and destructive nuisance around the house that weighs on you more like a commitment and responsibility rather than a blessing.
It is not fair on your Boxer puppy to let him pull on the lead when he is a small boy and this doesn't hurt your hand, then to scold and shout at him if he does the same when he is big and strong. It is not fair on the dog and certainly not fair on you.
Start the training some place that is familiar to your Boxer, where there is minimum distraction. But remember socialization is also an important part of the training because you don't want to end up with a very shy Boxer.
So after both of you are skilled at several obedience commands, start taking him to different areas for practice, where there are increasing amount of distractions present. Examples are near a supermarket, busy parking lot and a busy park on Sundays. This may seems like starting all over again but you'l have a superbly trained dog at the end of it. So it's worth the effort.
Keep in mind Boxers are intelligent. Being an intelligent dog has its own advantages and drawbacks. They are quick to learn.
It also means Boxers have a mind of their own that would sometimes show up as stubbornness. Thus, they can be harder to train than most other dogs due to their independence.
As a new owner, you must maintain respect between you and your puppy. Respect goes both ways.
Basically Boxers are intelligent and can be stubborn. So you have to outwit them!
While training your Boxer, you have to make him WANT to do what you want him to. You can't make him do stuff unless it is FUN. Otherwise you are wasting both your time and his.
Your Boxer's favourite activities should become training, so that training becomes his favourite activity.
Boxers LOVE to play! You will have the happiest Boxer in the world and most obedient if you will just spend some time, giving them your undivided attention everyday. Otherwise they feel ignored, bored and will tear or chew things up and will not listen to you.
Some tried and proven tactics you can use to make your Boxers listen to you more.
If play is encouraged at ground level, this builds your role as the dominant or top dog when you are standing and training your puppy. If the puppy is allowed to jump up and initiate play, then this can lead to unwanted jumping up as the Boxer gets older.
However, it suffice to teach your Boxer to obey simple commands of raising a paw in a handshake, giving a hand lick for a kiss or doing a roll over to show his submission to you. Most Boxers love performing these simple tricks (obedience commands) for you.
There is no need for extreme measures to prove you are the boss. Obedience training should be fun and rewarding for you and your Boxer.
This is the easiest way to show to your Boxer who is the boss. But this is easier said than done when there are many people in the family and not all would respect the rule.
It is best to have many short 5 to 10-minute lessons than a single, long 30-minute lesson. Keep the training session short and sweet. Lengthy session easily becomes dull, boring and tedious for both you and the Boxer.
Be kind but be firm while training and never give in to what they want. It seems cruel but in the long run you will have a much better relationship with you boxer.
Have a big play by running and throwing his favorite toys. If you give them a lot of playtime with yourself they' listen to you more.
Have him wait till people enter and come up the stairs then he gets a treat. This particular owner noticed that even when the gate is left open the Boxers don't usually go by unless they see a squirrel or cat!
Don't let him run away because he'll just keep going and going. Always keep him on the lead outdoors if not in a fenced area. He can run faster than you and you will not catch him if he runs for the road!
Boxers and Obedience Class
Discipline is one of the most important aspects of owning a Boxer.
Puppy school is not an option, it is a necessity to train owners, including children in the family, how to manage the Boxer and nurture it into becoming a well-adjusted member of the family.
Puppy school is for the Boxers to help develop good habits right from the start. Wait until your Boxer is at least 6 months old before putting him through any serious work.
Trainers with extensive experience and knowledge can deal with just about any behavior problems your pup might come up with.
Choose a trainer who is purposeful and patient. The well-trained Boxer is a sight to behold going through his paces in the class. Their innate intelligence makes many Boxers great successes in the obedience ring.
Of more importance is for you as owner to continue to practice the obedience lessons with your Boxers.
They will best remember the lessons when you incorporate them into your everyday routines with your dog.
Also, a Boxer that is well behaved today may not remain so forever. Dog behaviour constantly changes; new problems can always develop and existing ones could get worse. So make the discipline constant.
Training your puppy is the most important thing you will do for him and for yourself in order to have a much better relationship together.
A trained Boxer will listen and can safely be allowed freedom more than an untrained one.
A disciplined and well-trained Boxer puppy is more confident and makes a wonderful companion that is smart, soulful and blessed with boundless energy - a pleasure to live with.
A poorly trained dog can be a loud and destructive nuisance around the house that weighs on you more like a commitment and responsibility rather than a blessing.
It is not fair on your Boxer puppy to let him pull on the lead when he is a small boy and this doesn't hurt your hand, then to scold and shout at him if he does the same when he is big and strong. It is not fair on the dog and certainly not fair on you.
Start the training some place that is familiar to your Boxer, where there is minimum distraction. But remember socialization is also an important part of the training because you don't want to end up with a very shy Boxer.
So after both of you are skilled at several obedience commands, start taking him to different areas for practice, where there are increasing amount of distractions present. Examples are near a supermarket, busy parking lot and a busy park on Sundays. This may seems like starting all over again but you'l have a superbly trained dog at the end of it. So it's worth the effort.
Keep in mind Boxers are intelligent. Being an intelligent dog has its own advantages and drawbacks. They are quick to learn.
It also means Boxers have a mind of their own that would sometimes show up as stubbornness. Thus, they can be harder to train than most other dogs due to their independence.
As a new owner, you must maintain respect between you and your puppy. Respect goes both ways.
Basically Boxers are intelligent and can be stubborn. So you have to outwit them!
While training your Boxer, you have to make him WANT to do what you want him to. You can't make him do stuff unless it is FUN. Otherwise you are wasting both your time and his.
Your Boxer's favourite activities should become training, so that training becomes his favourite activity.
Boxers LOVE to play! You will have the happiest Boxer in the world and most obedient if you will just spend some time, giving them your undivided attention everyday. Otherwise they feel ignored, bored and will tear or chew things up and will not listen to you.
Some tried and proven tactics you can use to make your Boxers listen to you more.
- When playing with your Boxer puppy, play at his level.
If play is encouraged at ground level, this builds your role as the dominant or top dog when you are standing and training your puppy. If the puppy is allowed to jump up and initiate play, then this can lead to unwanted jumping up as the Boxer gets older.
- From the very beginning, make sure your Boxers know you are the master.
However, it suffice to teach your Boxer to obey simple commands of raising a paw in a handshake, giving a hand lick for a kiss or doing a roll over to show his submission to you. Most Boxers love performing these simple tricks (obedience commands) for you.
There is no need for extreme measures to prove you are the boss. Obedience training should be fun and rewarding for you and your Boxer.
- Once it is established you are the boss, one owner declared: "Life with your Boxer will be just kidney bean dancin'all the way!" Another reported: "My Boxer wanted to be class clown at obedience class until I got serious and showed him I was the boss."
- The Boxer must always eat after you do.
This is the easiest way to show to your Boxer who is the boss. But this is easier said than done when there are many people in the family and not all would respect the rule.
- Very active young Boxers have short attention span.
It is best to have many short 5 to 10-minute lessons than a single, long 30-minute lesson. Keep the training session short and sweet. Lengthy session easily becomes dull, boring and tedious for both you and the Boxer.
- Speak to your Boxer strongly but not in an angry voice.
Be kind but be firm while training and never give in to what they want. It seems cruel but in the long run you will have a much better relationship with you boxer.
- Celebrate after every training session for a good job done.
Have a big play by running and throwing his favorite toys. If you give them a lot of playtime with yourself they' listen to you more.
- Use only one word like "sit," "down," "drop" and "stay" when teaching Boxers commands. For example, when your Boxer gets on the lounge with you, say "sit - down" and he should sit then lay down on your lap.
- To keep a Boxer from charging the front door, put up a door/gate that he can't see through or hop over.
Have him wait till people enter and come up the stairs then he gets a treat. This particular owner noticed that even when the gate is left open the Boxers don't usually go by unless they see a squirrel or cat!
- Finally, no matter how well trained you think your Boxer is, he has an attention span of seconds!
Don't let him run away because he'll just keep going and going. Always keep him on the lead outdoors if not in a fenced area. He can run faster than you and you will not catch him if he runs for the road!
Boxers and Obedience Class
Discipline is one of the most important aspects of owning a Boxer.
Puppy school is not an option, it is a necessity to train owners, including children in the family, how to manage the Boxer and nurture it into becoming a well-adjusted member of the family.
Puppy school is for the Boxers to help develop good habits right from the start. Wait until your Boxer is at least 6 months old before putting him through any serious work.
Trainers with extensive experience and knowledge can deal with just about any behavior problems your pup might come up with.
Choose a trainer who is purposeful and patient. The well-trained Boxer is a sight to behold going through his paces in the class. Their innate intelligence makes many Boxers great successes in the obedience ring.
Of more importance is for you as owner to continue to practice the obedience lessons with your Boxers.
They will best remember the lessons when you incorporate them into your everyday routines with your dog.
© 2007 Lynshanes Boxers
