What To Know Before Starting Your Boxer Dog Training

Boxer Dog Training can be a pleasure or a pain--depending on your mindset and what you know about Boxer dogs.

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 helps your Boxer 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.

For example you can tell your pup to “heel” while he follows you around the house, and to “sit” and “stay” while you prepare his dinner. As your wake up greeting in the morning he can do a “roll over”. Tell him to “go find the ball” while you get dressed and “go get the leash” before you go for walks together.

One very important thing to remember when performing Boxer dog training is not to let your Boxer run loose outdoors. He has short attention span and runs faster than you.

That's why it's always a good idea to have your Boxer leashed or fenced when outdoors. Another good reason is, though extremely tolerant of children by nature, a Boxer’s effusive greeting could scare a small child.

Or he could run into not so pleasant encounters with other dogs from the neighborhood or worse mishaps like a road accident and consuming something harmful.

So exercise or play with your Boxer in a fenced area or on a leash. If yours like to pull or stray while going on walks, opt for a body harness. The chain-harness combo looks good as well as trains the Boxer to walk without pulling or straying.

A harness is also the answer to the Boxer slipping out of the collar. And a properly protected screen door is the answer to one that is prone to unexpected house exit.

At home, a crate for your Boxer puppy can be his safe heaven, a place where he retreats to for rest.

It is not a prison. Place it in a warm corner, away from the draft, cold or summer heat, as Boxers are sensitive to extremes in temperature. Leave the crate door open and your puppy will usually enter when he wants to rest.

The crate is particularly useful when you are going out, leaving him alone for a while. Then you don’t have to worry so much about your Boxer chewing up the furniture or electrical cords in the house. The crate is also an excellent house training aid, as the puppy doesn’t like to soil his crate.

Follow these simple Boxer dog training tips and you'll have a fabulous family pet for years to come.