Boxer Dog Obedience Training
The Boxer breed makes a great family pet but is often mistakenly thought to be slightly fussy and skittish at times. The reality is that they are a breed that needs lots of attention and only when they do not receive this do they become shy and skittish. Indeed, if you have a busy job and think you will not be home much then a boxer dog is not the right breed for you.
Having said that, if you do decide to get a Boxer then here are some facts about Boxer dogs. It will start by helping you select the best boxer puppy for your family.
Do your research before selecting an individual puppy or a litter to select from. Some common wisdom before making a selection is to view the parents of the litter first. This will give you an some pointers on the temperament and behavior of the parents and an indication of how the puppies may grow up to behave.
It is also makes sense to find a puppy from a non commercial breeder who loves the animal rather than seeing it as a commercial venture. This means the dogs will be well cared for and likely to grow up to be more socially adjusted.
The American Kennel Club has the Boxer breed as the 6th most popular breed. They are a large to medium sized dog that are naturally inquisitive, intelligent and full of energy. It will cost more to own a Boxer dog and you will need more space so that it can get expend some of the energy that it has.
Food costs and other expenses like treats and toys will be more for a Boxer than many other breeds. Although being a short haired dog you will not need to do much grooming. For some strange reason they are not keen on water either so that will make bathing a lot of fun !
On the plus side, they are very social creatures. Ideally, they need to have the energy and stimulation that comes with living in a family unit. Work at keeping them active and with things to do. Without this stimulation they will get easily bored and lonely. Like most breeds of dog this can lead to bad behavior and antisocial tendencies.
A Boxer needs room to move. It is not wise to keep such a breed in an apartment. It should have a back yard where it can move around and keep itself busy. You can also hide treats in the yard so that it will hunt around and keep busy. Plenty of toys will also keep it busy. They love to play and toys appeal to that part of their nature.
The Excessive energy levels of your boxer may make it harder to obedience train. They will lose focus quickly, consequently positive reinforcement training where you are catching the dogs attention is the best training method.
Begin obedience training early, when they are puppies. This also includes socializing them with other animals in the home like cats and other dogs. A well adjusted dog is better behaved and easier to train.
Given their energetic personality of the Boxer you should try to keep distractions to a minimum. So classes where obedience training is taught to many dogs may be too much of a distraction for your Boxer. Although obedience training your Boxer dog is a big investment in your time and energy, it will repay you many times over. The dogs intelligence will shine through and the training will help to develop a strong bond that the animal has with you as it’s owner and your family as a whole..
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