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Boxer Training: The Easiest and Best Way to Train Your Dog
Having a boxer that is well-behaved unfortunately involves more effort than muttering an occasional "here boy" or "sit" while out in public. What follows is what I beleive to be the easiest boxer training... I learned the importance of proper training very quickly. My white boxer (Blizzard) knew all the commands perfectly indoors...but had no idea who I was in a park or out in public. I anquished for weeks trying everything from expensive personal trainers to self taught tricks of the trade only to come to the same conclusion... My Dog Is Untrainable!
Let's Clear This Up Right Now...
You CAN do it and boxer training CAN be easy!!
But if you don't have a boxer (tsk tsk) ...and you do have other puppies... the-puppy-dog-place does a great job of covering basic puppy training and more for ALL breeds, not just boxers.
...But back to Boxer training...
HousebreakingOK...So you've just become the proud parent of a bouncing baby boxer...now what?? How do you Begin?? Step 1: Be Consistent Housebreaking begins the moment you arrive home with your new puppy-and the more consistent you are now, the easier it will be to train your new friend. First, you should take puppy outside immediately to a spot you have previously designated the "bathroom" and he will probably go... and if he succeeds...Be SURE to give plenty of praise for a job well done!
New boxer puppies need to go outside about every two to three hours at first, so don't get discouraged if he makes a few mistakes in the beginning...no one said boxer training was easy!!
As you take puppy outside try to say the same thing. For instance...I trained my white boxer "Blizzard" by saying "outside, outside" everytime we hit the backyard. Pretty soon he began to associate going to the bathroom with these words...
...well, it wasn't really that easy, but he learned pretty quick! Step 2: Be Patient! By the way...It can be done in a day if your'e willing to dedicate time to reading and money for the e-book... Click Here! ...But for most of us this is just not a reality. In other words...be patient with your boxer. He or she doesn't always know what you want from them. Just like any good long-lasting friendship, puppies need to spend time with you and get to know you before they get good at recognizing right from wrong!
Crate Training As a ToolSome say the best tool for effective boxer housebreaking uses the dogs own instincts to avoid soiling its bed. This becomes the basis behind crate training, in which the dog is placed in a large four sided crate when you leave the house.
Boxers (and many other animals) are naturally very clean and try their best to avoid using their dens as toilets. Yay! Crate training usually works pretty well, for both puppies and older dogs. But problems do sometimes occur. If crate training fails- Try to be consistent with feeding times and above all...try not to rush the process. And remember, you can't leave a puppy in a crate for too long or even the cleanest dog will have no choice but to go to the bathroom. If the crate is to large for the puppy, he might designate a small section of it as his bathroom...(no!!) So make sure he's not left alone for more than two or three hours at a time and that the crate is just large enough for him to stretch out completely and stand up (but no more room than that) And as a side note...it's ALWAYS better to house train a new puppy right the first time than to try to correct bad behavior in an older dog later.
Reasons why crate training fails If your boxer continues to soil the den area after house training, the most likely reason is that he has been left in the den for too long. Another reason may be that the crate is too large. In this case, the best strategy is to make the area smaller or to take your boxer to the toilet area more frequently. One other reason for house training accidents that many people overlook is boredom. Dogs who are bored often drink large amounts of water and have to go more often than you might think. If you notice your dog drinking alot, be sure to take him out more often, and provide plenty of toys and other distractions to eliminate boredom. Boredom is the root cause of many dog behavior problems, not just house training issues. Chewing and other destructive behaviors are also often caused by boredom and separation anxiety. Another reason crate training may fail is if your boxer is not properly introduced to his crate. In some cases dogs can react to the crate as if it is a prison or a punishment. Signs of anxiety, such as whining, chewing and excessive barking might occur as a result. It is sooo important for your boxer to feel secure in his crate, and to think of it as a home and not a cage. To create a successful boxer dog training program :
-Make yourself aware of your dogs habits and needs -Create a healthy and safe sleeping and play area -Have a well-defined toilet area House training is not always an easy process, but it is certainly an important one. The number one reason dogs are surrendered to animal shelters is problems with housetraining, so a well structured boxer dog training program can literally be a lifesaver for your dog.
Leash and Collar TrainingThere are many different styles of training in general. Finding the one method that works best for you is an important part of raising a boxer that is a talented, loyal and faithful member of the family. All successful methods of boxer dog training work to reinforce the relationship between you and your dog. Therefore, successful training programs are geared towards earning the respect of your dog. Fortunately, boxers are wired by nature to seek out leaders and to follow the direction of those leaders. There are several options or "styles" of training...leash/collar training, reward training and positive reinforcement. Both leash/collar training and reward training have been around for a very long time, and have proven their effectiveness over that time. However, the type of training that works best will vary from dog to dog. Of course personalities of individual dogs vary quite a bit. You- as the parent- will know your boxer the best, and which style of training will work best. So it's important to work closely with any outside trainers you choose. Leash and Collar Training Leash and collar training is the best way to accomplish many types of boxer dog training, particularly in situations where the dog must have a high level of reliability. For instance, dogs that have an important job to do, such as rescue dogs, police dogs and guard dogs, generally benefit from leash and collar training. In leash and collar training with boxers, varying degrees of force can be used, ranging from slight prompts with the lead to very harsh corrections. The amount of correction used should be appropriate to the situation, since using too much correction, or too little, will be ineffective. (As a side note- I'm not overly fond of the forceful corrective method, although I have chosen to minclude it because it is an accepted practice) In a collar and leash based dog training program, first the dog is taught a particular behavior, generally with the leash. After the dog has demonstrated that it understands the command, the leash is then used to correct the dog if it disobeys, or when it makes a mistake. The leash is the main form of controlling and communicating with the boxer in leash and collar training. When using leash and collar training, the dog must be trained to trust the handler and accept his or her directions without question. In order for your boxer to be fully trained, the handler must demonstrate the ability to place him into a posture or position he does not want to take. This does not mean using force, but it does generally require some level of physical manipulation. This manipulation is most easily and safely done using the main tool of leash and collar training – the leash. It is important for every would be dog trainer to understand that the leash is simply a tool. While the leash is an important tool in this form of training, it is important for the dog trainer to be able to eventually achieve the same results using whatever tools are at hand. Even when the only tools at hand are the owner’s body and skill, the dog should be willing to obey. Creating a leader/follower relationship between handler and dog is still very important, and it is important to use the leash as a tool and not a crutch. A properly trained dog should be willing to obey whether the leash is present or not. Watch the folowing YouTube video for some great (but brief) tips on leash training. If you think this is something you could handle, then give it a try!!!
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