Boxer Dog Training & Boxer Breed Information

Boxers are a wonderful all-round family companion dog.

Boxers are a superb blend of clownish playful personality, high intelligence, athleticism and family protection dog with a lovely affectionate nature. Not to mention their ruggedly handsome good looks!

When given proper puppy socialization and training, Boxers are a great choice for families with children. Boxers thrive on human companionship, they have the uncanny knack of forging a very close bond with each member of their human family. It's important to get stuck into your Boxer dog training as soon as you possibly can. You can read more about how to train your Boxer here - Boxer dog training.

There's so much to admire and love about the Boxer as a breed, they really are the complete package. Their energy level is legendary in the dog world. One minute your Boxer will be romping around with the kids, then curled up with you in front of the television and then the next thing they will spring to life to investigate a knock at the door. It's all go go go for a Boxer - they love to be involved in everything and do require daily exercise.

History Of The Boxer Dog Breed

The Boxer originated in Germany in the late 19th century - they were developed by crossing the German Bullenbeisser with the English Bulldog. Their original purpose was to hunt large game such as wild pigs, bear and bison. The size, power and determination of Boxers made them well suited to this role. The Boxer then spread to America and all parts of the globe early last century. Today the Boxer is one of the most popular of all dog breeds - and it's easy to see why.

Boxer Puppy Appearance

Boxers are a beautiful dog to look at - they have that unmistakably distinctive appearance.

A well bred Boxer in peak condition is a well balanced athlete, muscular, with a big chest and a powerful neck that supports a large handsome head.

Boxers have a short, smooth and sleek coat that comes in many shades of fawn, brindle and flashes of white. All-white Boxers are fairly common but not usually encouraged, as they suffer from some additional health problems (see below).

The Boxer tail is normally docked and depending on which part of the world you live, the ears may be cropped. Fully grown Boxers stand at between 21 - 25 inches tall at the shoulder (males are a touch taller than Boxer bitches) and they weigh in at around 55 - 70 pounds.

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The Boxer Temperament

It's the Boxer's lovely temperament that sets them apart from other dog breeds.

To maximise your chance of bringing a physically and mentally sound Boxer puppy into your life it is essential that you buy from a reputable Boxer puppy breeder. Such a person will have the interest of the Boxer as a breed at heart, and will only breed from carefully planned matings with good quality stock. Genetics plus the puppy socialization and training you provide will determine the temperament and behavior habits of your Boxer puppy.

Boxers are often spoken about with words such as - faithful, intelligent, ever alert, playful, energetic, friendly, thoughtful, courageous and affectionate. These terms are all accurate and they combine to make the Boxer the beautiful breed it is.

• Boxers love to be inside the house with their human family whenever possible. They don't enjoy being locked outside and are not suited to being left alone for long periods each day (what dog breed is though?). If they are put in a situation where they are lonely and bored a Boxer is susceptible to separation anxiety and numerous destructive behaviors.

• Boxers make excellent guard dogs, they have acute hearing and are always alert to any suspicious activity.

• Boxers experience a long period of puppyhood - some might even say it never ends! This is just another reason why your Boxer dog training is so crucial. It provides the boundaries and guidelines necessary for your Boxer puppy to live happily and safely in our human environment.

• The wonderful temperament and intelligence of Boxers has seen them utilized in many "jobs" including military work, police work, as guide dogs for the blind, service work, guard dogs and as hunting companions.

• Boxers require plenty of exercise to burn up their energy. If a Boxer does not receive enough physical exertion their energy tends to come out in destructive behaviors such as chewing and digging.

• Puppy kindergarten is an advisable exercise for Boxer puppies. Kindergarten is a good place for your puppy socialization to continue. It can help prevent shyness in your Boxer puppy and help them to get along well with other dogs and humans.

Boxer Health Concerns

Boxers are generally a healthy breed, especially when bred by a responsible Boxer puppy breeder.

As with all dog breeds, the Boxer does have some health concerns. Some of these problems are genetically inherited and some are controlled by your actions. Your Boxer puppy breeder and Veterinarian can offer you more detailed and specific advice on the following conditions:

• You should at least be aware of - Aortic Stenosis, Hip Dysplasia, Cancer, Other Heart Conditions, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular, Hypothyroidism, Degenerative Myelopathy, Bloat and Corneal Dystrophy. These are all health problems that affect Boxers.

• Boxers are not suited to extreme climates. If you live in an area of harsh cold or heat it would pay to check if there are other Boxers doing well in this environment.

• White Boxer puppies suffer from the same health problems as other Boxers but they are especially prone to skin conditions and deafness.

• One medical issue you can control is the weight of your Boxer. Ensure that you feed good quality dog food, in the right amounts, and also get plenty of exercise into your dog. An overweight Boxer is susceptible to many many health problems.

Boxer Dog Training

Boxer dog training is a great way to physically and mentally stimulate your Boxer puppy. Plus the added bonus is that it's the best way to strengthen the bond you share with your Boxer. Boxers are very intelligent and usually highly enthusiastic obedience training students. They respond best to positive reward based training methods which rely on encouragement, consistency, praise and repetition. They are not a breed that requires any harsh corrections or forceful methods. Many Boxer owners are getting great results using clicker training methods with their Boxer puppies - they love it.

Boxer puppies are often strong willed or stubborn little characters. Combine this with their energetic boisterous behavior and you can see why they can be a handful. Boxer puppy training certainly helps you to get through this period, and sets the dog up to develop into a reliable and trusted member of society. Establishing good behavior habits early on and preventing problem behavior from ever developing is one of the keys to training your Boxer.

Boxer dog training is fun, rewarding and a good thing about Boxers is that they are quick learners. All the basic obedience training commands such as sit, stay, come, fetch, down etc. are easily learned by Boxer puppies. They also excel in dog sports like agility training and flyball competitions.

When talking about training a Boxer the following issues come up time and time again:

• Much is written and spoken about Boxer house training. Truth be known, Boxers are actually one of the easiest breeds to successfully potty train. If your situation allows, I find that using a crate in the housebreaking process produces fast and effective results. You can learn how to crate train your Boxer here - Boxer house training.

• One of the biggest training issues is teaching your Boxer to walk nicely on a loose leash. If allowed to get away with it your powerful Boxer would drag you all around the neighbourhood. It's important to sort this potential problem out early - Boxer leash training.

• Another common training issue with Boxers is trying to stop them from jumping up on people. When excited, jumping up is a Boxers most common response. It's best if you get in early and prevent your Boxer puppy from developing this annoying (and potentially dangerous) habit. If your Boxer already jumps up you can train them out of it - stop your Boxer jumping up.

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