Boxer Dog Behavior Characteristics And Training

By: Adrian Fletcher

The Boxer breed is a fantastic dog that often has a mistaken perception as being a fussy and slightly skittish animal. In fact this is far from the truth, by nature they need a great amount of attention and love and without this they become skittish. Indeed, if you lead a very active lifestyle that means you will have to spend a lot of time away from the home then you are probably wise not to get a Boxer dog.

With that out of the way, here are some details on the Boxer dog breed, their characteristics and best training methods. It will cover selecting a puppy and some things to look out for.

It's prudent to do a bit of research before you go for a puppy. Good advice is to view the puppies parents if this is possible or at least get some information on them. You will gain an insight into their temperament and how the puppies may turn out in the future.

Another point to consider is to get a puppy from a non commercial breeder who does not see the process as a way to make money but has a respect and love for the breed. These types of breeders will care for the litter and parents with love and ensure that the puppies are social and well balanced animals.

The American Kennel Club claims that the Boxer is one of the most popular breeds to own currently in America. They are a large to medium sized dog that have an endless supply of energy and are naturally curious of the world around them and intelligent. They will be more costly than a smaller dog and require more space to keep happy.

You should consider that food bills, dog toys and treats will be greater than many other breeds of dog. They are short haired dogs so grooming is minimal. They don't seem to like water either so bathing may be interesting.

Boxers are very sociable dogs. They are better off living in a family and crave the attention that many people will give to them. You should make sure that your boxer has plenty to do. Without attention they will soon get bored and lonely. The result of this kind of treatment will be bad behavioral habits and potentially destructive activities like tearing up plants and dig holes.

A Boxer dog needs lots of space. It's not a good idea to keep a boxer in an apartment for example. It needs a backyard so that it can run about and expend energy. You can even set treats throughout the garden to keep it active. You should also provide toys to keep it occupied. Like most dogs, Boxers love toys to play with.

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.

You should begin the training as soon as possible, preferably when they are puppies. This includes socializing them with other family members so that they know their status within the family. A well adjusted dog is more content and will respond better to obedience training.

Given their exuberant nature you may want to make the environment where the dog is trained quiet and distraction free. Thus your pet may not be the best pupil in a group obedience training class with lots of other pooches to distract it. Obedience training is a big task when it comes to any dog, let alone a Boxer but it is certainly worth making this commitment. They are an intelligent animal and love the close relationship with their owner that obedience training requires.