Boxer Dog Obedience Training

Teach Boxer Dog Training Commands to Your Boxer

Boxer dog obedience training is a form of boxer dog training that teaches your boxer to obey specific dog training commands.

All dog training begins with getting your boxer dog to respond to the commands you give him/her. You're in charge and the sooner your furry friend accepts that, the more peaceful and happy both your lives will be.

Boxer dog training is crucial because a trained boxer will listen to you and can safely be allowed more freedom than an untrained one. A disciplined and well-trained boxer is more confident and makes a wonderful companion that is a smart, soulful, more people-oriented dog and blessed with boundless energy - a pleasure to live with.

Many boxer owners will opt to do their own obedience training, while others may feel they need the support and education that will come from taking boxer to an outside boxer dog obedience training class with a professional trainer. Either way is OK... the key is to be consistent and to maintain your commitment to training over the long haul. If you don't stick with the training, then your boxer will be confused and won't know what you expect of him or her.

Whichever way you choose, get started early. Teach your boxer good habits while s/he is still young.

Boxer Dog Training Class

Many boxer lovers choose to enroll their boxers in a dog training class. Most populated areas will offer a number of choices for this.  For instance, chain pet stores like Petco and PetSmart often offer classes. So do local community education programs associated with high schools or community colleges. Or some independent trainers may offer classes too. A web search will probably yield at least a couple of choices for you.

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Ideally, training your boxer will begin when your boxer is still a puppy and eager to learn and please you. In my opinion, puppy school is not just 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 is for the boxers to help develop good habits right from the start. Wait until your boxer is at least 6 months old before putting him through any serious work.

Be sure to evaluate a boxer dog obedience class trainer carefully before signing up for the course. Ask if you can observe a class first and watch to see if the dogs in the class are happy and if the owners seem to be enjoying themselves. How is the trainer/class ratio (1:6 is a good ratio)? Is the class location clean and safe? What kind of tools do they use? (According to Petfinder.com, "Good tools to look for include leashes, flat collars, head halters, bite-sized treats, toys, harnesses and lots of praise. Tools you don't want to see include electronic collars, prong collars, choke collars and flexi-leads.") Physical punishment should never be used in dog training.

Also, ask if the trainer is certified. One who is certified will offer you some assurance of quality. Possible certifications could be: APDT, IAABC, NADOI and the CCPDT. The class/trainer should also require a health certificate from all dog owners before entry into the first class. This will protect all of the dogs in the class.

Working with a Trainer

As we've said, training your boxer is one of the most important aspects of owning a boxer. So why not invest the time and money into learning how to do it right?

One option is to hire a trainer to work one on one with you and your boxer. This can be a pretty pricey option, so you may not want to consider this one until you've tried to either do it on your own or through taking a boxer dog obedience class first. But if you do decide to go this route because you feel that your dog needs individual attention for some reason, be sure to pick a reputable trainer. You can search for a certified trainer on the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) website (new window will open).

It also helps if you know some things to look for when choosing a pet trainer. Of course, experience with the boxer breed would be a plus, but the truth is, dog obedience training need not vary that much from breed to breed. Beyond that, though, ask the trainer what methods he/she uses for training. If the training isn't rewards-based, then I'd encourage you to avoid that trainer. Boxer dog obedience training should NEVER involve physical punishment!

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.

Following Up on Professional Boxer Dog Training

Once your trainer sessions or class have ended, you'll need to continue with the obedience training. It'll never really be over, though it does get easier over time. Keep in mind that the well-trained boxer is a remarkable sight going through his paces. Their innate intelligence makes many boxers great successes in the obedience ring. But as I stated, of more importance is for you as owner to continue to practice the obedience lessons with your boxers.

Your boxer dog will best remember the lessons when you incorporate them into your everyday routines.

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.

Never look at training your boxer dog as a negative form of communication. Think of it as setting positive limits on your boxer, so he or she knows how to behave acceptably.

Using Rewards to Reinforce Positive Behavior

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Repetitions in doing the right things and rewarding your boxer every single time are crucial in training. The more often you reward your boxer, the better and quicker he will learn his boxer dog obedience training lessons and commands. Create situations where your boxer can get plenty of practice at doing the right things.

Be sure to praise when he does a good job.

This is simple, but not always easy to do. Bad behaviors like biting, constant yelping and barking and tearing the house apart get our immediate notice. What we easily forget to acknowledge are the good parts - when the boxer is lying down quietly, chewing on his own toys, leaving the carpet unsoiled.

Praise and reward are the most important part of maintaining your boxer's good behavior and preventing him from getting into trouble.

In Summary...

If you make boxer dog obedience training a high priority after you adopt a new boxer dog, he or she will likely become a loved and lovable member of your family. Boxer dog training is not always easy, but if you stick with it, it'll be so worth it.

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