Archive for July, 2009
How to Train a Boxer to Roll Over
Posted by: | CommentsTo make boxer training easier and simpler, it is best that you teach your boxer puppy to lay down on command first. If you don’t know how to train a boxer to lie down then check out an early post by clicking How to Train a Boxer to Lay Down. Once you got that part of boxer training out of the way, it’s time to proceed with training a boxer to roll over.
Just like with any other dog training trick or command, it is a good idea to have some sort of a reward to give to your boxer for doing a good job. You can use treats as a reward with boxer training or a clicker, if the boxer is trained for it. When I train my dogs I use Zuke’s Mini Naturals Dog Treats. Because of the small size, they are perfect for boxer puppy training.
So now we have the basics down and have the perfect reward for your boxer, let’s get him to roll over. Begin the boxer training by telling the boxer to lie down. Once your dog is on the ground gently push him onto his side. When the boxer is lying down on his side, say begin to rolling him over to the other side and say roll over so the boxer can associate the command with rolling over. When you get your dog halfway, he will most likely finish the roll on his own. At that point it’s safe to let the boxer to finish the roll on his own.
When your dog completes the movement, praise him and give him the reward that the boxer deserves. This will tell the boxer that the dog has done something right, but the boxer most likely won’t figure which part of the training he did correctly in order to get that treat. Keep training your boxer this way couple more times.
After a couple times, continue boxer training like previously but this time try to get your dog to roll over on his own. Be patient with your boxer because he might still not realize what exactly you want from him. If he just gives you a blank stare when you tell him to roll over, help him roll over again but instead of getting him half way only get him 1/4 of the way. Keep training the boxer this way until he completes a full roll over.
When the boxer learns that rolling over on command gets him all the treats from training then he will do it whenever you ask. So be consistent with your boxer training. To learn how to train a boxer other tricks, click on “Tricks to Teach Your Boxer Puppy” on top.
Boxer Training: Teaching Your Boxer Puppy to Speak
Posted by: | CommentsTeaching Your Boxer Puppy to Speak
Teaching this trick might be a little bit tricky, but shouldn’t be too difficult because barking comes naturally to dogs. All you will need to train your boxer puppy to speak is some treats.
Just like with most other boxer puppy training tricks, you cannot expect your dog to perform the command just because you told it too. You have to show your boxer puppy what you expect from him first. Since you can’t show your boxer puppy how to bark, because you’re not a dog yourself, you will have to catch him in the right moment. Most dogs will bark when they see food, so use that to your advantage.
Get a treat and hold it out of your boxer puppies reach. Tease him with the treat a little and say “Speak.” Usually dogs would bark because they want that treat and can’t get it. If your boxer puppy doesn’t bark right away, keep teasing him with the treat. When your dog barks, or “speaks”, give your boxer puppy the treat and keep training your boxer puppy this another two to three times.
Now do the same thing except don’t give your dog the permission to speak. If your boxer puppy starts barking anyways, just ignore him and don’t give him the treat. Wait until he is calm and stops barking, and then tell him to speak and when he barks, give him the treat. You have to make sure your boxer puppy only barks when told to and not whenever the boxer puppy wants.
Keep trying your boxer to speak this way but this time take away the food. Keep practicing this for 10-15 minutes at a time one to two more times a day. Your boxer puppy will learn quickly that “speak” means it’s the only time it should bark.
Will This Encourage Barking Dogs to Bark More?
Some dog owners do not train their boxer puppies to speak on command because they are afraid their dog will start barking all the time
around the house. Others might already have a barking dog on their hands and don’t want to encourage dog barking even more so they just skip this trick during their training.
Teaching your boxer puppy to speak on command will surely tell the boxer puppy that it is ok to bark, but only when you say it is. Boxers, that bark constantly, often times stop their barking after their training because they learn that it’s only rewarding when you ask them.
If you have a boxer that just can’t stop barking and annoys the neighbors constantly then you should talk to your vet about it. Often times dogs bark because of boredom or because they are defending their own territory. If they are barking at your neighbors, it is a good idea to take your dog and meet the neighbors. This will tell your boxer puppy that they are friends and are not trying to take over your property.
If your boxer is barking while no one is at home or because of the boredom, give him something to do. You can get toys for him to play with or a bone to chew on. A busy boxer will have no reason to bark, so make sure he always has something to do.
Boxer Training: Teaching Your Boxer to Come to You
Posted by: | CommentsTeaching your boxer puppy to “come here” is one of the most important tricks you can ever teach your dog. It can help you avoid dangerous situations and encounters with not so friendly dogs.
What to Avoid When Training Your Boxer Puppy to Come to You
The command “come here” can also be one of the more challenging things an average dog owner can try to teach his boxer puppy. This is mostly because they don’t know how to train their boxer puppies’ right. They expect their dogs 
to expect their boxers to run to them on command and if the dog doesn’t come right away, the dog owners punish their boxers. This tells the boxer that if he comes, then the boxer will be punished so the dogs just stay away.
Another thing that boxer owners often times do is call their boxer while he or she is playing and usually that means the fun is over. So the boxer might try to ignore you to let the fun last longer and if the boxer puppy knows that the owner will just punish him if he doesn’t “come here” right away, then they see no point in coming. The boxer puppy would rather just ignore the owner and have some fun than run to the owner, end the fun and get punished for it.
How to Teach Your Boxer to Come to You
So how do you teach your boxer puppy to come to you the right way? Well just like with other tricks, its good to start when your boxer is a little bit hungry and really wants that treat. Since boxer puppies can get a little stubborn at times, they will need a little more of encouragement than other dogs. When you are sure that your boxer will be willing to come to you for that treat, then begin your boxer puppy training.
It would be easier to teach your boxer to come to you if your boxer puppy already knows how to sit. You can learn how to teach your boxer puppy to sit here. Tell your boxer to sit down and then move a couple feet back. Now call your boxer puppy to come to you and tell him to sit. If your boxer puppy will just sit there staring at you, show your boxer puppy a treat and tell him to “come here” again. When your boxer comes to you, give him the treat and tell your boxer puppy what a good boy he is.
Now step back again and repeat the process. After your dog starts coming to you every time, try to give him the treat only every other time. Then slowly start giving your boxer puppy the treat less and less times. Eventually you will eliminate the need for treats while you train your boxer puppy to come to you.
Keep practicing this daily even if your boxer has mastered the command “come here”.
It is also a good idea to call your boxer puppy while he is having fun to give him a treat and then let him continue with the fun. This will help prevent your boxer of thinking that coming to you means the fun is over.
Professional Dog Trainers
Posted by: | CommentsSome dog owners think that the only way to train their boxers is to bring them to a specialized dog trainer that will teach their boxer puppy all the tricks it should know
and they won’t have to worry about training their boxer puppy anymore. There is no doubt that your boxer puppy will come home with new tricks under his belt, but the complete training is far from over.
Chances are that there might be times when you will have to leave your house and leave your boxer puppy all by himself. Since dog trainers don’t know what you have in your house and what the dog can or can’t do, you will have to teach it on your own or you will have a big mess in your room when you come back from work.
Dogs have “the pack” mentality, which means that there can only be one leader and everyone in the household must do as the pack leader says. You have to be that pack leader and need to make sure your boxer puppy knows it. If all the boxer puppy training was done by someone else, your boxer won’t see you as the pack leader.
So what are some alternatives?
- Begin the boxer puppy training on your own. With so much information that can be found about dog training online, it shouldn’t be a problem.
- Go to dog training classes with your boxer puppy. These classes are designed to help the dog owners teach their dogs tricks themselves.
- Get a local dog trainer come to your house and help you train your boxer puppy. This might cost you more money than the classes.
Cute Little Boxer Puppies
Posted by: | CommentsHere is cute little video of boxer puppies learning how to bark.
Teaching Your Boxer How To Fetch The Ball
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the best ways to keep your boxer puppy healthy is to play fetch. Playing fetch involves the owner throwing a ball or a stick and his dog retrieving it. It’s a fun game for both, the owner and the dog.
Before you can do that, you will have to teach your boxer how to fetch the ball for you. Since boxers are smart, teaching them new tricks will not be too big of a problem. All that you will need is some treats and the item you will want your boxer puppy to go fetch. The item can be a ball or a toy or even a stick, as long as the dog can fit it in its mouth and carry it to you. You can also use a clicker as an addition or a replacement of the reward. You can learn more about clickers by reading my The Importance of the Clicker article
So now that you have everything ready, go get your boxer to begin your boxer puppy training. Go outside in your backyard preferably or at the park when there are not too many people around to eliminate all of the distractions. Boxers are curious dogs and get distracted easily by new people and new things.
Get your boxer to sit next to you and show the ball to him. Shake it a little bit to make sure it caught your boxer’s attention and then chuck it about 5 feet away from you and tell your boxer puppy to fetch it. You don’t want to throw it too far because your dog might lose interest in it.
If your boxer just sits there giving you a blank look then you will have to try again. This time make sure the ball or they toy gets your boxers complete attention. You can even start playing with it and get your boxer all excited about it and then throw it telling your boxer to fetch. Keep doing this until your boxer at least runs to the item and touches it.
Once your boxer touches the toy you give him a treat and praise him for getting a toy. This way your boxer will know that it’s rewarding to go after the toy. Don’t keep giving your dog treats all the time just for touching the toy. Remember the goal is for them to actually bring the toy to you when you say fetch. Give your dog treats just for going to the toy a few more times and if your boxer puppy still didn’t actually bring back the toy to you, then stop and ask where to toy is pointing at it. If your dog keeps coming back to you without the item send him again saying fetch and pointing to the toy until he or she gets the item.
When your dog starts finally starts getting you the toy, start throwing it farther each time. After a while you may want to ease off on the treats and try getting your boxer to fetch the toy without the treats completely.
A problem that you might run into while training your boxer puppy to fetch is when the boxer brings the toy but won’t give it to you. This is one of the ways your boxer puppy is trying to play with you. To help prevent this, just wait until he brings it to u and give him a treat. Don’t chase him after the toy because then it means you’re playing with it.
After some proper boxer training, your dog should be able to fetch the ball with no problems at all.