Archive for August, 2009
Training a Boxer Puppy to Stop Biting
Posted by: | CommentsIf you obtained your boxer puppy at an early age, chances are you were a victim of his or her sharp little puppy teeth. It’s true; nearly everyone who comes in contact with boxer puppies has suffered from the fierce, yet adorable, puppy attacks. I constantly get emails asking me “Why does my boxer puppy always bite me?” or “How do I stop my boxer puppy from biting me?!” Boxer puppies are exceptionally cute but their constant biting and chewing can be a bit annoying. Lucky for you, there is a solution to this somewhat annoying behavior.
Just like with all dog training, identifying the source of the problem is the first step to a successful training of your dog from the biting little monster into a well behaved puppy. Boxer puppies have only one way to touch and feel things for themselves, and that is with their teeth. They don’t have two hands to pick up an object to figure out what it is. They can only pick it up with their mouths. Your new pants or those colorful socks look interesting to the little creatures so they latch on to them, biting you in the process.
I know what you are thinking right now but no, wearing same old boring socks everyday won’t end the biting spree. Biting is also a way that boxer pups play among themselves. So when you are bitten, it’s their way of saying “Tag you are it! Come play with me now!” To them biting is fun and playful and they do not see anything wrong with biting one another. Of course that is not how people play games with each other and since your puppy now lives with you, you have to get your boxer puppy to stop biting and play by your rules.
Stopping Your Boxer Puppy from Biting You
So
now that we’ve identified the two major reasons behind the constant biting we can put a stop to it. Since you are the pack leader it is your responsibility to teach your boxer puppy that biting you or other people is not allowed, no matter how harmless it may seem.
The easiest way to do this is to give your boxer puppy something else to bite besides your feet and hands. So next time your puppy decides to bite you, simply stop him and give him a proper chewing toy instead. If you are interested, you can read more about this topic in detail here, where I talk about how to end your puppies annoying biting habits and other behavior problems that dog owners must face.
With all the available chew toys for dogs, it’s hard to find which one would be the best for your boxer puppy. The best way to find out which your boxer will like to bite and chew on more is to buy several and see which one he or she plays with most. Rubbers toys like rubber balls or rubber bones are good to play with, and since they are made of more durable material they are much harder for your boxer puppy to destroy with his or her sharp teeth. You can also use these toys for other games, like fetch, whenever you want to play with your puppy.
There are other great toys to keep your puppies teeth off of you and have him busy for a while. For example, get the puppy a toy with a treat inside. The treat will have the boxer’s full attention and you won’t have to worry about the boxer biting your hands or feet. However, some of these toys do have a downside. Most of them make it too easy for the puppy to get the treat out and once he gotten the treat, he completely looses interest in it. You can always place a new treat inside the toy but giving your dog too many during the day is not recommended as it can seriously damage his diet. These toys are great to stop your boxer from biting you but use them in moderation.
Other great toys which are perfect for chewing and biting are rope toys. They fit perfectly in the puppy’s mouth and are usually tough so they can last a while before you need to buy a new one. However, as tempting as it might be, try to avoid playing “tug of war” with the boxer puppy. Harsh and violent games like the one mentioned above can lead to more biting. Any games that promote aggression tells the boxer puppy that it’s ok to fight and bite. If you don’t want your puppy biting you, play more peaceful games, like fetch.
You should also avoid toys that look like shoes or other household items which the boxer is not allowed to chew or bite on. If you want the boxer puppy to stop chewing on your shoes, don’t buy him a rubber toy which looks like one, because he will not be able to tell the different between the one that is okay to chew on and the one that is not.
So if you’re sick of your boxer nipping and biting you constantly, it’s probably time for you to do something about it. Show the boxer dog that it’s not okay to bite you. Give him a good toy to bite on instead. If you are having problems with your boxer biting you, you can go read my boxer dog training book in which I cover this topic in greater detail.
Boxers and Cats Getting Along
Posted by: | CommentsUsually when you think of a dog and a cat an immediate sense of rivalry comes to mind. However, is it necessarily true? Do all dogs have an instant urge to chase down a cat when they see one? Generally speaking, the answer would be yes even for the sweet and loving boxer. Most dogs do enjoy to chase cats around.
When comparing boxers and cats with each other, you will immediately see a huge difference in size. Boxers are a lot larger than cats which can be intimidating for them. Wouldn’t you be afraid of someone with sharp teeth who is larger than you running towards you? So you shouldn’t be surprised if you see a cat running away from your boxer when you take him out for a walk. Chances are the cat isn’t running just from boxer dog but from you as well.
So it’s understandable why cats would run off when they see a boxer dog nearby, but why do dogs chase after them? Well simply put, it’s because the cat is running away and dogs were bred to chase things down. Dogs will chase pretty much anything that is running away from them, and boxer dogs are no different. If a boxer sees a squirrel running away from him he will try to chase it down just as he would try to get the cat. If you own a boxer yourself then you must have already realized that while playing with your boxer, if you start running your boxer will begin to chase you without you calling for him. So it’s not that boxers dislike cats it’s just that they were originally bred as hunting dogs, just as many dog breeds out there, and are instinctively inclined to chase down other animals that are running away.
Can Boxers and Cats Ever Get Along?
If you own a boxer already and plan on getting a cute kitten then things might be a bit tough at first. Unfortunately you can’t really predict how your boxer will react to the new household pet. Your boxer and the cat might hit it off good from the start or they might not like each other at all. The way the boxer dog was raised will have a lot to do with the boxers reaction.
If your boxer dog is still a puppy and the cat is still a kitten then chances of them becoming playmates are really high even without your help. The boxer will just accept the kitten as part of the pack and will get along with the kitten just fine. If your boxer is a puppy and your cat is a full grown adult cat then you might be a little carefully because the cat may get a bit defensive when the boxer puppy runs at him with full speed trying to play.
If your boxer is a full grown adult and you’re not sure how it will react to a new addition to the family then you must slowly introduce them to each other. Have a friend or a family member hold your boxer dog in place while you bring the cat into the room and watch their reactions.
Even if you know for a fact that your boxer dog will not attack the cat it’s still advised that you keep him on a leash because chances are your boxer will dash towards the cat scaring him. A cat that feels threatened will get his trusty claws out and defend itself so be careful.