How to Take Care of and Train a Boxer

Take your boxer to the veterinarian as soon as your adoption is complete. The doctor will examine your dog to be sure it is healthy. The boxer is prone to certain conditions including hip dysplasia, bloat, digestive disorders and aortic stenosis. Your vet can go over all these health issues with you and offer advice on proper care for your boxer. A vaccination plan will be put into place to provide the best health of your new dog as well as the best nutritional food to provide.

Supply all the necessities for the care of your boxer such as a bed, blankets, food and water dishes, toys, collar and leash and a crate for sleeping and training purposes. Purchase a crate just large enough to place a bed in with sufficient room for your boxer to stand. Be sure the crate is made of nontoxic materials, as boxers like to chew on the crate when left alone. A larger crate can be provided to give your dog room to grow. However, the crate should be blocked off or divided when your boxer is a puppy. Dogs normally will not soil where they sleep, so it is imperative when housebreaking that your puppy has just enough room for its comfy bed and toys.

Place your boxer in the crate whenever you are not home or inattentive to its behaviors. Crate training to housebreak your boxer is the most effective method. It may take some time and extra patience, as the boxer can be stubborn and resistant to the training initially.

Keep the crate in an area where your boxer is not isolated from the family. These dogs are very social and easily get bored. Take your boxer outside for potty breaks every time the dog comes out of the crate. Set a specific schedule in housebreaking your boxer, such as first thing every morning, about 15 to 20 minutes after meals, each hour during playtime and before retiring for the night. If your dog gets restless and appears to be pacing around, that may be another sign it is time to go outside.

Take your dog outside on a leash while verbalizing in a calm tone what you want it to do. When your dog does relieve itself, acknowledge the behavior with a small treat and lots of praise. You want to reinforce to your dog that it was appropriate behavior which your boxer will learn with a lot of repetition.

Exercise your boxer for 20 to 30 minutes prior to training sessions. Because they are very energetic dogs, expending some of that energy prior to training will help your boxer to better focus on you.

Provide special treats for your boxer's training session that are low in carbohydrates. High carbohydrate treats can cause digestive problems in your boxer.

Socialize your boxer early on by making frequent visits to a dog park or around other dogs. Encourage your dog to play nicely with other dogs and when it does give a lot of praise. You want to teach your boxer to be friends with other dogs. Socialization teaches your boxer not to be aggressive toward or fearful of other animals and people.

Invite people over to your home for a visit, informing them that you are training your boxer. Keep your dog on a leash as the guests arrive. Do not allow the dog to run at them or jump on them. Ask your dog to sit and give a food treat while directing your visitors to come in and sit down. As your dog calmly but playfully greets the guests, reward your boxer for good behavior.

Proceed with basic training commands such as sit and lie down. Because of the high energy of the boxer, it is best to train in a quiet area away from distractions. Have a treat in your hand and hold your hand just above your dog's head. Call your dog by name and ask it to sit. Along with the command, keep raising the treat hand further above the head and towards the rear. Your boxer's natural instinct, while watching the treat, will be to sit. Reward your dog with a lot of praise and the treat when the behavior is accomplished. To teach the lie down command, while your dog is in a sit position, hold the treat hand in front of the nose while slowly and continually moving down toward the floor. Your dog will follow the treat until in a lying position. Give the treat and praise.