Tips for Training a Boxer Puppy

If properly trained and socialized, your boxer puppy will grow into a dignified, yet energetic and playful family dog. Watchful of its family and patient with children, the boxer requires training, exercise and affection. If untrained, this intelligent and intelligent breed can become destructive and unruly. Boxers are sensitive dogs and typically are easily trained with consistency and lots of praise.

  1. Crate Training

    • Crate train your boxer puppy. Once your puppy is used to his crate, it will keep him (and your belongings) contented and safe while you are away and can't watch him. Crate training helps with potty training, because puppies are unwilling to potty where they sleep. As he matures and loses the urge to chew on things and becomes house trained, you can let him have free run of the house. In the meantime, let him associate his crate with positive things. Feed him meals in the crate, and always give him a treat or chew toy when he goes in.

    Socializing

    • Puppies who grow up confined to their house and backyard lack confidence, because they will become nervous about new people and new situations. Once your boxer has had her puppy vaccinations, take her with you on errands, to friends' houses and anywhere she will encounter different environments and people. Boxers are natural watchdogs, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC), and in order to be an effective watchdog, a boxer needs to have the confidence and experience to discriminate between a real threat and something merely unfamiliar that scares her.

    Positive Reinforcement

    • Reward your boxer puppy with a treat, praise or play each time you catch him doing something right. The more often you reinforce desirable behavior, the more likely your pup will repeat it. Remember that what you allow and reinforce now will be repeated behaviors in adulthood. This means that while a 10-lb. puppy jumping up on people, getting on furniture or playing tug with your pants leg might be cute now, it won't be cute in a 70-lb. dog with adult-sized teeth. Be fair and consistent and don't change the rules with your boxer puppy--he needs to be able to trust that you mean what you say and say what you mean.

    Attention

    • Most puppies will pay attention to you eventually, when you're in the calm and familiar environment of your own home. But your boxer will be a naturally curious and outgoing dog, and needs to pay attention to you when there are distractions, such as other dogs, people and new things he wants to explore. Teach attention exercises by telling your boxer puppy "watch me" and rewarding her when she gives you her full attention. Use treats, and practice having her turn her full attention to you on command when surrounded by distractions, until she is reliable about being attentive in crowded environments.