According to the American Kennel Club, Boxers are a breed of dog well-known for their powerful, but gangly builds, devoted personalities and tendency to use their hearing to guard their families. When it comes to housetraining a Boxer puppy, some owners might feel completely hopeless because of the Boxer's seemingly stubborn personality, but don't worry. Housetraining your Boxer won't be as difficult as you might fear if you follow three basic rules.
Things You'll Need
- collar
- leash
Instructions
Establish the rules. Puppies and kittens can be similar to human babies in that they need a regular schedule to establish healthy behavior. The Humane Society of the United States recommends you begin by taking your puppy (or unhousetrained dog) outside at least every 2 hours when you first get him. It's also key to take your dog outside for a walk as soon as he wakes up, eats or drinks. Boxers are like any breed--their instincts tell them not to soil the areas in which they eat or sleep, but without having immediate access to an outdoor potty, they will have no choice but to eliminate indoors. Puppy bladders are also small and need to be emptied much more frequently than an adult dog's bladder, which is why it's not advised to wait longer than 2 hours at a time to walk your new dog. You can usually predict when your dog is ready to go potty by familiar signs that include sniffing an area, circling and whining. If you see these signs, grab a leash immediately and take your dog for a walk. Choose a specific spot each time to teach your dog where you expect him to go.
Praise, praise, praise. Perhaps the most important part of housetraining is rewarding your dog when he goes to the potty outdoors. Dogs build behaviors around what is expected of them, and praising a dog teaches him what is expected. However, whenever housetraining a Boxer, it is important to have patience and remember that accidents do and will happen. Scolding a Boxer regularly runs the risk of making him nervous and timid around everyone, including you. Since Boxers can be naturally wary around strangers, frequent scolding can make this personality trait more exaggerated as he grows into adulthood.
Develop a regular feeding schedule. Puppies need to be fed often, usually three or four times a day, and giving your puppy his food at the same times each day will make it more likely that his bladder and colon will develop a regular elimination schedule as well. As your dog grows older, you might opt to feed him only once or twice a day, but regular walks will still be required to guarantee your Boxer doesn't fall back into bad habits.