Fun Things to Keep a Boxer Pup Entertained

Boxers are a mixed breed developed in Germany in the late 1800s by crossing a German Bullenbeisser with an English bulldog. Today, members of this smart, attractive breed are happiest when fully integrated into the "pack" of their human family, allowed to engage in as many activities around the house and elsewhere as possible. Keep your energetic, strong-willed Boxer puppy entertained by helping her expend her energy in helpful, meaningful ways. If you don't, she'll likely channel that energy into what humans consider destructive behaviors: digging and chewing.

  1. Socialization

    • Socializing your Boxer puppy means introducing him to a variety of other dogs and people, but it also means exposing him to new sounds, sights and textures in a safe, controlled environment. Encourage your puppy to walk on all sorts of surfaces: rugs, pavement, wood floors, linoleum. Give your Boxer puppy time to take in new sights: kids on bikes, people walking with canes, other animals, dumpsters. Expose him to sounds like kids playing, planes flying overhead, road construction and a city bus. Finally, enrich his environment by adding to his crate or favorite rug (wherever he feels most safe) chewable things like a ball with a bell inside it, a heavy rope and a toy. Entertain him by hanging a rubber ring at your puppy's eye level so that he can tug at it or bat it with his paws.

    Training Games

    • Make obedience training entertaining for your Boxer puppy by playing training games. Play the Hide and Seek game to teach your Boxer puppy to come. When you're outside together, hide from her when she is distracted. Pick a spot where you can see her but she can't see you; when she starts to look for you (which she will), reveal yourself and say, "Come!" Reward her approach with enthusiasm.

      The Where's Your Toy? game will help your puppy learn to use her nose to find things. Place her favorite toy where she can see it and ask, "Where's your toy?" Let her take it and reward her. Then place the puppy outside the room and position the toy so that she can see only part of it. Bring her back to the room and ask the question again. This time she may have to sniff it out; reward her when she does. Eventually, hide the toy completely.

    Leash Walking

    • When you first get your Boxer puppy, put a collar on him when he's distracted. Don't remove it until he has forgotten he's wearing it. Get him used to a leash by clipping it onto his collar and letting him drag it around the house. Eventually pick up the other end of the leash and begin walking your puppy inside the house; let him trot beside you on a loose leash and praise him. When he strains, stop walking. Call him back to your side and praise him. Then begin walking again. Eventually take longer walks outside, making sure to stop walking each time he pulls on the leash.