Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Boxer Dog Obedience Training - 3 Easy Tips

Boxer dogs are playful, strong, smart and highly energetic to such a degree that training is absolutely necessary; because without any discipline, a boxer can be this relentless, unbridled ball of energy. The best time to start training, is when he is around thirteen weeks of age. Boxer dogs, though very intelligent, lose focus very quickly when there's a lull in the training session. So, owners who are routinely lenient will have the toughest time training their boxer, as their pet is accustomed to resisting their owners commands without any consequences. And repetition is key when training this wonderful breed of dog - constantly drilling the desired behavior will to keep him from drifting back to old habits. Given their phenomenal levels of energy, a boxer needs wide open spaces to run & play; keeping this pet in close quarters isn't the best idea (if you're fond of your furniture and sleep); a larger yard will go a long way in helping your boxer to use up his energy.For example, if you send him on a scavenger hunt for dog snacks that you planted throughout the yard, you can keep him busy for hours. Before training, a few things should be pointed out. First, you have to let your boxer knows you're the boss - establishing this command-structure automatically entitles you to their attention. Also, a boxer will need to be trained in areas that are quiet and free of distractions. Try not to skip lessons- successfully instilling new commands require consistency. Lastly, there's no such thing as too much positive reinforcement.Teaching Your Boxer How To SitWith a treat in your hand, hold it above his head to entice him to look up. Naturally, as his nose goes up, then the rear will go down. Right before his rear touches the floor, you utter the word: 'Sit'. When the boxer is completely seated, praise him, feed him the treat and praise him again. As you continue to repeat theses step several more times, continue to make your movements less obvious (to the point where you're no longer holding the treat over his head). With enough practice, you should be able to get him to sit without the treat.Teaching Your Boxer To ComeCommand your pet sit, then step a few feet away from him. Turn towards him. With treat in hand, lean forward and utter the word: 'Come'. When he complete the trip towards you, praise him, feed him the treat and praise him again. Continue to repeat these steps, making your moves less dramatic each time - to the point where you're standing straight up without presenting the treat. You can also use other means of positive reinforcement, (like a noisy toy) to get the same desired result.Potty Training First establish a schedule by feeding & giving them water at certain times of the day - making their bowel movements more predictable. If you wish to trigger their bowel movements by linking it to a phrase, you can utter your "special phrase" every time you dog goes potty; after hearing it enough times, your boxer will be induced to potty when you simply utter your "special phrase". And after he's done going potty, praise him effusively (be real over-the-top about it) for the sake of positive reinforcement.Training you boxer works really well when you keep your teaching method familiar to your pet, thus, giving him a chance to learn a new command (as opposed to a whole new methodology). If your time constraints or patience makes it difficult to train your pet, obedience school or digital materials have proven to be other viable options.

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