Looking for tips on Boxer behavior and training PLEASE?

Question

My husband and I adopted a boxer from the shelter. He's about a year old we think. We've had him for about 4 months now and since he really hadn't had any type of training and is still jumping,nipping,pulling the leash out of our hands when on walks and digging out of the yard and running off. Since I'm pregnant now,and even before I was,we knew he needed some type of training so we tried the Petsmart classes. We've been taking him for about 2 months now but he still doesn't seem to be responding at all. He still does everything like before and if we try to correct him,he completely ignores us and goes back to whatever it is he was doing and sometimes he doesn't even stop to look our way at all. He dug out of the yard Friday evening and just came back this afternoon(Sunday). We've only had him 4 months but he's part of our family now and we refuse to give up on him. But him being gone that long drove us all but crazy.

We already have bought a harness for walks,no change. He still pulls. We even bought the lead type harness(I think it's called),where there's a part that goes over his nose,he refused to walk with it on. As far as leaving him unattended in the yard,we can't watch them(we adopted an older dog too,she's laid back) every minute and they only stay out there maybe 30 minutes tops. In that amount of time,he can escape.

We were thinking maybe if we(more of my husband right now),started agility training(or something of the sort),would it help with stopping his digging? Could he be bored? What are some ways to get him to stop digging out?

Basically, we just need tips on training a Boxer puppy.

~sorry this is so long~

Answer 1

I understand your frustration.



The obedience taught at petsmart often times isn't enough. Their corporate policy ties the hands of the trainers there BIG TIME. Their methods normally only work on "easy" dogs. And in the end, a lot of people walk away feeling VERY frustrated by it.



What I would recommend, since the boxer you're describing just sounds like a typical untrained boxer to me and not really a "problem dog" at all, would be to find a different place to train. Call around. Ask a ton of questions. GOOD trainers will often require that you bring your dog in for an evaluation BEFORE they start training with you. Sometimes their programs are more expensive than PetSmarts, but ... you get what you pay for.



Good luck, and don't give up. Sometimes you have to tap into several trainers before you find one that you can work with well.

Answer 2

OK. You are just typical folks who don't really listen to what your Petsmart training is trying to teach you. If you truly listened and followed through every single time, for example, you told the dog to sit, the DOG WOULD SIT. You're not being consistent. All your woes will disappear when you get serious about training the dog.



And boxers are very high energy dogs. This dog needs two walks a day at least. And enrolling him for agility or something would be wonderful. Go with the Nothing In Life is Free thing. Make him SIT for everything. Sit for leash to be attached; sit to get your bowl of foot; sit while I answer the door; sit just because I said sit.



I keep saying "sit" because it is the easier command of all. You just MUST be willing to move to the dog and force the "sit" if necessary. Every single time.



You sound like a great family. Understand that dogs aren't kids; simplicity and consistence are what dogs need.



Also, please begin watching the TV shows on dog training. They are EXCELLENT! That...Victoria somebody, "Me or the Dog"; watch Cesar Millan with the problem dogs. There is much to be seen, especially with Victoria.



Cesar is usually shown dealing with dogs who get a death sentence if he doesn't work with them (red zone dogs he calls them); they are extreme examples of dogs gone bad (almost always the problem is the owners of the dogs who don't know the right way to train and treat a dog, and the dogs are so spoiled).



See what I just said? The problem is almost always the humans.



Good luck.

Answer 3

I had a boxer and that they may well be a handful! Your little lady is merely taking part in and not being hyperactive. If she jumps on you, lightly push her down and firmly say "No". leaping could properly be a huge situation with boxers. She will additionally in all probability proceed to have injuries for a on an identical time as. Did you think approximately domestic dog kindergarten for her in any respect? they could incredibly help you with controlling her until eventually now she receives out of hand. good success. I also have a 13 week and a 6 month previous Sheltie domestic dog now. they have been very just about too good.

Answer 4

the dog still shouldn't be outside unattended. bring him in when you can't watch him.

what do you do to CORRECT the dog when he fails to obey? he can't get off scot-free for ignoring you.



this dog doesn't respect you. read up on NILIF, and live it like it's gospel. this dog is going to have to earn everything he gets.

Answer 5

For training your pup you need to be consistant. You need to take time everyday to work with him, at his age I would say at least 3 twenty minute sessions a day. The first command he needs to learn is focus. Some trainers call it look at me, I call it focus. Basically though pick a word or you can even use his name. What you will teach him is everytime you say it he is to make eye contact with you and wait for a command. Start by showing you have a treat but hold it low, when he focus on the treat say the word and raise it to your eyes when he makes eye contact praise and treat. As he gets better no treat just praise and eventually you should just have to say good as a reward(I say thank you and pup knows she did good). Your goal is to get him to focus on you as soon as you say the word and to not stop until you release him. Once he has focus down the rest come pretty easily



Next work on come. Some times a whistle helps with this because it can break distraction. The idea is when he has it down he could b mid chase(let's say squirell) and when you yell come he will stop dead in his tracks and run to you. Start with baby steps a few feet then farther then with distractions. If he has focus down he will catch on easily.



Next is sit,then stay, then lay, etc.



Never use the same word for different things so if you use down for not jumping or off the couch. Then use lay for lie down. Or use down to lie down and off for couch or jumping.



Always start with treats and ween your way to a praise word



For walks he needs to learn not to pull it is easier to teach him this if you work out some of his pent up energy first. Before walks take him in the back yard for 15-20minutes of fetch, then try a walk. Always make him sit to be leashed. Once leashed he should stay sitting until you say let's go. You need to walk at a slow calm pace. Until he knows how to walk he should not be given any extra lead and should not be out in front. Use a short leash 4 feet. When you start to walk have him at your side leash taunt when he goes to pull a way from your side say no firmly if he attempts again stop make him sit then try again. In the beggining this will take a little while the first few days you might only make it a block. But eventually he'll realize I either stay by her side or I don't walk. Don't say the no early it should be right as he feels a pull when he slacks use a treat then eventually your praise word. Once he gets it you can get a longer leash and same concept eventually you can use a retractable leash and he will immeditly come back to heel when called.

As for digging I know it's tuff but until trained you need to watch him at all times but don't let him know that. When he goes to dig call his name or your focus word and the say no sternly. When he does something else praise, goes to dig focus then no. He will get it. Digging is also a sign of boredem. A boxer should get to 45 minute active walks a day. While leash training that will be tough so split it 20 of fetch and 25 teachiung leash manners. As he gets good run him on his leash. Make sure when in the back yard he has plenty of toys. Switch them out for stimulation.



For escaping you need to secure the yard boxers are escape artists. Use your existing fence but build a sub fence into the ground at least a foot to prevent going under if he's going up and under you might want a new fence instead of adding om top and bottom. Keeping him tired will help him stay also and if he isn't fix that can help as well.



For jumping when ever he jumps say no(can be universal for bad like you use your praise word for all good use no or bad for all bad)as you say no turn your body away from him and complelty ignore him. When he calms and stands or sits with out jumping turn back around and praise. Once he has focus and sit down well you can head off a jump by making him sit when you think he'll jump.



For nipping very similar to jumping



With everything just be consistant it seems like a lot but if you do everything right everyday and never let him "get away" with anything you'll be amazed at what a week and then 2 will do. But if you aren't consistant it will take way longer. He needs to know you will not tolerate misbehaving.



Good luck.