Boxer Dog Training – Things You Need to Know

Training your boxer dog will be a more enjoyable and successful experience if you understand the peculiarities of the breed. Different dog breeds require different approaches to training to get the best out of them. If you are not prepared, you might become frustrated and discourage by the resistance your Boxer will put up in obedience training. Even if you have trained other breeds before, the following tips will help you greatly in training your Boxer.

Leadership

Boxers are naturally a stubborn breed and need some persistence to be taught to obey commands. They are strong-willed and like having their own way. You have to be consistent in teaching obedience or he will not take you seriously and ignore you. You must let him understand that you are the one in charge. If he is exerting his dominance on you, you might have to enroll him in an obedience class where he will be handled by professionals.

Intelligence

Once you get beyond your Boxers stubbornness, you will discover that he is really a very smart dog. This is one good thing about this breed. They pick up instructions easily and understand what is expected of them. They are very watchful and alert. This why they are popular as police and rescue dogs.

Energy

Boxers are energetic dogs with a medium to large build. They are very lively and require a lot of exercise. Boxers have been bred as working dogs for several decades; therefore they have a heritage of boundless energy that needs to be released in daily exercise. Your Boxer needs at least 20-30 minutes walk every day to keep him calm. A Boxer can become restless and destructive when not given exercise.

Friendliness

Boxers are a very loving and friendly breed. They are good with children and other domestic animals. It is important though that he is given early socialization to know how to behave around children, strangers and other dogs. They are very loyal and devoted animals.

Because of their size and active nature, Boxes need a lot of space. They do very well in large houses and country homes. Not really ideal for apartment style residences.

-By: Michael Graystone

Dog Trainer Valleys is where you can get reliable resources for successful dog training.

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Boxer Dog Food

As A Boxer owner you will want to keep your Boxer fit and healthy by providing the best nutrition you possibly can. This, of course, does not mean over feeding it and killing it with kindness. It means that you provide the right nutritional balance for its requirements.

A properly fed Boxer will have a really glossy coat and abundant energy, and will be less likely to develop diseases related to obesity or malnutrition. There are so many choices of dog foods available and a walk down the aisle of any pet food store can lead to quite a confusing selection on display. Attractive packaging and expensive prices don’t necessarily mean that the food is the best Boxer dog food and right for your Boxer.

What are the possible choices?

Canned foods

Unfortunately these contain a very large percentage of water. They usually don’t have many preservatives because they are not necessary for the canning process, but they do contain a large percentage of fat. Because they are a soft food, they do not provide any of the chewing and teeth-cleaning benefits. They are the most expensive way of feeding with commercial dog foods.

Semi-moist Foods

These are generally quite high in sugar content and can be expensive. Veterinarians do not usually recommend these types of food.

Dry Food

These contain the least amount of fat and are quite economical. However, they do contain a larger amount of preservatives. Another drawback is that dry foods expand in the dog’s stomach. This is a concern for the Boxer because they are known to be inclined to be at risk of suffering from bloat.

Frozen Food

These foods do show the promise of providing a fresh, lower-cost option, but storage can be a problem.

It is also important to choose food suited to the life stage of your Boxer. If it is under 18 months, a quality puppy food is required. Three small meals per day is best until at least one year of age. Be careful not to overfeed at this stage while it is growing and maturing, as extra weight could begin the destructive cycle of hip dysplasia and other problems in later life.

An adult Boxer may only need a well-balanced adult formula or perhaps it’s a very active dynamo dog and will need a high-performance, on-the-go dog formula. Feeding twice daily is recommended as it is healthier for your dog to eat two smaller portions than a single large meal.There are also the Senior dog formulas which cater for different nutritional requirements that are specific for the age group. Reading the labels carefully will tell you what you need to know about these foods.

If your dog is not doing well on its current food, then make the change over to new food gradually. Sudden changes may cause bouts of diarrhea. Add the new food in with the old in increasing amounts over a period of about a week.

Finally, what your Boxer really needs in the way of Boxer dog food is a quality food made by a well recognized manufacturer that satisfies its requirements and is appetizing.

-By: Jenny J. Marshall

Jenny Marshall is a boxer owner and enthusiast and has a website devoted to the breed. Find all sorts of free Boxer related advice for health and obedience here
Boxer Dog Food and get a free newsletter here Boxer Obedience Training

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Tips to Make Boxer Dog Training Fun and Easy!

Your boxer is very intelligent and you should start boxer dog training when he reaches the age of 13 to 16 weeks. He is very energetic and playful and will be your loyal pet. Once he develops a liking for you, his friendship will continue till the end. The uniqueness of your Boxer is his need for a lot of attention and training. His intelligence will be useful in your training but at the same time, he will use it for getting what he wants.

Your Boxer dog can be trained to make him a good guard dog. Though the Boxer dog appears to be aggressive, he is more playful than other dogs. If Boxer dog training is given properly, he may be controlled from being aggressive and doing harm to others.

Because of his intelligence, your Boxer may not comply with you when you ask him to do a certain thing. The best advice under these circumstances is to keep patience. Boxer dog training must start when he reaches the age of 6 weeks and your training should consist of socializing, playing, teaching and obedience training. But the training process must be carried out with excitement so that he will have a tendency to listen.

Though your Boxer is a friendly dog, he must be trained by socializing to become so. If he is socialized well, he will get used to meeting new people and other dogs. Boxer training classes where more dogs are present will also be useful.

Serious Boxer training can start when he reaches 13 to 16 weeks of age. You have to get rid of his dominant attitude if he has that. You should put your foot down to nip this habit in the bud and make him listen to you and obey you. He must understand that bad behavior will never be allowed.

-By: Brett M Windmann

Your Boxer loves attention and likes if he is allowed to sit on your lap and get cuddled. If you start Boxer dog training from a young age and do it with consistency, persistence and patience, you are sure to have a good companion in him.

Discover more useful tips on how to quickly train your dog to listen to anything you say, by Clicking Here =

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10 Easy Tips To Cure Obesity In Boxer Dogs

Several years ago one of my parents Boxer dogs began to put on weight slowly. It became a problem that no vet could cure. Then last year my sweet Phoebe girl started putting on weight. We nearly had to starve her and she was still gaining weight and obesity was way behind her at this point. I would lay in terror at night listening to her labored breathing almost sure of her future. But then some new information came along that changed her life. Just this morning she was out on the front lawn tearing into her favorite empty milk carton in her new slim look. We would like to share 10 easy tips that might help to cure obesity in boxer dogs and they are as follows.

1. I know this is hard for some and me too, no table scraps

2. No cheap bulk dog food or treats

3. Fresh water changed multiple times per day.

4. Daily exercise of your obese Boxer dog is a must.

5. Carefully monitor caloric intake, even if they protest

6. Count calories diligently including little treats

7. Break feedings into multiple times, never feed once a day

8. Lots of attention and love, that greatly increases dog activity

9. High Quality dog food for a High Quality Boxer dog

10. Research dog food ingredients for safety

I have a web site that gets into dog food ingredients in further detail at [http://www.4boxers.org/dog_food_ingredient_comparison.htm]

Thankfully it is not too good to be true, I love all my Boxers dearly, and I know how important pets are to people so that is why I am making this information known to all who want to increase the life expectancy of their Boxer dog.

So to sum it all up, there is hope for your overweight companion by following these 10 easy tips that may help cure obesity in Boxer dogs and reduce a lot of stomach problems too. In just a few hours you could be feeding your friend their first life changing meal.

You are more than welcome to visit my other web site for more information on feeding your Boxer. Plus I have some pictures of my Boxers there too.

-By: Randi Clifford

Article written by: Randi Clifford

[http://www.4boxers.org/dog_food_ingredient_comparison.htm]

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Managing The Health Of Boxer Dogs

If one is in search for dogs that are easy to own, boxer dogs will definitely be included in the list. Boxer is one among a number of short-haired breeds that shed a little. With boxer dogs, you will seldom experience the fuss bathing a dog brings since they do not generally need frequent bathing. You can use your nose to tell if it is time to bath your dog.

Boxer dogs have the average lifespan of ten to twelve years but sadly, they are prone to develop certain diseases that could deteriorate their health and possibly endanger their lives. One disease common to Boxer dogs and to other large and deep-chested breeds is bloat. Bloat, technically called Gastric Dilatation- Volvulus is a life-threatening disease often related to excessive air, food or fluid swallowed. However, with proper nutrition and feeding habits, bloat can be prevented. Feed your dog with high quality foods while avoiding table scraps especially spicy and rich. Feed him at least twice instead of one full meal a day to prevent him from gulping down the food.

Hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism is another disease this breed is prone to. Hip dysplasia is a degenerative disease of the joint that typically occurs in large and giant breeds while hypothyroidism is a disorder of the thyroid in which the gland produces not enough hormone. Hypothyroidism can be controlled but unfortunately, this isn’t the same for hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia cannot be controlled and is usually treated through surgical procedures. Medical management can be given but not to alleviate the disease completely, only treat the clinical signs.

Fawn and brindle are the two recognized colors for this breed but sometimes, white boxers are born. A boxer with white markings covering more than one-third of their coat is considered a white boxer. White boxers have a higher risk of sunburn and associated skin cancers than colored boxers. They are also prone to deafness in one or both ears. They are disqualified from conformation showing and are prohibited from breeding.

Other problems common to this breed are cancers, heart conditions such as Aortic Stenosis, entropion, intestinal problems and allergies. Though it is believed that the stated diseases appear in boxer dogs, these can be significantly prevented and managed with proper nutrition, exercise, healthy lifestyle and careful breeding. Breeders should ensure that those to be included in the breeding process are only dogs with good quality genes to pass on to the next generation.

-By: Richard Cussons

Richard Cussons has written various articles on dogs. Visit boxersavvy.com for great information about Boxer dogs and effective Boxer dog training tips.

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Boxer Dog Training Tips

Boxer dog training is not hard as long as you train the dog while it is young. Boxers are very intelligent and pick up commands quickly. Talk to a boxer like you would to your children, may sound odd, but they respond like a child. Just say “no” when they do something wrong and demonstrate what correct behavior is. When Boxers do something right, reward them.

In Boxer dog training it was found that they learned commands and were able to train much faster by giving them a treat after they do a correct command. Never hit or abuse the dog, they will always have some sort of resentment towards you if you do. All you need to do is use your voice with the dog; they know when they have done something wrong in your tonality of your voice.

When Boxer dog training you need to constantly praise them and let them know there a good boy when they are doing something right. This will build a positive connection between you and the dog. Scolding should rarely be done, only with a firm “no”. Be sure to praise them a lot more than scolding or they will become a sad dog.

After Boxer dog training for about 30 minutes a day, a couple times a day, play with the dog! Boxers love to play and run around, they are energetic dogs and need to have a good run daily to burn their energy off. It is essential that after any training, the owner plays with the dog to relate fun and playtime with the training.

Following these Boxer training tips will make you and your dog a happy companionship for life. Boxers are great dogs for virtually everything, and are great for protecting the family. Boxers are also delicate with children and a great family dog. Bathing the dog once a month, like any dog will keep them nice and clean.

-By: Josh Cornwall

If you are looking for more details on the latest training for your dog, check out our dog blog: Dog Training Advice. If you are looking for the top dog training guide visit: Complete Dog Training Guide. Make your puppy the talk of the block today!

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Hip Dysplasia in Boxer Dogs – A Life-Threatening Disease?

Did you know that Boxer dogs can suffer from a life-threatening disease called hip dysplasia? Many of us may be surprised why this kind of disease can affect our pet dogs, but this is really true. Not only humans can have hip dysplasia; dogs can have it, too.

Hip dysplasia or hip arthritis in layman’s term, is a legacy disease passed through the genes and can also be acquired through some environmental factors. Most often, loose-hipped Boxer dogs that mate with one another will give birth to a dysplastic Boxer puppy.

Obesity is also a risk factor for the development of arthritis. Obesity in dogs is usually caused by dog food over-supplemented with extra proteins, vitamins and minerals to make puppies grow faster. This fast growth of puppies can create orthopedic problems in some breed of dogs like Boxer dogs that may lead to hip dysplasia and arthritis.

When a dog has dysplasia, it has an abnormal development of the ball-in-socket joint that makes up the hip. In a dysplastic hip, the ball and the socket do not fit together comfortably resulting to painful and damaging friction. When a dog bears its weight on the joint, the friction strains the joint capsule that produces joint fluid.

The straining damages the cartilage and leads to the release of inflammatory proteins within the joint. Thus the cartilage is eventually destroyed and inflamed and with pain symptoms associated with arthritis.

Just like any other breed of dogs, Boxer dogs with hip dysplasia experience the same sign and symptoms like decreased activity, difficulty rising, rear limb lameness, reluctance to use stairs especially in going up, reluctance to jump or stand on hind limbs; swaggering movements, and so on.

Some owners opt for surgery or even a total hip replacement for a complete recovery from dysplasia. Complication, however, can oblige the removal of the implants. There are also non-surgical methods for treating hip dysplasia such as pain medications, weight loss programs, controlled exercise, and physical therapy. These methods can be very effective in some cases. However, these treatments do have their limitations, too.

In order to reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia on Boxer dogs, careful breeding is the best measure of prevention. Refrain from breeding two dysplastic dogs. However, it is not always easy to avoid breeding dysplastic Boxers since it is so difficult to detect hip dysplasia in dogs that do not show signs of arthritis. And so, some veterinary clinics use PennHIP x-ray technique in order to detect hip dysplasia early on.

A carefully planned diet is also a good way to prevent the disease. Avoid feeding your puppies with over-supplemented, high-protein food in order to avoid rapid weight gain. Dogs fed with calorie-limited diet will reach the same adult size more slowly but with reduced possibility of developing arthritis.

It is always best to consult with a veterinarian regarding specific diets and feeding schedules to minimize the risk of developing this life-threatening hip dysplasia. Many veterinarians recommend x-rays of at-risk breeds like Boxer dogs, so have your Boxer checked by his vet in order to keep him healthy and active for a long period of time.

-By: Richard Cussons

Richard Cussons has written various articles on dogs. For information about Boxer dogs and Boxer dog training, check out boxersavvy.com.

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Things We Do Not Know About Boxer Dogs

Boxer dogs were developed from an old breed known as the Brabanter Bullenbeisser from Belgium, which was used to hunt wild boar. The Brabanters were cross-bred with the early version of the English Bulldogs in 1830, and the cross-breeding came up with the Boxers most of us adore nowadays.

Boxer dogs are very square-built and medium-sized, stand 21 to 25 inches high, and weigh 60 pounds more or less. They have expressive brown eyes and jaws very square with an undershot bite. Because they are born with large, droopy ear flaps and long thin tail, most breeders in the USA have their ears trimmed and taped to stand erect, and have the tail shortened.

These trimming of ears and shortening of tails of Boxer dogs has originated in Germany for the purpose of not letting the wild boars tear much flesh from them during the hunt. For this reason, their strong and a little menacing looks gave them the reputation of being guard dogs.

Although they are not-so-friendly with strangers, these dogs are affectionate and love to play around with their families. Boxers are also very energetic and playful to the point of creating their own entertainment that are not very pleasing to humans. The best thing to do in this situation is to give your pet an ample time of play and exercise until he is steamed off.

Surprisingly, despite of their rough looks, Boxer dogs are gentle with children. However, each dog is an individual, so proper training and supervision is necessary to make sure both your Boxer and your children get along with each other. What is funny about this breed is that they tend to believe that they were bred to be lap dogs, even if they become sixty-pound babies!

Any dog breed requires training including Boxer dogs. They are so energetic and powerful that owners need to give them obedience training to be able to control them. Obedience training should start on the pet’s sixth month until the owner can work on getting him used to the leash.

Boxer dogs are very clean and only shed moderately, so a Boxer owner can make use of a nice brush that can remove little dirt from his coat and distribute the coat oils to give him a glossy sheen. They rarely need bathing, but you can wash their feet if the has been in the mud. Also check his nails once in a while and give a little clip if necessary.

Those menacing and strong looks might change your mind having Boxer dogs at home. Well, think again. Behind those not-so-friendly looks of a Boxer lies the sweetest, funniest, and most caring pet you have always wanted to be part of the family.

-By: Richard Cussons

Richard Cussons writes articles about Boxer dogs. Visit boxersavvy.com and learn more about Boxer dog training.

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Things You Should Know When Buying a Boxer Dog

If you are looking for a pet whose has the ability to be faithful, has loads of energy and a loving attitude, then you may want to consider getting a boxer dog. Boxer dogs are very friendly and loyal especially to and with children. Their playful nature makes them a wonderful companion for younger children. If you have other animal family members, boxers are very adaptable to these pets too. Should you want a pet that will listen to your orders and can be taught, you should get a boxer dog. Remember that these dogs need all kinds stimulus, both mentally and physically. Take them for a run or jog in the early morning hours when it’s cooler. This is especially important during the summer months when temperatures soar in the 90s in many places. If you cannot bring your pet inside for any reason, then be sure he/she can stay out of the sun, has plenty of food and water.

Boxer dogs will play regardless of the temperature outside but as the owner of these overactive and roguish canines, it is you that needs to be aware if your pet is getting overheated. Boxers cannot maintain the temperature in their body. Those hot summer days will find you giving extra special attention to your loving canine. Your pet may cool down slightly through his intense panting but it is not enough to keep them cool the entire day. Do not be surprised if your boxer dog doesn’t feel like playing. Just like you, dogs can get zapped of energy in the heat. Do your dog justice and place plenty of water bowls outside for him to drink from. If you have only one water bowl, be sure its kept full.

There are other ways to help your dog survive the summer heat. Local pets stores have dog mats that can help you out. When you are nourishing the inside of your dog’s body, be sure to give him a nice nourishing on the outside. Rinse down sensitive parts of your dog’s body including the ears, eyes, mouth, belly and paws. If you can, purchase an outside tub for him to jump in and out of. Another easy way to keep your dog from overheating is to provide him with the needed food diet that can help him fight the burning sun.

Most boxer owners will agree that these dogs are wonderful to have around. With everything they do for their owners, they are especially known for their strength, courage, attentiveness and legerdemain. They were once used as attack and messenger dogs especially by the military and police. The German army was able to teach the dog how to guard the border of the land. The dogs can smell contraband items and bother trespassers. Members of the Working Dog Group recognized all that the boxer dogs did. Despite all their good qualities, when trained poorly, they can be rather obstinate.

-By: Jason Jr Rusch

Want to know more about how you can keep your boxer puppy healthy and happy? If so take a look at my boxer dog site to get a copy of my FREE report that reveals how! (click the blue link) http://www.boxerdogessentials.com/blog

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So You Want to Buy a Boxer Dog?

Rearing a Boxer dog as a pet is definitely a good choice, since they are known for their loyalty, active spirit and good temperament. They make great additions to the family because they get along very well with children, due to their energetic and playful nature. Not only is this breed very social but also are very well- behaved with other pets in the family. Boxer dogs are very attentive to commands and thus, can be trained and disciplined easily. Owing to their active lifestyle, they need regular exercise and physical as well as mental stimulation. They take great delight in running and hence, make good companions while jogging. They prosper in a cool and pleasant atmosphere, so it would be advisable to keep them indoors. But if you have to keep them outside for too long, ensure that you provide it with sufficient shelter and shade.

Boxer’s athletic build and mischievous attitude keeps it active on days, when the climate is normal, but when the mercury rises up, you have to be more cautious. They belong to the brachycephalic breed, which means that Boxer dogs are not very good at maintaining and regulating their body temperature. They do not prefer extreme temperatures and thus, require extra care and attention at such times. They pant heavily because short nose of this breed makes it difficult for them to breathe in hot weather. Panting heavily allows them to cool down. So, if your pet boxer deviates from his usual behavior, don’t expect or compel it to behave otherwise. One easy way to relieve them from the respiratory discomfort is to provide it with plenty of cool water to drink.

Some other ways of assisting a boxer during hot weather is to provide it with a dog mat. Dog mats are easily available at your local pet stores. In addition to giving it ample of drinking water, it is also advisable to splash some water on different part of your boxer’s body like the ears, mouth, eyes, paws and the belly. To provide more comfort and respite from the scorching heat, you can also try giving him a cool bath. Leave him it in the tub for some time so that it can relax and cool down easily. Ensure that your boxer eats a well-balanced diet, which is essential to boost his immune system against the heat.

Undoubtedly, boxer dogs are very lively companions and a very popular choice as pets, but at the same time, they are famous for their alertness, strength and agility. Formerly, they were used as pack carriers, messenger dogs and even as attack dogs, during wars by the military and the police. They were specifically bred by the German army, with a view to protect the border. The breed has proved its aptitude and intellect by smelling smuggled contraband and attack trespassers. Because of all these reasons and more, boxer dogs are acknowledged as members of the Working Dog Group. Although, they are famous for their ingenuity, loyalty and affection, they can prove to be stubborn if not trained properly. So, make sure that your pet boxer receives appropriate training.

-By: Jason Jr Rusch

Jason Rusch is a Boxer Dog owner and enthusiast that has guided many Boxer owners through the essential steps of choosing, training and caring for their Boxer. Find out more about what it takes to train your Want to know more about how you can keep your boxer puppy healthy and happy? If so take a look at my boxer puppy

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