Indigirl - In Here Please

[Jed]

BOXERS

Boxers are not hyper. They are happy, enthusiastic, exuberant, affectionate, devoted to their owners, happy to please, love to be trained, do not always do 100% what you ask, because sometimes they know a better way, but they understand, and they like you to spend time with them. They can be as silly or as serious as you wish. This is a dog which spends his whole life trying to please you, and care for you and yours in the best way he can.

They do not need heaps of exercise - a run or a walk or a bit of ball or frisbee chasing is enough for your average boxer. However, if you are a jogging or biking maniac, the dog will keep up with you.

To make your boxer hyper, start when you first get him.

Flap your hands in front of his face a lot, jump up and down, make funny noises, encourage him to jump up on you and then whack him when he jumps on your Sunday-go-to-Meeting dress, let the kids tease him, and encourage him to chase them around and jump on them. Rough house him a bit, wrestle with him, he'll growl and carry on and behave like a two bob watch, but he sure is having a good time. Slap him around the chops too, you know he loves it because he jumps around, but he doesn't bark or growl. Don't bother socialising him with other dogs either, boxers like other dogs, and there's really no need to train him much, he's pretty bright, he likes you, he'll get it.

Leave him in the yard a lot too, and don't point out the error of his ways to him, so he is not sure how to behave.

That will make him even more hyper, because you always laugh when he does that, so when he is not sure what he ought to do, he'll be hyper trying to please you.

Remember too, that he is soon going to weigh around 30+ kg most of it solid muscle, encapsulated in a very agile and athletic body, but until he is about 2, he will have the mind of a baby, and will behave like one, so when he jumps through the window, knocks the village preacher to the ground, slobbers all over him and eats his hymn book, he's only doing what he believes is right. What pleases you.

Start walking him when he is 9 months old, and he'll be so enthusiastic about all those new sights sounds and smells, he'll pull like a train. You wont be able to hold him.

so, you'll have a 30kg hyper boxer that is a complete pain in the neck, the kids wont play with him, he'll have to be tied up when visitors come, and he'll jump all over you and just about scratch you to death. Because he thinks that is how he should do it.

and - he'll spend the rest of his life in the backyard, alone, sad, mournful, scratching his head, wondering why you don't like him any more, or he'll end up at Cordelia's, attacking other dogs, untrainable, or pts. Or, he'll be so bored, he'll simply jump your fence every day until he gets run over.

Recipe for a nice boxer and happy ownership

Make sure you are smarter than the dog

Treat him gently.

Discourage him from jumping up

Teach him to sit from the second day you have him

Make sure you are smarter than the dog

Give him lots of love and attention - gentle, quiet affection - don't slap him on the ribs or the head, stroke him, look into his eyes, tell him what a good dog he is.

Teach him that he follows you through doors, that he doesn't knock you or the kids over.

Make sure you are smarter than the dog

Teach him to wait to be invited into the car

Let him meet other dogs when he is a baby

Let him meet cats, chooks and birds when he is a baby

Discourage him from chasing other animals or people

Call him off when his behaviour is over the top, sit him, and praise him.

Don't play rough games with him.

Lead train him at home, without distractions. Praise him lavishly.

Chastise him gently when he has done wrong.

Be consistent.

Don't treat him like a fool, or he will be one. All his life.

Remember he is a gentle, loving soul, who thrives on praise and attention, and is only happy in the company of his family.

Then - when he hits two, you can rough-house him all you like, coz you will have an "off" button -

Boxers love contact games. We have a couple here - one is the one where Jed lies on the floor with a towel over the head, and the boxer tries to get it off - with realistic growling and snarling noises. this game is made better if Jed rips aside the towel from time to time and says "boo", which makes any boxer totally frenzied. Hiding is the second game. Jed hides and the boxer finds. When the boxer has found, jumping up and behaving like a two bob watch is encouraged. Chasing is a good one - you can chase the boxer, or the boxer will chase you! Over the bed, into the bath, into the yard - anywhere you like!!

When your face is red, you are lying in a pool of sweat with your eyeballs hanging down your cheeks from exhaustion, and the boxer is jumping up and down, tongue hanging around his knees, waiting for you to move so he can jump on you again, you can say

"Enough"

and he will settle.

This breed is a companion guard dog - that is what he was bred for, and that is what he does best - he is not a herder, a retriever, a pointer or a sled dog. His only interest in life is you. He is bold, he is brave, he looks you in the eye with sincerity and friendship. He does take some understanding. He probably wont start any quarrels, but he's happy to finish them!!

Character and temperament are as important in the standard as conformation.

If you want to own a boxer, keep that in the forefront of your mind. You are the sun in his universe, you hold his behaviour in your hand, he will behave exactly as you want him to - no matter what that is. He's not obedient like a border collie, he was made to make his own decisions, and he will sometimes think you are a bit of an idiot, and do it his way. Mostly there is method in his madness, if you will only see it.

If you want a 100% obedient dog, don't get a boxer. He will be obedient in all the important ways. Boxers don't do well in obedience, because once they have done it, they can't see much point in it, and are just as likely to trot beside the cones, off lead, as through them - "see, qucker this way mum, you come too."

He is not a dog for everyone. He is called the "clown of the dog world" and he is a clown in his friendly, happy, funny outlook, as he tries to please you, but once the chips are down, you couldn't wish for a better guardian of you, your family, or your home. He rarely bites without good cause, and he does not bark much, he is a quiet achiever.

I don't think boxers generally have become less hyper tho some lines are a little. I think that

(a) people have more knowledge these days, and do more more training

(b) breeders are more discerning about who they sell to

© with the internet etc. there is a lot more information to help people make an informed decision about this breed.

[indigirl]

Thanks Jed, great info there :rolleyes:

[ash&elar]

I think that was the best discription of a breed I have ever read!!!!!!

[MsKatie]

Have sent a link to my brother who is a Boxer enthusiast Thanks Jed

[flatchat]

Great description Jed and lovely photos!!!

[Guest Pandii]

Jed you sent that to me one day and I printed it out

Its the best post ever written

[OSoSwift]

Love it

[helen]

Great post about Boxers, but some can do really well in obedience and agility etc. My old girl Bella had a Boxer in her puppy class. Bella and the Boxer Cooper were the wild ones in the class, always being naughty and doing everything but what they should do. Both these naughty puppies were the ones that went on to get obedience and agility titles. Cooper's owner enjoyed training and trialling her Boxer so much she got another a couple of years ago and they are doing really well too. When we started agility trials there was an older Boxer who was in masters at the time doing a brilliant job.

[persephone]

This is the only boxer I know, currently . I just had to sneak in these pics ..... She is around 12 ..and has always been the most attuned and kind girl. The lady who owns her will be devastated when the time comes for their parting.. as thru several tragedies, this dog has been the only constant ..the one who soaked up the tears, and was there for hugs.

She is such a wonderful old thing. No obedience training ..never had many walks or anything .. has moved house a few times ..never misses a beat

She has been the best ambassador for this amazing breed

Edited October 6, 2010 by persephone

[persephone]

Jed- that is such a marvellous descriptive 'training' piece!! Lovely to see !

[Jed]

Some excel in obedience, the uncle of one of mine has a heap of titles. And many over the years have succeeded

BUT, if you have your heart set on a swag of obedience titles, another breed just might be better

Just so no one is confused

Pandii, I remember sending you this - years ago

She's gorgeous Pers - the older they get, the better they are

Edited October 6, 2010 by Jed

[Dju]

Now if only there was one of these for Vallhunds Almost makes me want a Boxer, this does!

[Guest Pandii]

Some excel in obedience, the uncle of one of mine has a heap of titles. And many over the years have succeeded

BUT, if you have your heart set on a swag of obedience titles, another breed just might be better

Just so no one is confused

Pandii, I remember sending you this - years ago

Was it really years ago, WOW

Was very helpful

[flatchat]

Lovely old boxers!!

[tdierikx]

I think you should write a book Jed - you have the best way of getting your point across... I was giggling like a nutter through most of the first part...

T.

[indigirl]

Jed I showed this to my friend with the boxer, she said that's exactly how they raised Summer, very gentle and calm. Im more and more impressed with this breed as time goes on.

[Miz J]

perfectly described Jed

[Sagittarian]

Yeah, thanks Jed.

After that conversation we had the other day, I'd spent hours convincing myself I really DON'T want a boxer.

Now look what you've done.

I want a boxer!

:D

Back to the chanting. I do not want a boxer, I do not want a boxer, Jed is not the oracle, I do not want a boxer.

Sags

[Melbomb]

I think you should write a book Jed - you have the best way of getting your point across... I was giggling like a nutter through most of the first part...

T.

I keep telling her that but it seems she is ignoring my requests!

I love everything you write Jed but this was exceptionally brilliant! :D I especially liked your recipe for a nice boxer and happy ownership, totally true. Make sure you are smarter than the dog! Sometimes i think that might be where i am lacking!

[Jed]

Being smarter than the boxer is important, and I think it is probably the thing I lack Melbomb.

Sags, you don't want a boxer at all. Certainly not. Absolutely and definitely not.

I have dropped my request into the boxer puppy well, and you cannot drop your request in until mine is filled - coz the well doesn't refill that fast!!