The Boxer: Training and Traits
A Boxer Dog and What To Look For
The Boxer is a powerful, impressive looking dog that has a playful and sometimes goofy side when around the family and those he or she trusts. As one of the descendants of the Molossus breed, which is now extinct, the Boxer has early roots as a fighting and hunting dog that is loyal, courageous and fearless when facing down anyone or anything he or she sees as a danger.
Traits
The Boxer, as a breed, has several different traits that make them ideal for some individuals and families and not a good match for others. This is true with virtually all breeds of dogs, but the size and the energy levels of this breed means that they need to be with people committed to training and socializing the dogs from an early age.
One of the many endearing features of the Boxer is its need to be with the people in the family. These dogs love being in the same room with everyone, preferably sleeping at your feet or on the couch beside you. They are affectionate with people they know and trust and are typically great companion dogs for children as they thrive on the attention and interaction with kids.
When raised with cats, dogs, and other animals they are highly social, but they can be aggressive to strange animals they don’t see as part of their family. Regular socialization can help to prevent this from becoming an issue, and a well-socialized Boxer is a fun dog to be around.
As puppies and into their adult life they are very energetic and do require a significant amount of exercise on a daily basis. They are happy with a walk or jog with people or a run with another companion dog, but they aren’t likely to self-exercise if left out alone in a yard.
Boxers can become destructive if they are bored, neglected or left alone for long periods of time. As they are a large breed of dog, they can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time.
Training
The typical Boxer is a very intelligent breed. They often appear to be watching what is going on and then seeming to learn what is expected. They are also easy to train and respond well to positive training methods with some tasty treats for a job well done.
Boxers are also smart enough to know when they are being asked to do the same thing over and over. This is not a dog that will sit several times in a row just to get a treat. They are fast learners, and repetitive training will cause them to be non-compliant.
Instead, use shorter training sessions or introduce new elements into the training to break up the routine. These are dogs that have great problem-solving skills and enjoy challenging types of training, dog puzzles and even games that require a bit of thinking.