Can Boxers be taught to retrieve?

[MSBoxer]

Just a silly question I had: Can a boxer be taught to retrieve doves or quail? Anyone tried this? Just wondering if its as futile as teaching them not to pass gas! haha! Many thanks and Merry Christmas

MSBoxer and wife

 

[Rlr.Giraffe]

Just wondering if its as futile as teaching them not to pass gas! haha!

Oh man, I would LOVE it if you could actually train them to do that!!! Willis has NO shame. I think you'd have a hard time training a boxer out of playing with whatever object he was "retrieving".

(sorry, kinda in a silly mood... hope someone can answer your question for real!)

 

[Cami]

My girl has caught a few birds and a mallard duck once. As far as the retrieval goes.....it was hell getting any of them away from her. She thought it was a game. Good-Luck in your search.

 

[FarleyBoxer]

I know that many boxers do schutzhund (sp) and that includes retrieval exercises. I would think that transferring those talents to game would not be out of the question. A local hunting/dog training club would be able to help more I bet.

 

[douma]

That is Avra's favorite game,she would retrieve sticks, balls and rocks for hours
If you want you dog to learn retrieving,you must never chase your dog when he/she has a toy in their mouth

 

[basak]

Oh my, how many times was I embarrassed because I thought Krose was going to retrieve and I opened my arms for him, and he just past by me with light speed

basak

 

[Jade010103]

Jade retrieves better than my golden retriever, how wierd is that?

 

[totallyhip]

Luke retrieves. Well.... when he wants to. He only likes to fetch his ball and bring it back to me a couple of times before he is bored of it. My BF's mom's boxer will play fetch for hours.

 

[br54_9]

Max loves to retrieve in the summer he will do it for hours of course he has water and shade, but he loves to catch tennis balls in the air, I throw them twenty or thirty feet in the air and he catches them, no problem. He also will bring the balls, frisbee back to me everytime. I would like to know if they could be taught to retrieve birds and such, who knows?

 

[gmacleod]

I am sure that a boxer could be taught to retrieve - but when it comes to game there is more to retrieving than simply fetching The dog needs to have a very soft mouth in order not to damage the bird at all. Various retriever breeds have been selectively bred over decades (if not centuries) for that ability. The boxer has not...

In short, yes, I think a boxer *could* be trained. And if you're OK with getting a soggy bird brought to you, then by all means go ahead :D But I also think it would be a lot easier to train a dog that was selectively bred for the qualities/characteristics that make a good retriever. If I happened to be into bird shooting, and wanted a dog for retrieving game, I'd probably choose a dog bred for the purpose rather than trying to adapt one bred for something else