Getting boxer under control

[cclawford]

i think people have pointed out the problems here: pent up energy & need for obedience.

teaching your boxer to come randomly takes several lessons. read http://www.pageweb.com/kleekai/comecmnd.htm. you can easily find other articles on dog training on the internet while you're looking for that obedience class (ps. some trainers make house calls for the right $, but then your dog will miss the socialization part). this teaching process (eg. hide & seek) can be a lot of fun for your kids and the dog and it works!

try to find a dog walker in your area if your family has a hard time doing it now. in addition to the daily walks, you should add occasional high-energy activities. repetitive play dates with another dog(s) would get her to chase and be chased by a being with her energy level. if she is naturally inclined to fetching, you should encourage it more. you could also try tying a favorite toy to a short rope for her to chase while you move it around. the idea is, she's running around to get her fix while you're not even breaking a sweat.

good luck!

 

[baccismom]

I took Daisy to training class 3 times. In our class the puppies were there for socialization and learning manners. We would start and end each class with free play time for 15 minutes. Supervised of course. They had a great time burning off energy and just learning how to play. If a puppy got too rowdy then they got a few minutes time out. (had to put back on leash and sit at your feet. This might sound impossible to you but they do do it.) I loved the classes and so did Daisy. I was sorry they had to end but I still take her there for an afternoon once a month just so she can play with other dogs to keep her socialized. I also try walking her where there are lots of people and dogs out and about. Sometimes we stop and let her greet and other times I just use the "leave it" command and keep walking. I think every dog (and Owner) can benifit greatly from obedience training. You will learn the come command at these classes. It is one of the most important commands to teach! Always use very good treats when teaching come. Use a long lead and let them roam a little and then use the "come" command ( only say it once) if they don't come, step on the lead and reel them in. They will get the idea. We were taught to then gently grab their collar and say "Gotch ya." This teaches them to let anyone grab them by their collars if they get loose so they can catch them and read where they belong. Good luck!

 

[ashp]

I figured I should update: Holly (and our) first training class is on the 7th of April, and is an 'adult dog beginners class', they felt this would be best due to her habit of jumping on other dogs heads like some demented pogo stick.

We're going to be going over all the basics there, and then proceeding on to the basic 2 session they have, that reinforces a lot of the basics and extends that. This should help with a lot of things.

I've been walking her after work to help tire her out, but we're struggling with the gentle leader as she's rubbed a ridge raw on her nose from her freaking out. I don't know if I should continue, loosen the nose loop or tighten it, or just discontinue it while it heals.

So far I've just been continuing, hoping that she'll become more adjusted and stop trying to tear her nose into the floor. We generally walk out to the beach and then I let her run around on the leash to the full extent it goes (one of those extendable ones) to help tire her out. I think that's the point she maanges to damage her nose from crazy thrashing.

Either way, we'll just continue working with her and hopefully the training she's going to undergo with help with some of the probems we're having. I couldn't find a dog walker in town, but hopefully post some basic training the children will feel better about walking her (my wife is never going to manage it as any stress on her body means we end up back in hospital!)

Thanks again guys.

 

[baccismom]

You might want to try a gentle leader harness. I used that with Daisy. Works the same way . It turns them around when they pull. My trainer told me to use the harness because the one for the nose does not fit a boxer correctly because of their short snout. Just a suggestion. Good Luck! Stay with it! I'm sure you both will do great!