question

[kayboxer]

I'll have to go watch sometime. I would love to see a boxer do an agility run, and I know there are some in Kansas! I think the smaller dogs, such as Shelties reach their full size much earlier, so they can begin serious training earlier. I don't know about the Australian Shepherds though, but I've seen them on television and they are also wonderful to watch!

 

[AimeeDBoxer]

i agree that most agility sport are dominated by border collie and there some sport's that is really design for a certain breeds. last month i see a series in animal planet that there's a sport design for american bulldog to see and observe the breed to keep it's original purpose as a working dog. i hope there's a sport that can be done to keep our boxer a working breed because most of the time i can only see them in the show ring.pls correct me if im wrong.

 

[Alex C.]

Hey guys, my dog and I have been doing SchH for almost a year. I am a helper as well. The SchHIII will absolutely NOT do anything to your dog than the SchH1 routine. If anything your dog will have more control. The SchHIII only differs in a heavier dumbell retrieve, running more blinds, the running stand and other "non-aggressive" requirements. A SchHIII dog is in NO WAY more aggressive, dominant or dangerous than a dog in the SchHI. I have met plenty of SchHIII dogs who are all business on the field and big sweethearts in public or around kids. There are plenty dogs competing in SchH and working as therapy dogs.

As far as agility or even some exercises in SchH, you really want to wait til the dog is 18 mos before you start making them do challenging jumps. For the sake of their joints.

As far as obedience, the sooner the better. Oh and Boxers are great trackers! As long as they have the drive, they do just fine.

Edit: Oh and anyone who achieves a SchHI and especially a SchHIII, congrats! It is a loooooong hard road and a LOT of work! It is NOT easy.

 

[AimeeDBoxer]

Thank so mush for you info. i can now show this to my wife hehehehehe. she thought that protection exercise will make tha dog aggressive. im to starting a helper training im so glad to know some one in this sport because im only strating and from time to time i have some question that i want to know, german traininr is a little weird hehehehheheh, now i have some one to ask thanks. how many of your dog doing this sport and are there a lot of boxer in this sport? do you compete?

 

[Alex C.]

Hi, yes, we are hoping to trial for our BH in the Spring. I agree, there should be a LOT more emphasis on keeping the Boxer a working breed. SchH and similar sports are a great way to keep the Boxer's heritage. I suggest you google "USA-Box", it is a GREAT organization dedicated to the working Boxer. I am a member there, and it is a worldwide club. It is over-seen by the FCI which IMO, is a MUCH better organization. The USA-Box team has many members who compete their Boxers in agility, frisbee, obedience, SchH/DVG, IPO, Ring, etc.

Last November a member named Frank Ceci and his SchHIII Boxer Max competed in the DVG nationals and did very well. He and also a lady named Minna competed w/their Boxers in the ATIBOX 2007 in Italy.

Good luck with your Boxer and don't be discouraged if it's not going so smoothly. Boxers need to be trained differently than GSDs. The USA-Box info can help you w/that. Also, if your Boxer is not from a working pedigree, she may not have the drive or nerves needed for protection sports. That is OK too! The important thing is you both have fun, and as far as tracking and obedience, your dog should do just fine!

 

[Weissennord]

"my breeder did not recommend doing level 3 schuthund (protection) with Nikita because we have young children."
You are confused between SchH 3 and the "C" portion. SchH 1, 2 and 3 all have three phases. The "A" part refers to tracking, the "B" phase refers to obedience and the "C" phase refers to protection.

Alex is right there are plenty of dogs doing schutzhund that are family dogs and there even some that are therapy dogs. Dogs in Germany have to have a ZTP which includes bite work based on schutzhund. Many of these dogs are also family dogs.

Alex in what ways do you think a boxer should be trained differently then a GSD? I think this would make a good post.

 

[AimeeDBoxer]

i agree with weissennord, alex can you say more about the training difference between GSD and boxer, because in the training we are the only boxer it's all GSD and Mallinois. it will really help me in training my babies. some time's aimee just dont want to train she only wants to play if she get's the bite bar thats it no training, but if she's in the mood she do very well in obedience.

Last week in tracking she dont want to put her nose down she just keep on waiting and looking around, im thinking she is use in doing it in soil, last week we did it in grass.

 

[Weissennord]

You might have to go back to just doing scent pads. Starting with soil and switching to grass is easier then the other way around.

 

[Alex C.]

...Alex in what ways do you think a boxer should be trained differently then a GSD? I think this would make a good post.

i agree with weissennord, alex can you say more about the training difference between GSD and boxer, because in the training we are the only boxer it's all GSD and Mallinois....

Hi guys, sorry, I must have overlooked your posts. Well I'm still new to protection sports, but read a lot about them, and the seasonal articles I get from USA-Box, has a lot of good stuff.

I read an article written by Boxer experts who train in protection sports. It mainly talks about the different drives and how the Boxer and GSD utilize them.

1. Prey drive: The Boxer's prey drive is primary in protection work, as it's foundation was to engage in combat and fight animals much larger. It can also be expressed as "fighting drive" and in a much more aggressive form than a GSD. A GSD (herding dog) has a different prey drive in which it's intent is not to harm the animal (unlike the Bulldog).

2. Defense drive: Most Boxers naturally do not have the defensive drive of a GSD. It was not a necessary drive in their original purpose. It is a little hard to reach in the Boxer so it must be "dug up" to be shown. Of course you still need to read the individual dog, but many times Boxers will actually exhibit an aggressive prey drive. Also, many Boxers have a higher stimulus threshold - meaning it takes more of a threat to produce the desired defensive responses. Most hesitate to work the GSD in this form as it can bring that dog "over the top".

3. Hardness: The Boxer, for the most part is a hard dog when it comes to combat (attacking helper). They do not show the same pack drive as the GSD though, which makes them a bit more handler sensitive in protection work. They do not show the 'willingness' to please as a GSD and can show adverse behavior as a reflection of this; without the strong desire to work within a pack as a herding dog. They have worked as pack animals fighting larger game, but they were also forced to combat each other which is why they don't always react the same as a pack-pleasing GSD.

The article is called "Training the Boxer in protection work" by George Markos. Hope it was of some interest.

 

[AimeeDBoxer]

thank's weissennord ill stick to the soil first actually i have no problem in soil aimee and bambam can track in soil but having sa hard time in grass.

alex thank's so much i guest i really need to do much more home work to learn how to read my dogs there are time that my dogs is just standing statue in the training field it's the drive im doing some thing wrong because since we are the only boxer every one is being look as a GSD so i have to get to the prey drive of my babies and there natural drives.

i hope to hear from you guys more.