Just About Boxers.

Boxers are notoriously boisterous, they can be extremely destructive some can even be dangerous …

Although it can be applied to every dog ….

So you have chosen a Boxer, it is now another possession of your household – but why a Boxer? Most folk purchase items for their home for various reasons, and take some time in choosing. It may be a new carpet for the living room, double glazing, furniture, or a new digital television, all having a limited life span of interest until replaced or discarded. Sadly there are many, who, on a whim, purchase a Boxer because they are attracted to its physical appearance rather than its character and temperament only to discover that after a short time the dog is to them, a major problem un-trainable, destructive, wrong shape, and, like the furnishings, eventually get the proverbial boot!

It is then that Boxer Welfare Associations become the recipient and undertake the task of matching the unwanted dog to a loving and caring home who have owners who know the breed and know that, God willing the dog will be with them for its lifetime. They will also appreciate that Boxers can, like other breeds, be destructive, and disobedient. Boxers, like children, require early correction – an untrained puppy can be a problem dog, but certainly for the first few years is soon trainable, it comes with great patience and plenty of tender loving care.

How many owners are confronted with the problem of purchasing or homing a Boxer only to discover that, like children, they are loveable but tend to be naughty. Boxers are notoriously boisterous, they can be extremely destructive some can even be dangerous, it is all part of their inherent temperament, but all are trainable. Many forget that dogs, like folk, get bored, moreso if left alone for long periods and certainly if treated just like an ornament. Boxers need lots of attention –they practically demand it. Just mention the magic word you use for walks or take the lead from its hook or the car keys from the table to notice that your dog is patiently awaiting your next move, he knows what’s going to happen and is anxious. There’s no doubt about it, Boxers are extremely intelligent. It is often been said that they are stupid –even soppy, but this criticism is not without foundation for so often do we find such elements within a Boxer household, if the dog has not been trained. How we harness this intelligence is up to us, the owner. It does not require months or years of training, it requires patience and a great deal of basic ‘fun’ with your dog.

How many owners actually look at their Boxer lying at their feet and wonder at its source of intelligence. Is the dog so asleep he doesn’t hear the doorbell or masters footsteps? How uncanny that he actually knows the time of day that you are expected home, and is a little confused when the clock goes back. Your every movement. The sound of the cupboard door being opened, the lid of the biscuit tin, and the ruffle of packaging that holds a favourite tit-bit. What wonder of intelligence that amongst the sounds throughout the day he goes to his bed when you lock the front door, or switch off the hall light? This wonder of intelligence is in all dogs and it can be directed in many ways. Boxers just love to please. They invariably please for they realise they will be rewarded by a tit–bit, or, better still, a loving and caring fondle of the ears or a pat.

Fifty years ago I fell in love with the breed. My introduction was as the result of witnessing the wonder of seeing a Boxer vehemently protecting his master who was controlling unruly elements at a Political Rally in Germany. He was a Police Dog and I was amazed at his tenacity and obedience. Eventually I purchased my first Boxer. It was from the famous ‘Winkinglight’ strain and ‘Major’ became my constant companion. He became an immediate member of the household, not a chattel, but a living loving member. It was soon realised that Major had so much to give and this untapped wealth of intelligence soon developed into a dog whose talents became renowned. It was Major who brought in the soggy letters , the daily newspaper, who retrieved sticks and balls, who swam with the kids, who dropped dead on command, who howled at the scent of smoke, who could scent out missing socks, shoes, gloves, even spectacles and answer the phone with a gentle ‘Woof’. It was Major who could be left to guard the car with impunity. It was Major who loved to fly with master, and it was Major who vehemently guarded the household. Major was not a special talented unusual Boxer for since Majors departure many Boxers have taken his place and many have been recorded, they were all trainable.

Of course every Boxer is an individual with his own particular trait but with perseverance they can all be trained to undertake a host of interesting ‘tricks’, just watch how when in a pack they follow the leader in a trained display team, all anxious to do their best – to please. Most Boxers will give a paw, sit on command or retrieve the odd ball. How many owners just leave it at that? Have you ever participated in a Dog get-together fun training session? If so, have you noticed the dogs who were not participating, many just straining at the leash to get in and ‘have a go’? Boxers just love to please and the rewards from the simplest of tricks are many, both to dog and owner, for tricks are fast becoming the most popular event on Dog Shows.

Teaching a dog to bark on command is one of the simplest of tricks, but you try it. Dogs naturally bark at strangers but ask them to say ‘Thank-you’ for a tit-bit or on command is a very different ball game. The easiest method is for the dog to mimic – this calls for a gentle ‘Woof’ from the owner when offering a favourite morsel, it may seem idiotic, but dogs soon catch on – you can even progress to get dogs to sing by the same method –just copying master. But, persevere, it won’t happen overnight.

One of my favourite tricks is simply called ‘Teeth’ – whilst my oldest dog Sheena was a little too toothless to make a huge impression I have had success with two previous old lads ‘Rocky and Gus’. My GSD ‘Annie’ soon mastered the art. Basically it’s just the one command ‘Teeth!’ and this word is continually uttered every time you raise the dog’s lips. As and when you eventually get your dog to accept this new ‘piece of fun’ he will appreciate the gentle massage of his gums [an opportunity for regular cleaning] and will draw back his lips on command. This final bond between dog and owner comes in very handy when you need to ward off that particular individual, for a whispered command of ‘teeth’ soon produces a most formidable animal that is unknowingly very genteel!

The command of ‘Drop!’ is another useful trick when exercising your Boxer. Catch the dog’s attention by suddenly giving the command whilst walking. It’s an old gun dog command, sometimes with a whistle. The idea is that the dog will immediately go down and stay, even whilst you walk on. This command is often used when we have visitors. Some folk don’t like dogs, but it’s terribly impressive and consoling to see a dog go down and stay until his master calls. Folk soon get at ease when they discover they are not going to be bowled over.

Progression to more difficult tricks eventually comes easily to a dog that has learned just a few, its back to ‘pleasing his master’. Retrieving a scented object by playing hide and seek in the house is a great game of fun for a Boxer which soon expands to the local recreation ground. Getting dogs to ‘drop’ on command is ideal for ‘Target drops’. I carry a small mat on some training sessions which, having told my dog to sit and stay, walk on about 25 metres and place the mat on the ground. I then send off the dog and get him to drop as near as possible on the mat [target]. This is great fun if the mat is a drawn target and a number of dogs participate. Of course dogs like to dress up; it’s great fun – even if they do have a chew! I recall Major getting an award wearing horn rimmed glasses, bowler hat and smoking a cigar! -TV commercials would have loved him; they are always on the look out for unusual doggie tricks.

I suppose my latest and very popular trick was jointly undertaken by my GSD and Sheena. To be honest Sheena picked it up from Rocky and Cindy [both long departed] for dogs soon catch on and learn fast from another dog. The trick is based on the ‘drop’ but followed up with the two extra simple commands ‘Dead!’ and ‘Stay!’ It is when both dogs are perfectly dead a juicy sausage or tit-bit is placed against their noses. The next part of the trick is to ask an onlooker for any number up to 10. This number is then repeated to the dogs and the count begins. When the chosen number [in any language] is reached both dogs immediately return to life and collect their treat. It may seem extremely difficult, but honest; with lots of patience your dog could do it. The final secret lies in the way the chosen number is emphasised in the command –it’s just that little extra sharp, dogs are intelligent enough to understand that that is the command to move.

Over the years I have had the pleasure of owning many Boxers. Many off – spring from the various litters are still possibly around, each dog had its own individuality and all I am sure had a wonderful and enjoyable life full of ‘fun’ whilst they were with me. Boxers are the greatest of Dogs, they are so loyal protective and wonderful with children, what’s more, they are extremely intelligent –please, don’t ever let them get bored.

By J Henry Foster

© J Henry Foster

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This entry was posted on December 18, 2007 at 7:12 am and is filed under Dog Breeds. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.