Puppy training - Always use a rewards and praise-based method of training

Always use a rewards and praise-based method of training. Your puppy is eager to please you, and knowing that he has done something right will make him eager to do it again.

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Puppy training - Teach your boxer puppy to "Sit and Stay"

Teach your boxer puppy to "Sit and Stay" by gently putting pressure on his bottom as you firmly say, "Sit." Reward him with a small dog treat each time he remains in the "sit" position, and add the "Stay" command by removing the reward from his reach each time he begins to gets up without being told "OK."

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Puppy training - Roll over command

Praise your boxer puppy for rolling over each time he does so, and pat his belly, saying, "Good rollover! Good!" When he starts to link the words with the action, give him the "Roll over" command, and help him along by gently pushing him into the belly-up position and patting his belly.

Let go, praise the rollover, and give him a treat. Pretty soon, he'll link the command with the action and reward. Then you can embellish on the trick by gently moving his paws back and forth while he's on his back, saying, "Do your exercises!" Or hold him very still, and tell him to, "Play dead," praising him with the phrase "Good play dead!" and a treat.

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Puppy training - Train with doggie biscuit

Place a doggie biscuit on top of your puppy's nose, and hold it there for a second, saying, "Hold it, and wait." After a second or two, push his chin up quickly, but gently, as you say, "OK! Take it!" The biscuit should land in his mouth, and you should praise him for catching it.

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Puppy training - Give me your paw

Put your puppy in the "sit" position, and stroke the top of his front paw with your hand. He will usually lift his paw in response to the touch. When he does, lightly grab the paw, and shake it, saying, "Good shake! Good!" in a high-pitched, happy voice.

Give him a small treat, and repeat the process, saying, "Shake," or "Give me your paw," before you touch his paw. After two or three times of doing this, your puppy should automatically raise his paw on the command, and you should lavish him with praise. Reward him each time.

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Selection guide - Take your puppy to your veterinarian as soon as you adopt him

Take your puppy to your veterinarian as soon as you adopt him. Let the veterinarian perform an examination and ensure the puppy is healthy, along with getting you scheduled for the immunizations your puppy will need.

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Selection guide - Check the personality of the puppy

Check the personality of the puppy. Play with the puppy. A normal puppy should be playful and outgoing. After evaluating the puppies personality with your family, you should watch them interact with their litter.

You should watch for signs of dominance or aggression with the other puppies. As with humans, the best match for your family will probably be the puppy that is neither overly aggressive or submissive.

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Selection guide - Make sure that the puppy is healthy

Make sure that the puppy is healthy. Quick signs to ensure that the puppy is healthy include checking to see if it is alert and playful. Other signs include how it interacts with its mother and litter.

More in depth things you should check include the puppy's cage. It should be clean and frequently changed. Check the boxer's fur. The boxer's coat should be shiny. The puppy you choose should have open eyes and a wet nose. In addition, the puppy should not have any noticeable weight issues.

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Selection guide - Evaluate the whole litter

Evaluate the whole litter. Watch to see how the litter behaves as a whole. If the majority of the boxers seem distrusting or shy, then they are all probably genetically inclined to be shy. The problem with shy puppies is that most do not outgrow it. They will grow into shy dogs, who are more likely to snap at humans and other animals.

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Selection guide - Visit a responsible and reputable breeder

Visit a responsible and reputable breeder. It is really important to only use reputable breeders as your puppy's genes will determine their health and disposition as an adult. Signs that the breeder is a responsible and reputable breeder include a desire to better the the breed.

In fact, many responsible breeders will keep the best puppy out of the litter and require that people who adopt boxers with faults sign agreements to spray or neuter their puppy. Responsible breeders are also in full compliance with the laws in their area on breeding puppies.

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Owner guide - Understand health problems

Understand health problems that boxers are prone to, such as hip dysplasia (a malformed ball and socket in the hip joint), bloat, aortic stenosis (a heart condition), tumors and hypothyroidism (a condition that causes the body to slow down). When you adopt your dog or puppy, find out what type of screening has been done for these problems.

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Owner guide - Consider getting a crate for a new boxer puppy

Consider getting a crate for a new boxer puppy. It is helpful in house training and serves as a quiet place for the puppy. Crates are also good tools when you are training your puppy not to chew, and they help remedy separation anxiety.

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DOG FAQ - How to Choose a Boxer puppy Breeder?

There are many ways and places of getting a Boxer puppy. How to choose a Boxer puppy can by facilitated by attending exhibitions. Dog shoes could be fruitful if you are looking for a dog that can compete in the future. Details of these exhibitions can be found in national publications about dogs.

These publications usually have information about breeders offering pedigree dogs for sale. A common breed puppy is not hard to find, but one from a special breed could take some time. In some countries there are guides, published and revised yearly, with details about available breeders and breeds.

Any national canine club can also help you with information. Generally, rare breeds and puppies of a very appreciated one, are very expensive. Sometimes, a breeder can have a puppy with some imperfection at a very cheap price. Be careful with those with some physical defect, cause in the long run they could be more expensive. Your veterinarian can also recommend you some breeder as long as his dogs are not too expensive.

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DOG FAQ - How to Choose a Boxer puppy?

How to Choose a Boxer puppy correctly can be difficult, specially when you are in front of many of them, at the same time. Remember this is a life long commitment, at least to the dogs life span, so choosing a dog should never be taken lightly. The first thing is to make up your mind about whether you want a pedigree dog or a mixed-breed one, but there are some other points to think about before buying a dog. Afterwards, adaptation and training phases will be crucial to help your Boxer puppy to settle down in his new environment, and developing into an enthusiastic and obedient grown dog. The playful nature of puppies is their main attraction, though grown dogs are more suitable to people of certain ages.

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DOG FAQ - How old should my Boxer puppy be before I start training ?

Boxer puppies start (learning) training the minute they are born but training by human intervention can start as soon as the puppy gets to your home for example The "SIT/STAY", most Boxer puppies love their food and will sit in great aniticipation of being fed..so while getting the food ready give out the command, "sit stay"....good dog, when you put the dish down, command, "take it" ...good dog, as the puppy gets older stretch out the time period. (The three P's of training, Persistance, Perseverance, and most important *Praise*. Also remember, a Boxer puppy has a very short attention span). Puppy school is a very good idea with a Boxer, being around other dogs and breeds at an early age is a must and helps eliminate the Boxer natural tendencies to belligerency, which should not be confused with aggression.

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DOG FAQ - What is the difference between show Quality and non-show Quality?

The first difference is price and this can vary from country to country, breeder to breeder but in most all cases the show Boxer puppy will be more expensive than the non-show Boxer puppy. Some differences can be as minor as coat quality or flash, or major as to be a disqualifying fault in boxers such as the White Boxer, the prices of the non-show dog vary within these parameters.

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DOG FAQ - What is the right age to take a Boxer puppy home ?

When the Boxer puppy is ready to leave it's Dam (Mother) which is most commonly around 8 weeks of age. The buyer, hopefully is ready to take the Boxer puppy home as soon as they have puppy proofed their home and have everything ready for the new puppy including a secure yard, a place inside to sleep, the right food, (the same as the breeder is feeding) fresh water daily and most of all time for love and attention.

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