How to Control Aggressive Boxers?

Socializing Boxers

The best way to begin socializing your Boxer is to bring him home at seven or eight weeks of age and get him out into the world daily. Yes, daily is what it takes to establish a strong bond with your dog so that he will trust, respect, and obey you. This is "socializing" your dog, i.e.; getting him used to people, other dogs, other animals, and the world. This has an incredible impact on your dog’s behavior as he grows into adulthood.

It’s also crucial to socialize your adolescent dog, between the ages of six and nine months old to three years old. This is a difficult time of life for dogs; they are changing physically and learning constantly. They must be taught how to behave around people and other animals.

Continuing to socialize your Boxer during adulthood will not change the attitudes your dog has developed as a puppy, but can help to control his behavior so that he doesn’t act afraid or aggressive.

Socializing begins early and continues throughout your Boxer’s life. Take him for rides in the car. Take him to pet stores and other stores that allow dogs. Expose him to other animals at dog parks and as you take walks. Visit friends with him and have friends come to your home. Teach the dog to greet visitors. Use praise, praise, praise and affection constantly to encourage good behavior. Build a strong relationship with your Boxer; you are the leader and as the leader you must be calm, strong, loving, and consistent.

Touching has a powerful emotional effect on many dogs. It is part of the bonding process between the owner and the dog. Your dog must be willing to accept touching so that you can groom him, care for injuries, and put leashes and collars on him. Also, touch will help develop a strong, loving relationship between you, leading to his desire to please you. A daily "touch" session of five minutes or so is invaluable.

Training Boxers

Most puppies are ready to begin obedience lessons at six to eight months of age. The first lessons should be brief, 10 to 15 minutes a day (in addition to socialization activities), and gradually increase to 30 minutes. Training works best with lots of praise and a stern "no" for corrections.

The trainer should always be consistent in reinforcing good behavior and correcting bad behavior and should never strike a dog. Many trainers use a leash and chain-link collar, known as a choke collar. In spite of its name, the collar is never meant to choke a dog, but is used to deliver quick snaps to gain a dog's attention. This training collar is useful in teaching basic obedience commands, such as sit, stay, heel, come, and down.

You must establish yourself as the leader of the dog’s pack. If you don’t, you will never have your dog under control. You must be strong, calm, firm, and respectful of the dog. Your behavior will determine whether your dog will obey you and respect you. The well-trained dog isn’t ultimately trained by treats, collars, or demands; he is trained by his love and respect for you.

In training Boxers to be non-aggressive, the owner must commit to daily socialization and training sessions for the duration of the dog’s life. The respectful and loving relationship between the Boxer and the owner is the most important factor in the Boxer’s acceptance of and non-aggression toward people and other animals. The owner must be the pack leader – firm, loving, consistent, and in control at all times.

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