Boxer Dog Behavior Characteristics And Training

The Boxer breed is a fantastic dog that often has a mistaken perception as being a fussy and slightly skittish animal. In fact this is far from the truth, by nature they need a great amount of attention and love and without this they become skittish. Indeed, if you lead a very active lifestyle that means you will have to spend a lot of time away from the home then you are probably wise not to get a Boxer dog.

Having said that, if you do decide to get a Boxer then here are some facts about Boxer dogs. It will start by helping you select the best boxer puppy for your family.

Dog Food

Do your research before selecting an individual puppy or a litter to select from. Some common wisdom before making a selection is to view the parents of the litter first. This will give you an some pointers on the temperament and behavior of the parents and an indication of how the puppies may grow up to behave.

It is also a good idea to find a boxer from a non commercial breeder who does it for the love of it rather than to make money. This means the dogs are likely to be well cared for and be more sociable.

According to the American Kennel Club the Boxer breed is in the top ten of purebred dogs in terms of popularity. They are a medium sized dog that are energetic and very inquisitive. Consequently they will require more attention and cost more than a small toy breed of dog.

Food costs and other expenses like treats and toys will be more for a Boxer than many other breeds. Although being a short haired dog you will not need to do much grooming. For some strange reason they are not keen on water either so that will make bathing a lot of fun !

Boxers are noted for being very social animals. They love living in a family unit and crave attention and affection. You should strive to keep them active and busy. Left alone they will become bored and lonely. This can lead to bad behavioral habits and quite destructive tendencies.

Space is important to a Boxer dog. It is not practical to keep a dog such a this in an apartment. It needs a home with an ample backyard where it can run around and tire itself out. You can plant dog treats in areas of the yard so that your pet will rummage around and be kept active. Get it lots of toys to keep it busy too. Boxers will spend many hours ragging toys and this fits their nature perfectly.

The Excessive energy levels of your boxer may make it harder to obedience train. They will lose focus quickly, consequently positive reinforcement training where you are catching the dogs attention is the best training method.

Start the training early, when they are puppies. This includes socializing them with other family members and animals. A well adjusted dog is generally happier and more open to training methods.

Given their exuberant nature you may want to make the environment where the dog is trained quiet and distraction free. Thus your pet may not be the best pupil in a group obedience training class with lots of other pooches to distract it. Obedience training is a big task when it comes to any dog, let alone a Boxer but it is certainly worth making this commitment. They are an intelligent animal and love the close relationship with their owner that obedience training requires.

Boxer Dog Behavior Characteristics And Training

Dog Food

Dog Eating Behavior Problem

Anything unusual in your dog's behavior might be a sign of a problem. One common problem of dogs is their eating problem. If your dog eats other than the usual edible food you give he may be having dog eating behavior problem.

If this happens your pet dog might be telling you that something wrong is happening and it is high time that you take it seriously. To avoid anything bad for your pet dog, you should observe his eating habits, a slight change that is not unusual than normal might need a veterinarian attention.

Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs

Eating Grass. Dog eating grass is not a big concerned if not done frequently. Grass has lot of proteins and minerals that could be good for your dog but the problem is, if it is not contaminated. We all know that grass might bring health issue as well so better stop your dog from eating grass the next time you see him.

But the case is totally different if your dog has a habit of eating grass more than the usual, he may have stomach problem and eating grass is a way for him to vomit. If this happens, immediate medical attention is needed.

Garbage Eater. This dog behavior has no known medical related problem as why dogs love to eat garbage so do not freak if you see your pet dog eating garbage. As an animal, it is in their nature to find food and garbage is a good place to explore. The best thing to do with this problem is being vigilant and responsible. Cover trash can properly and make sure it is properly disposed.

Eating Stool. This problem is the gross of all dog eating problems for humans though this was the least harmless of all. Dog eating stool might be a carried behavior of their parents especially moms eating poof to protect their offspring from prey animals. Also, this could be an indication that your dog lack in vitamins; check your dog diet and if necessary change it and see if the eating habit of poof is solved.

No one knows your pet dog health better than you do so if anything out of normal happens, it may be best to do research or consult a vet for more accurate findings.

Dog Eating Behavior Problem

Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs

Bad Dog Behavior - Is Your Dog Stealing Food?

Many bad dog behaviors such as a dog stealing food, are actually dog instinctive behavior. In this series of articles, we illustrate the problems and show you how to cure unwanted dog behavior, with a special focus on dog pack instincts.

dog food storage containers

"Just what do you think you are doing?" you exclaim, trying to retrieve the meat so cleverly stolen from your plate. You have succeeded, but the meat is a bit slobbery now and distasteful for humans. The part that really makes you fume is that Max does not seem to put two and two together: (1) You are angry at him because he was a bad dog. (2) He stole your perfectly cooked, delectably smelling food!

Dog Food

What are the dog pack instincts in operation here? Food and mating are the ways dogs become strongest in a pack. Pack members will drive off Omega ranking ones from the kill, and higher ranks sometimes take meaty bones away from the lower ranking dogs.

Note - Driving off others and standing over the food to claim it is a much more common act than dogs taking food from one another.

For example, you may have observed a litter of puppies. Sometimes one pup will sneak in and try to drag off "the whole kill." It is a game to him then, but he is acting out his future dominant role. The real dominant aggressive behavior of wrestling with every thing has to be acted out among the young pups as part of their development, maturation, and socialization - what makes them into a real dog. They correct each other.

Some pups may use their bodies to try to block others from the food bowl. When the pups do not get told "no" the natural way by other dogs, then they will themselves seek to tell all comers "no" when it comes to their food. This is the genesis of a lot of dog food aggression problems, including people being bitten. Just remember that pups taken away from their litter mates too young may develop aggression and biting problems, because they have not had time to learn from acting out these things in their pack life.

As they grow older, the pups will have learned the calmer behavior of taking and claiming by standing over the food. It is the calm assertive pups who will end up leading the pack, because the hot-head, dominant aggressive ones are not sufficiently stable.

Either way, though, your domestic dog has this wild dog behavior inbred to wrestle food away, or drag off the prey, or stand over the food, claiming it at least as much for pack position, assertion of authority, as for nutrition. Until taught otherwise, he WILL try to steal your food!

Solution? The easiest way I have found to deal with a dog stealing food is to give Max a single spot in which to stay, a line which he may not cross during dinner. If Max breaks the boundaries, immediately stop eating and take him back to the spot or line. The mere action of making him go back makes him understand what you expect. Then you name it, such as "stay" or "no further," whatever you choose. The dog then connects the words with the required act.

You may have a few meals disrupted this way, but Max will catch on very quickly if you are consistent.

Remember for all dog behavior modification problem solving -- Claiming your position as Pack Leader, then instructing and correcting Max with firmness and consistency will enable you to cure unwanted dog behavior, including dog instinctive behavior such as a dog stealing food.

Bad Dog Behavior - Is Your Dog Stealing Food?

Dog Food

Dogs Eating Grass - Behavior & Physical Components

Similar to the chicken and egg debate, dog trainers and other professionals often disagree about why dogs eat grass. The discussion usually goes like this, "Do dogs eat grass because they need to throw up or do they throw up because they eat grass?" The one thing that everyone agrees on is that if your dog is eating grass, he is most likely going to throw up!

dog food for sensitive stomachs

There are several theories as to why dogs eat grass:

Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs

Dietary Supplement
The dog's diet is lacking in nutrients found in leafy greens, creating an urge to eat grass.

Healing Instinct
If a dog has an upset stomach, he may instinctively eat grass to induce vomiting. This evacuates the stomach of bothersome irritants and makes the dog feel better. Many dogs diagnosed with a sensitive stomach, regularly turn to grass in order to throw up. This is due to bile build up in an empty stomach and the dog instinctively needs to relieve it.

They like the taste
Some dogs move from sniffing grass to eating it as a learned behavior. This typically presents when the dogs smells the remains of something particularly attractive and is enticed to eat the grass which lies underneath. If this happens often enough, the dog may acquire a taste for grass.

Is it normal dog behavior?
Eating grass is a normal behavior for canines and it is typically safe. Dogs may be more attracted to long, decorative grasses or tall weeds, particularly if they are blowing in the breeze.

Is eating grass harmful for my dog?
Eating grass is not harmful providing it isn't a regular habit and the grass is free from pesticides. Most commercial pesticides are considered animal safe once the product has fully dried. If grass has been recently treated, contact the chemical company to ensure its safety and when in doubt, don't let your dog eat grass in that area.

Mushrooms are also a cause for concern. If you have a grass eater, check your yard frequently to ensure it is free from mushrooms that may be toxic to your pet.

Routinely eating grass

If your dog is eating grass and vomiting on a regular basis, you should seek the advice of your veterinarian to rule out a stomach ailment. Additional considerations include:

Eliminate the empty stomach/bile feeling by increasing the fiber in your dogs diet. Raw carrots and pumpkin pie filling are healthy choices but be mindful of the sugar intake if you're feeding these items daily. Your veterinarian may prescribe over the counter fiber supplements or a prescription, high fiber food depending on your pet's diagnosis.

Help keep your pet's stomach full by feeding smaller meals more often throughout the day. Providing a cookie or small treat before bed can also help them through the night.

Stress can also trigger this behavior. Separation anxiety, fear, excessive barking or crying can all create an upset stomach, which typically starts the process of grass eating. If your pet is exhibiting any of these symptoms, your veterinarian or dog trainer can help you identify the root cause and create a plan to make your pet more comfortable.

The goal of all dog training is to provide peaceable solutions to everyday problems so that pets and their owners live harmoniously. Paws in Training provides dog obedience training, puppy training, dog behavior evaluations, consultation and dog education services in Raleigh, Durham and Cary, N.C.

© Paws in Training, Inc. 2008

Dogs Eating Grass - Behavior & Physical Components

Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs