Are Boxers A Good Family Dog?

I was thinking about bringing a Boxer dog home, but since I have children…I got cold feet, wondering are Boxers a good family dog. I hit the books researching to find out whether they are suitable for households with children in them.

So are Boxers a good family dog? Yes! Boxer’s fun and playful personality make them a great fit as a family dog. A Boxer’s ability to get along well with children largely depends how early (and often) they were introduced to kids. A properly trained Boxer can be a great playmate if it was trained and socialized at an early age. But a Boxer who isn’t used to kids might shy away from them or act aggressively toward them at first.

Many potential dog owners choose breeds depending on what they have heard about their temperament and whether they are suited to be good family dogs. But the actual decision-making process is much more complicated than simply choosing a dog breed known for its friendliness.

Even if you do purchase or adopt from a breed known to be family-friendly, it must still be raised and monitored properly to avoid behavioral issues from rising. Regardless of the breed, a dog must be properly trained and socialized before it can be trusted around children.

Train Your Boxer to Keep Your Whole Family Happy

Boxers are known to be quick learners.

They love to be mentally stimulated and are usually enthusiastic obedience students. They learn best through:

• Positive reinforcement that rewards them for their efforts and relies on consistency and repetition for training.
• Clicker training methods, which teach dogs that the sound of a click means that you are about to give him a treat.
• Training that starts with using simple commands, such as “sit” or “stay” before moving onto more complex commands.
• Puppy school where they can also socialize with other dogs.

There are three primary issues that are addressed in training:

1. House training is essential for any dog breed. Luckily, Boxers are known to be one of the easiest breeds to house train.
2. Because of their high energy and power, Boxers tend to drag their owners along the sidewalk. Teaching your Boxer to walk nicely on a loose leash needs to be addressed early on in its training.
3. Boxers also have a tendency to jump on people. It’s an innate response for them, so it’s best to prevent your Boxer from developing this problem as early on as possible.

There is a clear pattern when discussing training methods for your boxer:

You need to start training your Boxer as early as possible. A younger dog is much easier to teach obedience lessons and commands than an older dog who has already developed bad habits.

Avoid training your Boxer through punishment. Beating or yelling at your dog is not effective in teaching him anything. Instead, he will become fearful of you.

Take Care of Your Boxer Properly to Avoid Behavioral Problems

Exercise, exercise, exercise!

Boxers are full of energy and need to be exercised daily.

They can be quite boisterous, and may even knock over a child by accident if he hasn’t been properly trained (and even if properly trained).

A lack of physical exertion will cause your Boxer to take out his pent-up energy through:

• Digging
• Chewing
• General destruction throughout the house

Here are some fun activities you can do with your Boxer to keep him happy and healthy:

• Traditional games like fetch and catch will always keep your Boxer amused.
• Set up an obstacle course filled with cones and fences. If you don’t have these items, you can easily improvise with a broomstick and some flower pots.
• Take your dog out on a neighborhood walk. Let him sniff the flowers and mailboxes he passes by. You might even make a new friend during your time out!
• Teach your dog to search and find items. This may take some time for your Boxer to learn, but it’s worth the wait.
  • Start out by taking one of your Boxer’s favorite toys and give it a name. For this example, let’s call him Ted. Let your Boxer sniff the toy for a little bit before telling him to sit and stay. Place Ted a few feet away from your dog, then tell him to “Find Ted”. Once your Boxer runs over and retrieves his toy, you can reward him with a treat!
  • As your Boxer begins to improve at this game, challenge him by hiding the toy in harder spots out of sight or in different rooms.

Boxers are social creatures and do not enjoy being left alone.

Whenever possible, don’t lock him outside away from the family or leaving him unsupervised for long periods of time.

Why Boxers Tend to be Stereotyped and Misunderstood

The Boxer’s square build and strong features can intimidate anyone who doesn’t know much about the breed.

Sometimes, Boxers are mistaken for Pitbulls due to several similar features they share with them, such as their lean, muscular builds and powerful jaws.

TO BE CLEAR: There is no such thing as bad dog breeds…only bad dog owners.

Because of a Boxer’s intimidating stature, its playfulness can sometimes be mistaken for aggression.

In fact, they are known to lean against their owners as a sign of affection! However, a well-trained Boxer who is given plenty of exercises can still make for a fine family dog.

Why Boxers can be Great With Children

Boxers can become wonderful companions to your children if trained properly.

Their playful personality, extreme intelligence, athleticism, and instinct to protect its loved ones make them highly desirable to any family. Active families who enjoy exercising outside and with each other may be drawn to Boxers due to their high energy and constant need to be doing something.

They are also known for getting along well with children, as their youthful energy makes them a fun playmate for any child.

However, Boxers (or any dog) should not be left alone with younger children.

Parents must be available to assert strength and leadership over the Boxer so that they do not jump on anyone, such as a small toddler.

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