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Boxer House Training

Overview

Housebreaking your Boxer does not need to be a struggle of wits or will power between you and your dog.

How do you properly house train a Boxer? By following 2 main rules:

1. Use a method that prevents your Boxer from eliminating inside the home

2. Provide and offer an area to relieve themselves that is both easily accessible and available when they need it.

Keeping these 2 training rules in mind, housebreaking your Boxer can be done without stress or frustration.

A Boxer may be a bit stubborn; but with training your dog will be pleased to make you happy!

Rule # 1

Your Boxer cannot be allowed to eliminate inside the house. How do you accomplish this? It is really easier than you might think. There are 2 basic methods.

Watch them like a hawk!   If you are lucky enough to be able to stay home with your Boxer until he or she is house trained, you can use the Umbilical Cord Training Method.   You will simply put a leash on your Boxer and tie the other end to you. You may connect it to your belt loop or around your wrist. The important element is that your Boxer will never be more than 6 feet away from you.

Rule # 2

You must clearly show your Boxer where you expect them to go to the bathroom. If there are any doubts in your dog's mind about where they are supposed to eliminate this will make for 1 confused dog! And, it will most likely lead to that dog just giving up and going inside the home.

How to Begin

Using the above Umbilical Cord Training Method Each time your puppy makes a motion that implies that they are about to eliminate, you must bring your dog outside to a designated area. In some cases, you may need to pick up your puppy and run to that spot.

The most important key is that your dog is stopped and taken to his or her outside area. The location that you choose as the main spot for your Boxer to use as a bathroom is vital. A dog will become very confused if you show them a new area each time you bring them outside. One area and only one should be chosen.   Within that area, you should allow your Boxer the length of the leash to walk around. It must be the dog's final decision as to where exactly to eliminate. Some dogs are very choosy; they will take up to 15 minutes to find just the right spot.   If an owner wants to be successful, they must be willing to be patient and wait as long as it takes. Bring a book if you have to! Just allow your dog to feel as if they have chosen the perfect spot.

As soon as your Boxer is done with their business major amounts of praise must be given. You do not need to give your dog a treat each time they "perform" good; but you should shower your Boxer with hugs, kisses, pats and tons of happy and excited words. Act as if your dog just did the best possible action in the world!   A dog aims to please their owner; if you make your Boxer feel as if he did something extraordinarily wonderful, he or she will be prone to do it again.

Crates are helpful for those times that you cannot tether your Boxer to you. Young puppies should not have free reign of the home until they are 100% housebroken. If "allowed" to have accidents, they will continue to believe that they can go urinate or eliminate inside of the home. Even if you yell "NO !"... part of this reason is that when a puppy has an accident and the owner rushed over, and the brings the puppy outside.... the pup thinks "If I go to the bathroom inside, I get an awful lot of attention".

Therefore, you can either tether or use the crate. It is only temporary until your puppy understands that the only place to go is outside. When in a crate, if you take your pup outside every 1-2 hours and then as they get older every 3-4 hours, they will have no choice but to go in the yard. Once this is instill in them, you can then allow them out of the crate for longer and longer times. You can also take them out at each feeding time and if you stay very close to them, for some play time to break up the time spend inside the dog crate.

Be sure that the crate is only large enough for them to turn, lie down and stand up. Any extra room will be that one small area that they will use as the bathroom. Metal wire crates (so that your Boxer can see around and still feel like part of the household) have adjustable barriers, so that you can increase their area as they grow. You will find that after some initial barking and whining, your puppy will learn to love their "den".

Be sure to put a toy inside and a soft towel so that their elbows do not become sore.

Aside from schedules outings every so-many hours, be sure to bring him or her outside each time that they awaken from a nap and 10-15 minutes after eating.

If You Can Not Always be Home

This is where crate training a dog comes into play. Crate training is a temporary method in which the puppy is placed into a dog crate. Do keep in mind that even if in a crate, a puppy can only "hold on" for so long. A 4 month old, for 4 hours tops, a 5 month old for 5 hours, etc.

Leaving Your Boxer Outside

The Boxer is among the top dog breeds that are stolen. Where are they taken from? Their own yards! A Boxer puppy should only be kept outside if there are no other alternatives, the yard is 100% safe and for a very short amount of time. A fence may keep other dogs out, but it will not keep out a thief intent on jumping over the fence to take your helpless puppy. Until a Boxer is old enough to scare off a thief, do not leave your puppy outside. In addition, outside elements such as the hot sun can quickly overheat a dog causing heat exhaustion, which ultimately leads to death if treatment is not given in enough time.

How Often Does a Puppy Need to Go Outside?

Your Boxer puppy should be taken out many times during the day, given that he or she sleeps through the night:

When the first wake up
After each meal (3-4 times a day)
Before bedtime

A general guideline in house training a dog is that a 2 month old Boxer puppy can hold its needs for 2 hours, a 3 month old for 3 hours and so on. The maximum time that any dog should ever be expected to hold their needs is 8 hours and this is for a full grown adult canine. Try to not give your Boxer water right before bedtime unless they seem very much in need of a drink. Wearing your Boxer out with some playtime before bed will also help your puppy sleep through the night and not need to get up to go to the bathroom.

Housebreaking in Cold Weather

Many Boxer owners live in areas in which winters are harsh, cold and very snowy. While some dogs love the snow, others hate the cold and often refuse to go outside. Learn what steps you can take to help train your Boxer to actually enjoy going outside in the cold.
Housebreaking in the Cold

Marking

If you have an adult dog who is normally housetrained, but still pees inside the home, this may be not be a housebreaking problem...it may be a marking behavioral issue.
See more about Marking

Your Biggest Challenge

Housetraining your Boxer, whether puppy or adult, will be the biggest challenge that you will as a Boxer owner. Of course, the details of this huge topic cannot fit into 1 webpage or even 1 website. For this reason, we have created the AllBoxerInfo e-book for you. This is a 111 Chapter Boxer book, unlike any other. And if you have any questions after you see all of the detailed information...you may ask any question...for FREE...For Life. Click Here to Learn More

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