...for a colleague!!
Just been chattin with a colleague who is having some problems with her boxers - just wanted some advice re getting them to stop pulling when out on the lead, and to be less boisterous when they see other dogs
they are aged 1 and 2, castrated males
have gone through the little I know and my own experiences with a different breed, have suggested more exercise but colleague is pregnant and will struggle with that - as I know little about the characteristics of the breed just thought I'd pick your collective brains.....

thanks in anticipation  

If she is pregnant probably be best to teach them walk to heel as if they were puppies again.
Back garden 5 mins short periods so good for dog and owner, someone else maybe able to give you more detailed advice but being a Boxer shouldnt make any difference to teaching them to heel to any other dog

Are they boisterous with ech other and wind each other up?? Maybe suggest walking seperately until they can learnt to walk properly and calm down?

I think individually they are better than when they are together, she has a halti that she uses, and I mentioned about the teaching to walk to heel...she said she wanted a trainer to do it, but I think she should try and do it herself, as ultimately she has to live with the dogs 24/7 and they need to learn to respond to her, not a trainer, iyswim

just wasn't sure if there were any specific do's and don't's in regard to boxers....what about clicker training?? Or a whistle?? Just throwing some ideas around....

Not so much Boxer advice, rather general heel training advice. Any dog can pull just that Boxers do it really well

A dog only pulls because someone pulls back.
She needs to get to grips with idea of never pull back -stand still - get attention of the dog - change direction- but if there is nothing to pull against, a dog will not pull.
Trying to get this working with two young naughty dogs at a time is more challenging especially with people who are out to walk their dog-  not train their dog. Putting headcollars on them may modify their behaviour in the short term but back to school would be best especially taking into consideration their age.

I get this when walking mine together.  The two young' uns can be walked on a splitter together, no problem! When walking the male on his own he's fine, but as soon as the others come out, he pulls to be the leader.  I now use gentle leader when walking together.

It's not just Boxers that do this I'm sure!

Reesy...as I said they are just especially good at it....little darlings

I know

Thanks all

info passed on, tho I honestly think she wanted a "quick-fix" solution.....now where's my magic wand......

i think all dog owners are waiting for the day when a "quick fix solution" happens....lol
if somebody was to invent it,they would be a millionaire........best get my thinking cap on.....

To be honest what on earth possessed the lady to get a second pup when her other was still barely out of puppyhood.  Boxers are very bouncy and do not mature for several years (if ever say my Boxer owning friends), it is part of their charm.  With my own breed I would only just be expecting the two year old to be trained and easier on walks, without a younger one as well.

To be honest if she can't cope now she will not cope at all when the baby is born, there is no quick fix or substitute for training.  Perhaps it would e wisest to home the younger one now as a youngster, rather than get into such a mess in the next few months and end up wanting to re-home them both.

She will find things very hard with a new baby, the lack of sleep, the hormonal ups and downs and two bouncy young dogs.

1 &2 yrs old,   these boys have a lot of maturing to do, if ever.....it does not matter what breed she has, if she has not spent individual time with both boys,   she will never teach them to heel.....just because the are Boxers, does not mean they can not walk to heel.

The trouble is, if she is waiting for them to calm down, she will wait a long time.... Boxers are a breed who like to stride out in front of you....they are nosey, they want to see and experience everything around them.

If she has the attitude "that someone else " will do the job for her,  then I may not be popular in my reply, but she is not the owner for these boys.... best to re home them now, well before they become problems nobody wants to take on.

The only way she is going to resolve this problem is by spending  individual  time with each dog.....going back to basics,  walking them separately on a daily basis...she will never achieve any form of obedience , by walking them together, nor does it sound like she will have the time if she is expecting a baby.

Boxer are no different to any other breed, they are highly intelligent( apart from my boy)  but they do need constant reminding, they stay boisterous for life,   my 8 yr old boy is only now calming down, and he will fool you ,  you think he is a nice mature gent, they he reminds you , their is still life in the old dog yet...my girl she is 5 ,  even now she forgets her "heel walking"  it is a constant ongoing reminder for her...she tries bless her, but her exuberance gets the better of her sometimes.

My hubby says , one is on speed the other cannabis when they are walked together.

There is a lot of hard work to be put into these boys , to help with their training, and if she cant walk them, what else has she let go with there training.... they are a very high maintance breed a bored Boxer is a nightmare.

Do her and more importantly, the dogs, a favour,  give her the BOXER RESCUE  phone number.... get these boys into homes who can cope with them.....

I agree with everything everyone else has said, to train a dog not to pull takes time, patience, one to one, and to be honest should have been started a long time ago i.e from 12 weeks of age.

But, I'm going to take a different direction to everyone else purely because the lady is pregnant, with hormones, tiredness and other priorities doing single walks right now is not the time to be digging her heals and beginning to train these dogs, it is just the wrong time.

I would suggest she does get in a trainer to singularly walk these dogs, to take the strain of the pulling with the stop, start training, and once the trainer has been walking these dogs for a week or two for the owner to then walk with, watch and learn, eventually taking over the better dog and then the other, not ideal but hopefully it will cause the lady less strain re: her condition, she needs these dogs trained well so an expert would be my port of call for her right now.

But, a dog needs the owner to train with and learn all the commands and signals to use otherwise it is pointless and they will not listen to her. She needs to get a trainer in now, to try to settle these dogs.

thanks again for taking the time to respond - I have no doubt that she loves her dogs, and her husband will obviously help where he can, but yes I must admit I am concerned too re her imminent baby etc, she's going to have a lot on her plate...

I know all dogs need to be trained to walk to heel, something I'm still working on with my 2 19month-olds, but I shall see if I can get through to her (she's a bit dipsy, not sure if all down to hormones **roll eyes**)

thanks again

Has she tried playing a game in the garden first with them, to tire them out a bit (my sis has a Boxer - perhaps 8 hours of fetch ). they defo need to be walked seperately until she has control. I wouldn't take 1 step while the dog was pulling. Boxers are very smart, and judging by my sisters Boxer, they also know who they have to behave for!!!