If Boxers called a Behaviorist ;-)

[BoxerMom999]

Big Sigh .... How much longer before my humans are well trained? I sit on a towel/blanket in the car but they do not. Don't they know that they may dirty the seats? And why oh why don't they understand that all food is to be shared (except for the boring stuff)?

They are always grumbling at each other - something to do with bills and money and the cleaning and errands and relatives and other drivers and visiting in-laws and work and on and on and on. It is just so difficult to get them to enjoy the moment. I am constantly trying to make them laugh (and I am very good at it if I do say so myself ) but it is tiring me out. I mean - when will they realize what is really important and just ignore the rest. I distract them as much as possible and reinforce the good behaviour but it seems that we are back at square one each and every day.

People!

Good thing we have each other. I don't know what I would do without all my boxer friends on BW.

[neecy911]

Hey guys!! It's Annabelle and Falko and WE'RE OFF PROBATION!! We know exactly what you guys are talking about. I often hear my mommy telling everybody that Annabelle is Obsessive Compulsive because she licks and licks and licks....but really, give it a break, we just want them to be as clean as we are!
And as soon as we get the house organized, MOM goes around and picks up all our decorations off the floor and puts them back in the box in the corner. What is that all about? I just dont get it, I mean I love them and all, but sheesh, they need to relax a bit

[CosmoH]

Murphy the golden here...I hope it's ok to talk about my human even though my little brother Lance the boxer isn't here yet.

You guys think you have it bad? My human is a psychologist! You'd think with all this behaviorism training, she'd have it right when it comes to our relationship.

For example, she's grown these flowers in the yard but she never goes out and eats them. I on the other hand quite enjoy a good mixed greens salad. She even claims she's a vegetarian. I don't buy it.

How come every time I splash the water out of my bowl all over the kitchen floor, she comes by with a towel and cleans it up? Can't she understand that I'm making a pool in here because I'm hot from all this fur? Sure she fills this weird round thing with water outside on the deck for me to play in, but I just like to bend the side down and make a river. Rivers = outside, pools = inside. How complicated is that?

I also don't understand how she doesn't want to sleep with her head under the sofa. And why is she telling me "off" when _I_ try to get up on the sofa to see what all the fuss is about with sitting up there? How can I know if it's really better then being under it if I can't check it out?

I hope she gets straightened out before Lance gets here, or we might have to collectively try to teach her a few things.

Murphy

[MomofMillie]

Oh man, I was hoping someone would bring these issues up. Millie here, and even though I'm only a pup, I've been trying to teach my mommy a thing or two and she is not getting it!

For example, I compromised with her and ring the bell to go out for potty. I thought she just liked the sound of it (why else would she put a bell on the door??), so I amuse her by ringing it quite often, even when I don't have to pee! I thought she'd be grateful for my musical efforts but instead sometimes she says "Not now."

Also when she gives me a bath, I feel bad that she doesn't get to wash up in the tub so I'll jump out and try to wash her with my wet body. She never appreciates anything I do!! Silly humans!

[Slobberchops]

Hi all my mates at Boxerworld,it's way past my bedtime here in Australia,so had to sneak onto the clicky thing that my Mum spends so much time in front of{wish she'd get a life}
I wear my Mum and Dad down when they don't share their food with me,I do the water on the stone trick too,drip,drip,drip,drip.This works every single time yeeha
love Waldo

[My Boxer]

Scooter here, glad to hear that I'm not alone with my human problems. I don't know why she doesn't take me for more rides in the car! I run over to the car and touch the handle, and she just doesn't get it. I repeat it many times, but no luck. She just doesn't appreciate the feeling one gets hanging your head out the window and having the breeze flapping your ears. Man that's living! Can't help but have the old tongue hanging out! And when the car takes us to that little window that gives us hamburgers, oh man, that's great! I want to climb in the window to help, but she won't let me, what's with that? I'm at my wits end trying to change her behavior, I mean after all I give her treats, kisses, and practice NILIF. Oh oh, I hear her, better get off the computer before she figures out I know how to use it to get to BW. Boy am I glad that you guys are here for me!

[Cyrus2005]

Cyrus here. Really, my biggest gripe about MY humans is the treat cabinet. I don't understand why they only get a couple of treats out at a time. I mean, why not eat them all at once???!?

[MustLuvBoxer]

To all boxers, I am one of these humans you speak of. I just want to thank you for all your input. Now knowing how you all feel about your humans, I am thinking I could be a better pet for my boxers. I will try to learn how to share food, and be a better fetcher. Thanks again for your post! LOL

[Chiefsmom]

Wow! At least I'm not the only one.... Chief here....
I'm currently working on getting mom and dad to leave the food toward the end of the counter... I don't think they realize how difficult it is to come up with ways to get up there and get it down! I nearly had to jump three feet to get those steaks the other day; and I nearly hit my head when getting my slice of pizza! Sheesh!!!
Also.... Sam and I working on getting her to give us less baths! We go outside to the neighbor's pond to get a mud mask put on; and mom goes and washes it all off with this coconut- vanilla smelling stuff! I have to admit, I look handsome.... but the mud bath was intended to be a vigorous spa treatment!!!! What good does it do when it's rinsed right off! It can't be that bad for the furniture can it???
And one more thing.... she needs to get out of the way when I'm doing my boxer burns in the living room! I always have to slam on the breaks if mom's folding laundry or sweeping the floor! I know she has good intentions of keeping things clean and tidy... but I'm just going to mess them back up anyway as soon as I skid through the folded clothes or dirt piles! She's making twice as much work for herself!
I'll just keep trying the sloppy wet ones upside the face! SLLUUUUURRP! She tries positive reinforcement with me; so I guess it's gotta work with her too!

[northernboxr]

Riker here. I don't have much time to chat because it is time to put my human to bed. Honestly, I think she is going through some sort of bratty phase right now because whenever I try to tire her out before bed by stealing cushions, chewing things, burning around and barking- she just starts muttering strange things at me and I have to go to my crate.

...Honestly, doesn't she know that a tired human is a happy human?

I hear that these humans are a bit late to mature, but that they'll settle down eventually. Can anyone verify this?

[elvis_baby]

elvis here...guy's..guy's i feel your pain...My humans are to laid back they just sit on the sofa most evenings and stare at this big square thing, i bring toys to them and try to get them up and playing and even get them to the door but just as they open it i go out and they go back and sit on the sofa...its not healthy.

the other thing is they sometimes like to to be confined to one room, and shut the door on me, i dont understand if i have done something wrong, they finally come out after a while of me lying by the door and crying, but first they have to flush this thing!!! very odd behaviour!!!!

[tab_b]

Oh oh oh! Thank GOODNESS that someone FINALLY brought this up. Leia here; I'll be talking for both Cash and myself. Cash is so frustrated with the situation that he can't even sit still at the moment!

Someone mentioned that weird little room with the flushing noise. I've got that covered! I've found that if I race up the stairs BEFORE Mom, and jump into that weird white thing - I assume it's a big water dish - before she gets in there, she just goes about her business and I get to make sure everything is okay. I've found this training to be quite effective; now she's even learned to turn the water in the big bowl on so I can have a drink and play at the same time! Seriously, you guys have GOT to take this approach.

Poor Cash. He's just about at the end of his patience with our humans. They seem to have picked up the notion that running around and then laying in mud puddles to cool off isn't a good idea. *sighs* Cash is only 6 months old, so obviously he has more energy than me...but I really do think he's reaching his breaking point. Being the older sibling, I've recently decided to help him out by doing the same thing. We're hoping that sooner or later our consistancy will mean our humans understand. It really is difficult, but I think that by taking a united front on things, we'll manage.

You know, if someone had told me back when I was a pup just how stuborn humans can be to properly train...I'd have probably just gotten an octopus.

Shoot, I gotta run. Cash is having some sort of arguement with Dad about a toy. Obviously my experience is needed!