question

[AimeeDBoxer]

Im in bangkok thailand i meet up with GSD club who do Protection, Tracking, and Competitive obedience. My aimee is now 10 months old boxer we started her with tracking and obedience is this the right way for her? this is my first time to really train my dog.

Do boxer do good in tracking, protection and obedience, they also told me she can do agility?

im also learning to be a helper can you give me some pointers.

[elindave]

Hi! AimeeDBoxer, my breeder did not recommend doing level 3 schuthund (protection) with Nikita because we have young children. Don't know if I'm right but I think agility is started around 18 mths? We are doing exactly what your doing, starting off with obedience and tracking. Then agility and possible therapy. Love to read your posts! let me know how it goes!

Eli
Nikita (Aug 28 07) fawn, floppy, docked

[kayboxer]

My mother does agility with her three Shelties. You can start them at any age, but make sure you do obedience first. They need to know the simple commands before starting another program. She started her's in agility at about 3 months, right after they took obedience.

[elindave]

Originally Posted by kayboxer

My mother does agility with her three Shelties. You can start them at any age, but make sure you do obedience first. They need to know the simple commands before starting another program. She started her's in agility at about 3 months, right after they took obedience.

Wow, I didn't know you could start them at agility that early...everyone's been telling me 18 mths. But, thanks for letting me know cause we're quite anxious and would like to do it right after the obedience.

Eli
Nikita (Aug 28 07) fawn, floppy, docked

[entelekia]

For a boxer, you really need to wait until the 18 month - 2 year mark to start doing real agility training, i.e. full size jumps and contact obstacles. Their growth plates are not fully closed until then and you risk damage to their bones/joints.

However, you can start training moves on the flat, weave poles and having them run through the jumps at any age. Avoid real jumping and full speed contact obstacles until the dog is fully mature (at around 2yrs).

Also, you are better off waiting that long anyways, it will give you time to get through advance obedience (really helps) and through their adolescence stage, so you can minimize all cases of the zoomies.

[kayboxer]

Originally Posted by entelekia

For a boxer, you really need to wait until the 18 month - 2 year mark to start doing real agility training, i.e. full size jumps and contact obstacles. Their growth plates are not fully closed until then and you risk damage to their bones/joints.

However, you can start training moves on the flat, weave poles and having them run through the jumps at any age. Avoid real jumping and full speed contact obstacles until the dog is fully mature (at around 2yrs).

Also, you are better off waiting that long anyways, it will give you time to get through advance obedience (really helps) and through their adolescence stage, so you can minimize all cases of the zoomies.

My mother has weave poles, tunnel, teeter totter and some small jumps in her backyard she uses. That is what she started training with at 3 months. She didn't run at full speed, just started basic training. I went to a couple of the classes she also goes to and you'd be surprised at the puppies training in obedience. True, they are not mature enough to have a long attention span, but they did learn some basics. It is great to start them out young, pups can learn quite a bit and when you are ready to do full agility training, they already know how to manuver a lot of the equipment and will make full course training easier.

[entelekia]

Obedience, yes. I see pups as young as 4 months in formal obedience classes.

Agility... not so much. Despite the risk of injury (and again, the 2-yr mark is for boxers, I'm not familiar with the growth rate of shelties), you really need have completed one (preferably 2 or more) obedience classes (or have undergone at-home training for a few months).

Like I said, moves on the flat, weave poles and running/walking through jumps are all totally fine to start with at any time. So are lowered contacts if you're taking it slow and using a leash. It's full size jumps and full-speed contacts (especially with the 2 on/2 off method) that need be avoided until the pup has completed its growth.

[kayboxer]

Originally Posted by entelekia

Obedience, yes. I see pups as young as 4 months in formal obedience classes.

Agility... not so much. Despite the risk of injury (and again, the 2-yr mark is for boxers, I'm not familiar with the growth rate of shelties), you really need have completed one (preferably 2 or more) obedience classes (or have undergone at-home training for a few months).

Like I said, moves on the flat, weave poles and running/walking through jumps are all totally fine to start with at any time. So are lowered contacts if you're taking it slow and using a leash. It's full size jumps and full-speed contacts (especially with the 2 on/2 off method) that need be avoided until the pup has completed its growth.

How do boxers compare at agility? Do their bigger chests seem to affect their performance? My mother has told me there are boxers in shows (she is also a judge) but I've actually never been to a show. Just curious how they perform and do they do the cute "boxer burn"?

[AimeeDBoxer]

level 3 schutzhund is a little harsh thats what my wife said, im still thinking about protection if we will do it but for now my goal is to do the BH test with in 5 to 6 months hope fully we can pass, for agility i haven't started her yet just a little play time with a frame,dog walk, and tunnel. and also once or twice a week we do tracking, so far we are really enjoying it i do train and practice with the GSD and working dog clubs.

we are the only boxer trying to do sport in bangkok. thanks so much for the info.

[entelekia]

I don't see a lot of boxers in the agility ring (not near enough of them anyway ). The jump class is of course totally dominated by border collies, but here and there you will see a boxer, and they can definitely hold up their own!

The biggest gathering of agility boxers I've ever seen was at a boxer specialty (duh! ) and they did great in agility! There were a LOT of cases of the zoomies though (boxer burns through the ring at totally inappropriate times) which is why a solid obedience base is indispensable. As hilarious as it was to watch (and trust me, it's happened to Laika and myself enough) it was really frustrating for the owners as you will most likely be disqualified for the run.

I have met many boxers with agility titles, including one who just got his MACH title! (they used to be a member here), so they are definitely well suited for the agility ring. A good solid relationship between handler and owner is the key.

[kayboxer]

I'll have to go watch sometime. I would love to see a boxer do an agility run, and I know there are some in Kansas! I think the smaller dogs, such as Shelties reach their full size much earlier, so they can begin serious training earlier. I don't know about the Australian Shepherds though, but I've seen them on television and they are also wonderful to watch!

[AimeeDBoxer]

i agree that most agility sport are dominated by border collie and there some sport's that is really design for a certain breeds. last month i see a series in animal planet that there's a sport design for american bulldog to see and observe the breed to keep it's original purpose as a working dog. i hope there's a sport that can be done to keep our boxer a working breed because most of the time i can only see them in the show ring.pls correct me if im wrong.