Top 10 how to tire out a boxer dog You Need To Know

Boxers were bred to be guard dogs, as well as search and rescue dogs. They are intelligent, high-energy, and playful dogs that need to stay busy. They are extremely loyal to their owners and will protect them with their lives.

Boxers are ranked 90th out of 138 on lists of dog breed intelligence. This is not a true reflection of how intelligent they really are. These lists tend to be more about trainability. Boxer dogs can be stubborn and a little independent. However, they are still very trainable, but this often requires patience and persistence.

What they lack in obedience intelligence, they make up for instinctive and adaptive intelligence.

How much exercise does a Boxer dog need

Boxer dogs are an extremely active high energy dog and require at least one hour a day of energy-burning activity, but more is preferred. Two hours daily would be better. If they don’t receive the exercise they need to release their pent-up energy they can become quite destructive or develop behavior issues.

There are three main types of exercise and activity you must provide your Boxer dog every day.

• 1. Daily walk
• 2. Purposeful High-Intensity Activity (see Boxer dog activities below)
• 3. Mental stimulation

Boxer dog walking

The daily walk is essential for a Boxer dog not only to release some pent-up energy. The walk allows your Boxer to stimulate the mind with the sights, sounds and smells they come across.

The length of the walk is only limited by your time and energy as a Boxer dog can go all day long. Ideally, the minimum should be 30 to 45 minutes daily. This can be just once a day, or two walks a day would be better if your schedule allows. Dogs also like routine, so try to schedule the walk for around the same time each day. Daily walks are much better than nothing all week and a big walk at the weekend.

If your Boxer has good recall and comes on command, walks at the park off the leash are ideal. Alternatively, you can use a retractable leash to allow them more freedom while maintaining control. Boxers do have a strong chase instinct and if they spot a small furry animal they may give chase. However, they are obedient and usually have good recall if trained well.

You can add extra resistance to the walk by using a weighted vest or dog backpack. It is recommended that no more than 10% of their body weight be added. This is more than sufficient to tire them and strengthen their muscles without overworking them. Other ways of increasing the resistance on the walk are to walk on sand or include uphill sections in the walk.

Boxer dog heat tolerance

Boxers have shorter, flatter faces than other dogs.  They are a Brachycephalic breed, which means that the skull is compressed.  This can make breathing difficult in very hot and/or humid or very cold weather.

It is important for a Boxer dog owner to be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. For more information on what to look out for see here.

Boxers are a breed that is prone to bloat or Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV). This can often occur when a dog has eaten too soon before or after exercise. To minimize the risk of this you should not feed your Boxer dog at least one hour before or after exercise.

To learn more about the symptoms of bloat or Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) and ways to minimize this happening see

Boxer dog activities

In addition to the daily walk, it is important to include other activities in their daily routine. This will aid in helping to tire them out further, condition and strengthen their muscles, improve the cardiovascular system of the heart and lungs, and provide enrichment. Here are some suggested purposeful activities to do with your Boxer dog.

Flirt Pole

A Flirt pole is like a giant cat tickler for dogs. It has a long handle with a bungy type rope with a lure or toy attached to the end. You simply move the lure along the ground around in circles or in different directions as your dog chases it. This activity is ideal for a Boxer as it works the whole body and strengthens their muscles. Be sure they have a good “leave it” command and don’t allow them to destroy the toy. It is important that this be a controlled exercise. For a full guide to flirt pole exercise for dogs see here.

A Flirt pole is also a good training tool and helps to teach impulse control. Watch the video to learn more about training with a Flirt pole.

View Flirt Poles on Amazon

Fetch

Playing Fetch with your Boxer dog is another fantastic way to burn pent-up energy. Boxers are generally ball or toy crazy can play this for hundreds of throws. A great alternative is to use an Automatic Ball Launcher so your dog can play Fetch by themselves. As the Boxer is trainable as long as you focus their attention they learn to use this quickly. For more information check out “Automatic Ball Launchers for Dogs”

Jolly Ball

A Jolly Ball is a nearly indestructible ball for dogs that they push and chase around. They come in a variety of sizes, styles and are also available with a handle or rope attached for tug of war.

Check out the video to see what great exercise and fun they are for dogs.

Frisbee Toss

Most dogs can chase and catch a ball. But a Frisbee requires a little bit more skill, coordination, and timing. Boxers look spectacular playing this due to their agility. Roll the Frisbee on the ground towards your dog. They will instinctually want to grab it in his mouth. Once you’ve accomplished this, try tossing it at a very low level first to your dog. If you feel like your dog is ready to go to the next level, toss the disc a little higher and further. Great energy burner and you may be amazed at your dog’s agility and acrobatic skill.

Backyard agility

Set up an agility or obstacle course in your backyard. You can use items you have around the home, build your own agility or you can get reasonably priced agility sets on Amazon. You can include tasks such as the weave, hurdle jumps, tunnels or jumping through hoops or a platform to jump on and stay.

Stair Exercise

A good energy burner if you have stairs in your home. Start at the bottom of the stairs and have your dog “stay”. Throw the ball to the top of the stairs and then say, “Go!” Let your dog dash up the stairs as fast as they can. Have them return down the stairs at a slower pace to avoid injury.

Walking upstairs or a hill strengthens the legs as the full body weight of your dog is on each leg as the step. As they descend the stairs they are using the opposing muscles for stability. For more on stair exercise for dogs see here.

This video demonstrates this well.

Running with Boxer dogs

The faster your dog is moving the more energy they will release. Try running, biking or skating with your dog to really get them moving. As the Boxer dog has good levels of stamina and can go for long distances, they can make great running partners. Just be sure to build up the distance and intensity of the activity over time to prevent causing injury to your dog. Read “Running with your dog” for more on this.

Tug of War

A firm favorite of all strong dogs.  Make them crouch and pull back to use extra energy. Ensure that this is a controlled game and they release when you want them to. Also, a great way to build muscle and strength.

Spring Pole

A spring pole is simply a spring connected to a rope that hangs from a tree branch or beam with a lure or toy attached to the end. This allows your dog to play tug of war with him or herself even if you are not there. Popular with a lot of dogs that love a good game of tug of war.

View Spring poles on Amazon.

Dog toys that move on their own

There are many dog toys available that shake, rattle, roll and move about on their own. As Boxers have high chase and prey drive these toys provide enrichment and get them moving. This activity would be best as a supervised and control game as a dog like the Boxer could destroy these types of toys. See “Dog toys that move on their own” to learn more.

Play with other dogs

Provide the opportunity for your Boxer to play with other dogs. This is not only great to burn energy and stimulate their mind, but teaches them important social skills. Boxers are generally good with other dogs that they know. Some Boxers may not be friendly with unknown dogs. Make sure this is a supervised activity to prevent fighting.

Provide a digging area or pit

Many dogs love to dig including many Boxers. Digging is a natural instinctive behavior for a dog. This can become a problem if they are digging up your yard or even your carpet and furniture. You can’t train an instinctive behavior completely out of a dog, but you can redirect the behavior.

Provide an area or digging box for them so they can dig to their heart’s content. Just be aware that if the weather is warm and you use sand, it may get hot. You can wet it down with the hose if it is. See “Dog Toys for Diggers” for more ideas on catering to a dog’s natural digging instinct.

There are countless more activities you can do with your Boxer dog to burn pent-up energy quickly and condition their muscles. For more ideas, check out “How to tire a hyper high energy dog” and “Tire a dog quickly”. You may also like “47 Boredom Busters and games for dogs”

For more information on strength and muscles conditioning activities check out “Muscle building and Strength exercises for dogs” and “How to make your dog gain muscle”

Mental stimulation for Boxer dog

All dogs need an outlet for their minds. If they are not provided the opportunity to challenge their minds they will come up with their own ways to achieve this. This usually manifests itself in bad behavior such as excessive barking, digging, escaping and other destructive behaviors. Read “Mental stimulation and mind enrichment for dogs” to learn about the 6 types or categories of mind stimulation a mental enrichment and some great ideas to provide this.

Some ways to provide mental stimulation and enrichment include;

Puzzle Toys

Puzzle toys are ideal for dogs like the Boxer to challenge their minds and test their problem-solving skills.  Try to find puzzle toys that are a bit more challenging as they tend to work these out quite quickly. Check out “Top  puzzle toys for dogs” for my top picks.

In addition to puzzle toys, Kongs for dogs are another great way to get your Boxer dog to solve a problem and challenge the mind. Read “How to use a Kong for dogs“.

Scenting and nose games

Boxers, like all dogs, have a keen nose. Playing scenting and nose games helps to provide mental stimulation. Read “12 Scenting and nose games for dogs” for some ideas.

Chew Toys

Provide your Boxer dog with good strong chew toys. Chewing is a great way to occupy them. In addition, chewing releases endorphins and helps to relax a dog. Many dogs hold stress in the jaw.

For more on the benefits of chewing and the best chew toys click here.

Learning

Teaching new commands and tricks is also excellent to provide mental enrichment. A popular game that involves learning is to teach them the names of their toys. Dogs can learn hundreds of words and names.

Food enrichment

Turn mealtimes into an opportunity for your Boxer to get a mental challenge and enrichment. Instead of feeding them from a bowl, give them activities that require them to work for their food. To learn more about feeding enrichment for dogs see here.

Enrich their environment

Environmental enrichment is the process of making a dog’s living space more engaging and interesting. To learn more about environmental enrichment for dogs see here.

Boxer dog puppy exercise

The exercise suggestions above relate to a healthy adult Boxer dog. The exercise needs of a puppy are quite different. With puppies, their bones, muscle, and joints are still growing and developing.

Overly strenuous walks are not necessary and in fact, could possibly cause harm. An activity that is high impact on the joints should also be avoided.

The best exercise for a young puppy is free play with age-appropriate toys.

Socializing with other puppies or friendly adult dogs is a great way to burn some of that puppy energy along with teaching them the social skills they need.

As your Boxer puppy gets older you can take them for short informal walks allowing them to sniff and explore and get used to being on a leash. Puppies under three months probably haven’t had all their vaccinations so shouldn’t be walked in public. Check with your vet when it is alright to venture out to the park or street.

The general rule of thumb for walking a puppy is around 5 minutes for every month of age. So, for example for a 4-month-old puppy, a walk of 15 minutes to 20 minutes is enough. Monitor your Boxer puppy on the walk for signs such as lagging behind, lying down or panting. End the walk if they seem too tired.

Mental stimulation is important for puppies and can tire them just as much as physical activity. For more on mental stimulation for puppies see here.

For more on exercise for your Boxer puppy read “How to exercise your puppy”

Senior Boxer dog exercise

As a dog gets older they become less active and have lower energy levels. However, it is still important that they remain reasonably active to keep their joints and muscles mobile and to manage their weight. Read ” Dog exercise for a senior dog” to learn more.

Many dogs develop arthritis as they age. Exercise for them becomes a balancing act. It is important to keep their joints mobile and manage weight, but too much can make them sore. Read “How to exercise an arthritic dog” to learn more.

Boxer dogs are also a breed that is prone to hip dysplasia. Read “Exercise for a dog with hip dysplasia” to learn more.

Summary – Boxer dog exercise needs

The Boxer dog is high energy, strong and has good levels of stamina. They are also smart and need to have their minds occupied as well.

It is crucial to provide adequate physical and mental exercise and activity to release pent-up energy and prevent boredom. A minimum of 60 minutes a day of walking and purposeful activity including muscle strengthening plus activities that provide mental stimulation is recommended. The cost of not doing so can be an unhappy and frustrated dog. This can lead to behavior issues such as barking, digging, escaping and destructive behavior.

Let us know in the comments how much and ways you exercise your Boxer dog.

• Author: barkercise.com

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• Sumary: Boxer dogs are an extremely active high energy dogs and require at least one hour a day of energy-burning activity, but more is preferred. See here for a guide to Boxer dog exercise needs.

• Matching Result: The faster your dog is moving the more energy they will release. Try running, biking or skating with your dog to really get them moving. As the …

• Intro: Boxer dog daily exercise guide and routineBoxers were bred to be guard dogs, as well as search and rescue dogs. They are intelligent, high-energy, and playful dogs that need to stay busy. They are extremely loyal to their owners and will protect them with their lives.Boxers are ranked 90th out of 138 on lists of dog breed intelligence. This is not a true reflection of how intelligent they really are. These lists tend to be more about trainability. Boxer dogs can be stubborn and a little independent. However, they are still very trainable, but this often requires patience and persistence.What…

• Source: https://barkercise.com/boxer-dog-exercise-guide/

• Author: pets.thenest.com

• Rating: 4⭐ (246770 rating)

• Highest Rate: 5⭐

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• Sumary: Often called the Peter Pans of the dog world, boxers are known for their exuberance and retain their puppy-like demeanor into their senior years. The breed was also developed to…

• Matching Result: Train your boxer every day. Even a five-minute training session will keep his mind engaged. Aim for three short sessions a day, and always end the training when …

• Intro: How to Calm Down a Boxer Dog i Ibor image by Andreas Drechsler from Fotolia.com Often called the Peter Pans of the dog world, boxers are known for their exuberance and retain their puppy-like demeanor into their senior years. The breed was also developed to think independently, which results in an active dog that bores easily. Exercise and training can help keep your boxer calm. Step 1Ensure your dog gets adequate exercise as an outlet for their energy. Boxers need at least an hour of exercise daily; walking on a leash will work, but running in the yard is ideal….

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• Sumary: Boxers are generally great with other dogs and children, making them wonderful family dogs. They require plenty of exercise, including both physical and mental exertion. Make sure that a high energy dog that requires a strong alpha is…

• Matching Result: 18 steps

• Intro: 3 Ways to Break a Boxer’s Bad Habits – wikiHow Download Article Download Article Boxers are generally great with other dogs and children, making them wonderful family dogs. They require plenty of exercise, including both physical and mental exertion. Make sure that a high energy dog that requires a strong alpha is right for your lifestyle before bringing one home. Obedience training techniques can offer effective solutions if your Boxer has bad habits, such as stealing food or going to the bathroom indoors. Train your Boxer to understand that you are the alpha, and learn how to think like it…

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• Author: allboxerinfo.com

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• Sumary: How much exercise your Boxer needs. The requirements, limitations and needs of this breed. Puppy and adult.

• Matching Result: Most do best with activity spaced part; a session in the morning and a session in the evening. If you will be leaving the home for quite a few hours, your dog …

• Intro: Boxer Dog Exercise Requirements and Needs Overview Dogs need plenty of exercise, including the Boxer. This medium breed dog is naturally strong and sturdy; one of the physical qualities that makes this dog so popular. An owner needs to find just the right balance… A Boxer’s exercise needs will change from puppy to adulthood. One must offer enough to keep the dog strong and healthy… But also know the Boxer’s limits….As too much at a young age can hinder proper growth….And too much at certain times can cause health issues. With this said, a lack of proper exercise over an…

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• Sumary: If you are at all familiar with the breed, it may seem like living with this type of dog is hard work as they need a lot of exercise! How to exercise…

• Matching Result: A great way to wear out your type of dog is to play fetch with a ball, stick, or Frisbee. Every time your boxer mutt chases down the toy, give …

• Intro: How to Exercise a Boxer Dog – Fitness Requirements & Activity IdeasIf you are at all familiar with the breed, it may seem like living with this type of dog is hard work as they need a lot of exercise! How to exercise a boxer dog with all that boundless energy, fitness requirements, stamina, and strong muscles? That wild, seemingly uncontrollable temperament associated with the breed can be a little hard to live with sometimes. But it can be dampened down with regular exercise, workouts, and proper training. And just how much exercise does a boxer dog need?Exercising and playing…

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• Sumary: Canine behaviorists are working hard to learn more about what our dogs are thinking and feeling. But there are some emotions that our dogs are fairly good at conveying if we pay attention to the signs. Boxers are a high energy breed and therefore…

• Matching Result: Training not only wears them out mentally, but also physically, effectively curbing that boredom. Puzzle toys are another way to keep your Boxer occupied. If …

• Intro: 5 Signs Your Boxer Is Bored & What To Do About It Canine behaviorists are working hard to learn more about what our dogs are thinking and feeling. But there are some emotions that our dogs are fairly good at conveying if we pay attention to the signs. Boxers are a high energy breed and therefore get bored easily. Most of them are good at letting their owners know when they need something to do. Here are 5 signs your Boxer is bored and how to bust that boredom! Image Source: Sabrina Dent via Flickr #1 – Destructive Behavior Is…

• Source: https://iheartdogs.com/5-signs-your-boxer-is-bored-what-to-do-about-it/