3 Common Boxer Behaviour Problems (And How To Fix Them)

Remember: Boxers are exuberant, playful souls who stay puppies at heart for years. Accept their joyful nature, provide clear guidance, and they'll become the entertaining, devoted family members they were meant to be.

Where Do Boxers Come From?

Boxers were developed in Germany in the 1800s from now-extinct Bullenbeisser dogs (bull biters) crossed with British Bulldogs. Munich hunters created them for hunting large game (boar, bear, deer).

Later they were refined for butcher work, cattle driving, and eventually police and military service. The breed was standardised in the 1890s with emphasis on working ability.

What were they bred to do?

Boxers had dangerous, demanding jobs:

• Bull-baiting and holding large game (boar, deer) by the nose until hunters arrived
• Control large animals with incredible courage and bite strength
• Drive cattle and guard butcher shops
• Work in police and protection roles
• Make independent decisions whilst working
• Be gentle with their handler's family despite their fighting background

Key breeding traits:

Boxers have powerful builds with strong jaws and athletic ability. They tend to use front paws for interaction (the "boxing" behaviour that gives them their name).

They have high energy and playfulness that extends well into adulthood, stubborn independence from bull-baiting heritage, strong protective instinct for family, and delayed maturity (puppyhood lasting 2-3 years). They have surprising gentleness with children despite their tough appearance. Their exuberance and lack of awareness of their size creates management challenges.

Why Do Boxers Have These Behaviour Problems?

Your Boxer isn't being difficult. Now they're primarily family companions and occasionally working dogs (police, protection). Their working genetics remain strong but pet life provides no outlet for their power and energy.

The breed has been refined to be more family-friendly, but their extended puppyhood and physical exuberance remain challenging for many owners.

Understanding they're essentially big, powerful puppies for years is crucial.

Problem 1: Jumping & Excessive Physical Exuberance

What's happening: Your Boxer jumps on people, uses their paws excessively during greetings, or shows overwhelming physical enthusiasm that knocks people over.

Why it happens: Their "boxing" heritage creates a tendency to use front paws for interaction, including jumping on people - this is literally where their name comes from. They were bred to physically engage with large animals and have retained this full-body greeting style. Their enthusiasm and complete lack of awareness of their size and strength creates problems, especially with children and elderly people.

The fix: Teach "four-paws boxing" where they learn to play with appropriate toys whilst keeping paws down - provide sturdy tug toys and play tug games where they pull hard but must keep all paws grounded.

Implement "sit to greet" with extremely high-value rewards (real meat, cheese) as their excitement level requires exceptional motivation to override. This is especially useful for greeting guests.

Teach them that answering the door is a non-event. Train them to sit before you open the door (you can practise this when you leave or when someone arrives).

When jumping occurs, immediately turn your back and fold arms without a word. If jumping persists after two attempts, calmly place them in a separate room for 3-5 minutes.

They love to play. Essentially they're big exuberant kids, and this is the fun of owning a Boxer. Play tug of war with them and then have a finish command where you put the toys away.

Struggling with jumping? Boxers' exuberance is overwhelming. Join our free Skool community to learn four-paws games and get advice on managing their physical enthusiasm during weekly Q&As.

Problem 2: Extended Puppyhood & Hyperactivity

What's happening: Your Boxer seems to stay a puppy forever, maintains high energy levels into adulthood, or won't settle down despite being past typical puppy age.

Why it happens: Boxers have one of the longest puppyhood periods of any breed (up to 3 years), maintaining puppy energy and impulsiveness far longer than other breeds. This extended adolescence has become a breed characteristic. Their working drive and energy needs remain extremely high throughout this extended youth, making them exhausting companions during this period.

The fix: Accept the timeline and prepare for an extended training period - they simply won't mature as quickly as other breeds, and pushing them faster doesn't work.

Implement "structured chaos" sessions: 10 minutes of intense exercise (fetch, tug, running) followed immediately by 20 minutes of enforced calm time on their mat. If they break the calm, exercise ends for the day. If you can find a way to mentally stimulate them as well, this can tire them out.

Use crate training for enforced naps - overtired Boxers become more hyperactive, not less. They need 14-16 hours of sleep daily even at 18-24 months old.

Provide appropriate outlets for mouthing and physical play through structured tug sessions with clear rules: play starts/stops on your command, they must release when asked.

If your Boxer becomes hyperactive on the lead, simply stop. Place your back to whatever they're focused on and take them calmly by the collar. Hold them until they give a good yawn or a shake. This could take 5 minutes for exuberant puppies.

Extended puppyhood exhausting you? Boxers mature slowly - this is normal. Inside our Skool community, you'll find structured chaos protocols and can get support from other Boxer owners during the long puppy phase.

Problem 3: Stubbornness & Selective Hearing

What's happening: Your Boxer ignores commands, seems to have selective hearing, or acts stubborn when you ask them to do something.

Why it happens: Boxers were bred to make independent decisions whilst hunting dangerous game and to be tough enough to withstand bull-baiting without giving up. Their genetics include strong-willed determination. They were never bred for blind obedience, only for working independently. You cannot win a Boxer with a bribe. They need to want to choose to follow you. This is only achieved by being a high quality decision maker in their eyes.

The fix: Boxers can be one of the breeds where strong calm guidance is the most effective tool. Many breeds respond to different types of training but the independence bred into Boxers makes winning their mind and having them want to work with you more important than any bribe.

Food management: Although this might seem unrelated, it is not. Make sure you don't allow your Boxer to control food via leaving food out or hiding bones. If you put any food down and your Boxer chooses not to eat it immediately, pick it up.

Bombproof recall: A Boxer's stubbornness and extended puppyhood means you need to constantly practise recall. Make sure you're doing recall training (and including pull toys in that) and use a long line to keep control.

Stubborn Boxer won't listen? Boxers need to respect your decision-making. Join our Skool community to learn how to earn their trust and get advice on working with independent breeds during weekly Q&As.

Is a Boxer Right for a New Owner?

A Boxer might be perfect for you if you're looking for:

A playful, entertaining family dog - Boxers are famous for their clownish, fun-loving personalities. They're excellent with children and bring endless entertainment and joy to active families.

An energetic companion for active lifestyles - These dogs need 1-2 hours of daily exercise and love physical activities. They're perfect for families who enjoy playing, running, and outdoor adventures.

A protective yet gentle family guardian - Boxers are naturally protective of their families but gentle with children. They have the perfect balance of guardian instinct and family friendliness.

A low-maintenance coat - Boxers require only weekly brushing and minimal grooming. Their short coat is easy to care for, though they do shed moderately.

A loyal, devoted companion - Boxers bond deeply with their families and are incredibly loyal. They want to be involved in everything you do and thrive on companionship.

If you're ready for an extended puppy phase (2-3 years), can provide 1-2 hours of daily exercise, and want a playful, devoted family member who stays young at heart, a Boxer will bring laughter, love, and endless entertainment to your life.

Get the Full Support System for Your Boxer

This guide gives you real solutions you can start using today. But raising a well-behaved Boxer is an ongoing journey, not a one-time fix.

That's why we created our free Skool community - to give you continuous support every step of the way.

Inside the community, you'll get:

• Weekly live Q&A sessions where you can ask about YOUR specific Boxer and get personalised advice from experienced trainers
• Full breed-specific courses covering everything from puppy raising to advanced behaviour modification
• A supportive community of other Boxer owners who understand exactly what you're going through
• Video demonstrations so you can see techniques in action, not just read about them
• Troubleshooting help when things don't go to plan (because they won't always!)
• Updated resources as we add new courses and training blueprints

Best part? It's completely free. No subscription. No catch. Just dog owners helping dog owners.

Join The Toe Beans Co community today and get the ongoing support you need to build the best relationship with your Boxer.