A bouncy Boxer can be hard to teach “four paws on the floor,” let alone “sit.” They seem to just be so excited about life that those paws can’t keep still. However, as an owner, it’s reasonable to want your Boxer to sit when asked for many reasons, including not being tripped, and so they can politely greet your guests. The following is an easy and effective way to teach your Boxer to sit when asked the first time, every time.
Capturing The Behavior
You are going to use a form of training called “capturing.” This is when you wait for your Boxer to offer what you want and then you mark it (with a click or a verbal word such as “yes” or “good”) and then reward. Capturing is a great way to train because it makes your Boxer use their brain to figure out what you want. Behaviors taught through capturing are much stronger than those taught using other methods.
To capture your Boxer performing a sit, have your reward (toys, treats, etc.) ready, and your clicker if you use one. You can keep your Boxer on leash at first to keep him from wandering. Now, just stand still and wait. Most dogs will eventually sit when you ignore them long enough. As soon as his bottom hits the floor, mark and reward. Toss the reward away so your dog has to get up to get it – thus resetting him for the next sit.
Do short training sessions, just 5-10 minutes, a couple times a day.
Boxer Too Bouncy?
As mentioned earlier, if your Boxer is so bouncy he can’t even keep his feet on the floor, you may find shaping a sit will be better. To do this, start by marking and rewarding your Boxer any time he keeps those feet on the floor. Once he is standing still, delay the click and see if he offers something else. Eventually, he will start trying other behaviors, including a sit. Mark and reward with lots of treats, then try again.
Also, be careful you are not using too high of a reward. If you are using your Boxer’s favorite toy, for example, it may be making him too amped to work. Instead, try using a less exciting toy or kibble so he is can focus.
Adding the Cue
Once your Boxer sits without any “extra behaviors,” he’s figured out what you want. At that point, you can add the cue. Adding the cue—”sit”—is easy. Just say the word as your Boxer is getting into the sit position, then mark and reward.
Do a few repetitions of this and then test the cue by saying it while your Boxer is standing. If he promptly sits, he’s got it – reward heavily! If he doesn’t, that’s okay. Do nothing and just wait for him to sit and say the cue during the sit a few more times and test again.
Fading the Treats
Once your Boxer is sitting beautifully in multiple places every time you say “sit” just once, it’s time to fade those treats. You can use other rewards – verbal praise, toys, petting, etc. – anything your dog likes.
If your dog doesn’t sit when you say the cue once, too bad, no reward. But this won’t happen very often with this form of training. If it does, your Boxer may be distracted by his environment or even nervous or stressed. Use it as information and assess the situation before you ask your dog again – you may need to put some distance between him and an object or leave the environment altogether if he is really nervous.
Now you’re ready to move on to “stay”!
