A lot of families are interested in adopting a Boxer because this dog breed has a lot of great qualities. Training a dog is very important to develop good behavior, which leaves a lot of potential dog owners wondering “are Boxers smart?“
Boxers are known to be smart dogs. While they don’t rank the highest on the list of most intelligent breeds, Boxers have proven that they can be independent thinkers. One of the great things about Boxers is that they are very versatile when it comes to learning.
Every dog breed has a different level of intelligence. On this page, we’re going to discuss how smart the average Boxer dog is. We will also talk about what dog owners should know about a Boxer’s intelligence. Keep reading to learn more.
Are Boxers Smart?
Boxers are smart dogs. When it comes to comparing them to other dog breeds, Boxers are considered to be of average intelligence. This means the dog is willing to learn new tricks and commands, making training more successful for owners. Many dog owners find that Boxers can be obedient and very good working dogs.
On the list of 100 smartest dog breeds, the Boxer only scored 90. Don’t be fooled by this ranking. This list was developed based on how quickly a dog breed learns commands for obedience and work. While a Boxer may not learn as quickly as other breeds, they are still willing to learn and can be taught a variety of commands.
How long it takes to learn something doesn’t mean a dog is smart or not. If the dog is still able to learn the command and become a well-trained working dog, it is considered smart.
Why People Don’t Consider Boxer Smart
Some people will argue that Boxers aren’t the smartest breed. The main reason they are under this impression is because of repetition. When you’re teaching a Boxer a new command, it typically takes 25 to 40 repetitions for the dog to learn. Depending on how difficult the command is, it could take over an hour for the Boxer to learn.
Learning a new trick or command in an hour seems like something a smart dog would be able to do. However, it seems a little less impressive when you compare teaching a new command to a dog that has ranked within the top ten of the most intelligent dog breeds.
Some of the smartest dog breeds include Dobermans, Poodles, and Border Collies, just to name a few. These breeds are known to learn a new command within 5 repetitions. Owners can teach them new commands in a matter of minutes. Dogs that learn this quickly also have a 95% success rate or higher when learning something new.
So, how do Boxers rank on that scale? Boxers learn commands well, but don’t always show it. On average, a Boxer has a 50% or higher success rate of obeying a command they have learned on the first try. While this may make Boxers appear less intelligent, there are actually a lot of things that contribute to how successful the dog’s learning is.
Training a Smart Boxer
Training is very important to ensure your Boxer is obedient. However, it won’t affect how smart the dog is. Boxers are an intelligent breed, yet, they learn differently than other dogs. When it comes to training your Boxer, you will have to be patient. Boxers are independent thinkers with minds of their own.
As the Boxer’s owner, you may need to rethink how you approach training, especially if the Boxer isn’t responding to your current method. It’s not that your Boxer isn’t smart, you just need to be creative and find a training method that works for you and the dog. When you are patient with the Boxer’s training, the dog will show you how smart it really can be.
It’s important to be consistent when training a Boxer so it learns accurately. However, this may present a few challenges for you. Your independent Boxer can get bored during training lessons when there is a lot of repetition. Since Boxers have a playful and silly personality, you may find that the dog wants to make up its own tricks.
While you need to be patient with a Boxer, it’s well worth the effort. These smart dogs are excellent families pets and great working dogs. They are well-behaved with people and even patient with playful children. Best of all, Boxers are very protective of their families and always alert to keep you safe.
A Boxer’s Memory
Training a Boxer presents challenges because these dogs have both short-term and long-term memory. This is why repetition is extremely important when trying to teach the dog a new command. If you spend a few minutes trying to teach your Boxer a new command, then use the command the next day, don’t expect your Boxer to remember. It can forget within 5 minutes.
However, when you are very consistent with your training methods, the dog will remember. Many Boxers are even capable of learning from past experiences. For example, if you were training the Boxer a new command and it obeyed, you may have rewarded the dog with its favorite treat. It will pair the command with a positive reaction in its memory.
One of the unique traits that many people have noticed about Boxer dogs is that they are problem solvers. This dog has incredible thinking skills that can be brought out with the right activities. Many dog owners will create puzzle games for their Boxer, such as hiding a treat. The dog will put the work in until it finds a solution to get to its treat.
Boxers’ Intelligence vs Boxers’ Stubbornness
Don’t mistake a Boxer’s unwillingness to learn for an inability to learn. Boxers are smart enough to learn a new command, but sometimes they choose not to. That is because Boxers are very stubborn dogs. Many dog owners believe that if Boxers weren’t so stubborn, this breed would have ranked higher on the smartest dog breeds list.
As mentioned above, Boxers have a mind of their own. If something is on the dog’s mind and has its attention, then it may not listen to your command. You can use a command that you know your dog is familiar with and it won’t obey simply because it doesn’t want to. This has nothing to do with it not understanding what you’ve said.
This can be frustrating for dog owners who are trying to train their Boxers. However, it’s important that you stay constant and don’t show signs that you are aggravated. Dogs are very good at picking up on your emotions and will try to match you. For that reason, you should always stay calm and positive when training your Boxer for better success.
Boxers Are Excellent Working Dogs
As a dog owner, you may be questioning your Boxer’s intelligence. A Boxer’s intelligence really shines when it comes to working.
Every dog was initially bred to serve a purpose in society. Some dogs were bred for hunting, some were for herding, and others were companions or guard dogs. A lot of dog breeds still show instincts today for what they were initially bred for. If you were to judge a dog’s intelligence by its working skills, Boxers would be at the very top of the list.
Boxers weren’t bred for a specific job. Instead, these versatile dogs were trained for a number of different tasks. These dogs make excellent hunters, herders, racers, pullers, and more. If you are interested in a working dog, a Boxer can be trained for the job you have at hand. These dogs are not limited to what they can be trained for.
While Boxers may take longer to learn than other breeds, they are capable of learning a lot more. They are a popular choice for service dogs, but also make good family dogs. Boxers are very adaptive and known to use their own intuition for decision-making. These are all traits of a smart dog breed.
Final Thoughts
Are Boxers smart? Boxers are a smart dog breed. Although they have not ranked high on the list of smartest dog breeds, these dogs have proven otherwise.
Boxers are smart, but they are stubborn. It takes a lot of patience and consistency to teach these dogs new commands during training. You may even have to rework your training method if the dog isn’t responsive to what you’re currently doing. These dogs do get bored with repetition and the Boxer’s stubborn side will come out, making it seem like the dog isn’t learning.
Unlike other dog breeds, Boxers are very versatile. This means you can train the dog for a variety of different work and have success. While other dogs may learn commands quicker, Boxers are capable of learning more. These dogs are also problem-solvers, so they have fun with puzzles and obstacles during training. Once you find the right method, your Boxer will show you how smart it is.