Activities For Boxers With Dogs
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Introduction
Boxing is one of the world's oldest surviving contact sports, right up there with Wrestling, Panantukan, and Pankration. Often called the Sweet Science, the sport of boxing involves the use of more than just one's muscles and natural abilities; it takes a lot of heart and a strong, flexible mind to truly excel at boxing. So while your dog may not be able to hit the speed bag with you, or participate in a number of othe physical exercises that are essential to developing as a boxer, you and your dog can hone your mind's together with the activities that I've listed below. A few of those activities do have physical elements to them, but the majority of the activities listed below are meant to help you and your dog bond above all else.
Jump Rope
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Any Day
Cheap
Easy
30 min
Items needed
Jump Rope
Activity description
Many Boxers know how effective a few minutes of Jump Rope can be in terms of improving one's stamina, sense of coordination, and agility. Well, the same thing goes for one's dog; jumping rope can be a very effective and fun way to workout your dog. Medium sized breeds like German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers are known to take to this particular activity more than other breeds but any dog of any breed, or any size, can learn how to participate in this activity. More over, you and your dog can also take turns during a jump rope session after both of you become acclimated to this particular exercise.
Step
1
Find a good location
I think it goes without saying that you'll need a good amount of space before you can give this activity a try. Public parks, open meadows, and beaches are great places to go if you're looking for a spacious, and soothing, area to try out this exercise. A large enough gym could also get the job done in this case.
Step
2
Practice individually
As mentioned before certain dog breeds take to jump rope a lot more easily than others, but all dogs can learn how to Jump Rope in time. You can complete this activity either by tying one end of the rope to a sturdy post, like a tree or a sign post, or you can have someone else hold the other end of the rope if possible. Proceed to slowly swing the rope underneath your dog and continue to move with enough speed to keep the rope from falling when moving it over your dog's head.
Step
3
Give Double Dutch a try
Double Dutch involves the use of two Jump Ropes being swung one after another. In order to try this with your dog, you'll need to either have someone else hold both ends of the ropes or you'll have to try both ends to something sturdy, just as you would individually. Remember to start slow and gradually increase the speed and intensity of this activity.
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Introduce Strength Training
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Any Day
Moderate
Hard
30 - 60 min
Items needed
Weight Plates
Weight Sled
Strength Training Equipment
Activity description
I've written a number of articles that were specifically dedicated to divulging information about how dog owners and their pets can attempt Strength Training together. I'd highly suggest checking out Wag!'s articles dedicated to discussing Activities for Strength Trainers with Dogs as well as our Activities for Bodybuilders with Dogs in order to get a more comprehensive idea of how man and beast can Strength Train together, but the following steps will give you the gist of things, so to speak.
Step
1
Get used to a weight sled
This first step is a bit of a two-fer, so to speak. If you don't already own a weight sled, you'll want to get your hands on one. Weight sleds can be bought for a reasonable price, costing about $30 or $50 more often than not. If you already own a weight sled, you'll want to know how to use the sled properly, which really isn't too difficult at all.
Step
2
Start with light weight
After you get a hold of a weight sled, you'll need to attach a pair of tether cables or bungee ropes from your dog's harness to the sled. Next, you'll want to let your dog get some practice simply pulling the weight of the sled, with no other weights placed on top.
Step
3
Add on weight over time
As your dog becomes more acclimated to puling the weight of the sled around, you'll need to add more weight over time in order to continually challenge your dog and test their limits. Be sure not to put on too much weight, as to not cause your pet to overextend themselves.
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Hill Training
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Any Day
Free
Easy
20 min
Items needed
Dog Toy
Activity description
This activity is very simple and can be incorporated into a number of other exercises. As the name implies, Dog Hill Training involves encouraging your dog to bound up a slanted hill by encouraging them to make the climb up the hill. Incorporating dog toys into this activity can also be a great way to encourage your dog through this activity. Compared to the other activities on this list, Dog Hill training is a very easy and fun way to get some exercise.
Step
1
Find a steep hill
To get the most out of this exercise, you'll need to find a steep hill that will test your dog's muscles in ways they typically aren't. These types of areas include parks, beaches, and knolls.
Step
2
Get a range of toys
Encouragement is a big factor that plays into the success of this activity. That being said, you'll want to have a large range of dog toys on hand in order to mix up the ways in which you're able to encourage your dog to make their ascent.
Step
3
Increase the distance over time
When you and your dog first try this activity out, be sure to stay in a relatively close range to your dog. Over time, position yourself further and further away from your dog in order to increase the level of challenge involved in this activity.
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More Fun Ideas...
Jog With Your Dog
All boxers need to develop their stamina and endurance, and jogging is one of those time tested exercises that will get that job done. Fortunately for all dog owning boxers, jogging is one of the few physical activities that dogs are able to participate in alongside their owners. We've published a number of articles that detail how dogs and their owners can get the most out of their running and jogging sessions, so feel free to check those out if you'd like a more in depth look at this activity.
Teach Your Dog How To Catch High Flying Objects
Catch is another old school activity that can help both dogs and their owners develop their physicality a well as their senses of coordination and balance. Dog owning boxers can use anything ranging from balls, to Frisbees, to their dog's favorite toys when attempting this activity. Just be sure keep your dog's safety and physical needs in mind at all times.
Conclusion
Boxers may have to look for more out of the box ways to exercise with their pets, but these unique training methods only serve to attest to the ingenuity and adaptability of both boxer and dog. I hope that this article, at the very least, has encouraged dog owning boxers to look for new and unique ways to test their dog's physical strength and mental adaptability. Moreover, most of the types of activities listed on this article involve a large amount of interaction between dogs and their owners, serving as a great way to help both parties bond and get stronger in tandem.