10/22/2026
Our last post showed how many of your Boxers have selective hearing! That is something I think we all experience. So let's explore a little further.
Sometimes selective hearing is definitely us being ignored. They are four legged children after all, ignoring what their parents tell them to do.
Tell us a story of when your dogs have had selective hearing. I'll go first...
We have our Amazon delivery box sitting outside our front gate so that the dogs can't get the packages. We try to be very aware of the time our packages are going to be delivered so that we can have the dogs up on our enclosed porch and they wont be at the gate barking like lunatics. Well this day we missed the delivery time and the pack of boxers were going nuts at the gate. I stepped out and called "Dogs!" which they know is a collective "Everyone" and a majority turned heel and immediately ran up onto the porch. All except Wicked. Yes, her name is Wicked. So I called her by name. No response. Just barking and jumping up on the gate. So I called again, louder and started for the gate while calling her name. I only realized afterward that some lady in her pajamas yelling "WICKED! WICKED! WICKED!", marching up to the gate while they were attempting a delivery was probably not on that Amazon Drivers bingo card. Wicked ended up leaving the gate and the driver scurried to his truck and took off. I am still a little embarrassed.
but...DID YOU KNOW?
Your Boxer isn't necessarily being stubborn when they suddenly act like they've NEVER heard the word "SIT" or "COME" before!
Here's something many dog owners don't realize, Dogs aren't naturally great at generalizing what they've learned. Your dog might know how to sit perfectly in your kitchen, but take them to the park, a dog show, or even your backyard, and suddenly it's like you're speaking a foreign language!
That's because dogs often associate what they've learned with the environment where they learned it. This is why training in different locations, around different distractions, and in different situations is SO important!
So the next time your Boxer looks at you like you've grown a second head when you ask for something they've done a thousand times. They might not be ignoring you. They might genuinely need a little more practice connecting the dots!
Looking for public places to take your dog to train them? These places always allow your leashed pets: Tractor Supply, PetSmart, Petco, Cabella's, Bass Pro Shop.
These companies often also allow pets (call before going): Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, Michael's, Hobby Lobby, HomeGoods, TJ Maxx. Marshalls, Barnes & Noble.
Happy Training!
📸 "Wicked" aka CH Black Dymond's Devil In Disguise
