How can I exercise my Boxer puppy?

Question

I took in a 8 week old Boxer puppy 1 week ago (he was 7 weeks old when I got him from a friend) 
This is my first time owning a dog so everything is new to me, I have been researching on Boxers and they say that they are high-energy dogs. 
I am fine with that as I am a high-energy person myself. I love to run, jog, hike, swim, anything and everything. 

Well my puppy is starting to become bored and has been chewing and eating everything he see's. I went out this morning and bought over $100 worth of toys (I spent a total of $1,021) for him, being a first time dog owner I pretty much just bought one of everything. He likes his toys but is still bored, the Vet said that I shouldn't take him out (only to potty in my own yard) until he has had all of his shots. That takes 8 more weeks. 

I did buy a long training leash thing at the store, it is 50' long and is a "Poly Training Leash". I thought I could take him outside on the leash and let him run around, is this okay? I have 4 acres of land and I do not have a fence yet. I am going to wait until it is warmer outside and get one put in. I have never seen a stray dog come into my yard, I live in a rural area but everyone that lives around me keeps their dogs inside or in their yard. 
I did buy booties too, he always lifts his paws up (their is ice/snow everywhere) when I take him out to potty so I thought that would help. They are called "MuttLuks"

Also, I bought him a large crate with a divider, how do I get him used to it?
I put some toys in their and a bed but he doesn't show any interest in it and I don't want to force him into it, but I want to potty train his properly. I work a night shift and keep him in the kitchen while I am gone, he cannot hold it all night but I am able to come home and let him out once or twice, my boss has dogs and he understood. 

Thank you!

pj · Accepted Answer

You can always run with him on the leash outside in your yard. If you have a tread mill you can have him walk/run on that too. The chewing is going to happen as puppies are teething and need to chew on things to help.

As for the going to the bath room start the puppy on a routine of going out every hour and reward him with a treat of some sorts for doing their business outside. Any time they have an accident puppy needs to be reprimanded so they know what they did is not acceptable.

Now with the paws if you use salt or calcium to deice this is bad for dogs paws as it causes them to dry and crack causing pain so try using a pet safe product that wil not harm their paws. always wipe the paw pads after being out to help remove excess salt. If not put the booties on before going out to keep the paw pad protected.

Good luck

Anonymous · Answer

First of all sadly you can't let him outside till his vaccinations are fully in effect otherwise you may end up losing the dog, my parents recently got a puppy german shephard and it is a lot of work the 8 weeks you can't take him out, just requires a lot of playing with him and attention to keep that energy down, getting chew toys that you put his food inside is always a good way to keep him busy trying to get it out.

I assume the large crate with divider is where you'd like him to go to the toilet? if so then you need to simply put him there every time he goes to the toilet, even if he pee's in the wrong spot, you pick him up immediately and put him there giving a signal that this is where to go such as "toilet".

A puppy is a lot of work but if you put the work in the rewards are amazing in the end, good luck to you! :)

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How can I exercise my Boxer puppy?

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