A little skittish

[logannicole]

I have had my first boxer since march, overall his behavior is great, he listens doesn't have issues in the house and is very playful. The issue I have is he doesn't seem to like my husband, well any men actually.

I feel bad because he was intended for my husband but ended up more of my dog. I can tell it upsets my husband that bender(our male boxer) doesn't like to be around him. When my husband goes to even pet him he freaks out and runs away. He is good with our two boys and our daughter but bender would prefer to be around girls.

He has always been this way. I believe we saved him from the guy we got him from. We never owned a boxer before and didn't do research before we got him, all we really knew was boxers were good with kids. We picked him up and he was shaking so bad and then we found a tick in his ear and about 3 days of hiding from everybody even me, I got him to come out and play. The guy said he was crate trained, it seemed like bender was cut off from the world to be honest, like no one played with him and/or maybe the guy that had him beat him or something because when I would lift my hand to pet him it would seem like he was waiting for a smack or something.

He has came out of his shell a lot, but I don't know how to get him to trust my husband. When my husband is trying to put him out to go to the bathroom or something along the lines bender doesn't want to go by him to go outside I have to intervene to get him to go. It's not that he doesn't listen he does but he doesn't feel safe walking by him.

We have another boxer that is fine around my husband, she will come up and lick him like crazy and bender will look and not care but when she comes to me to get petted or to lick me bender always intervenes to she can't but doesn't do that to my husband, he will do this with my mom if she stops by or my sister but never my husband.

I was just wondering what I can do to get him to trust my husband a little more.

 

[Roge]

It does seem that Bender was abused by his last owner ( poor fella ) . I would get your Husband to take over the feeding duties ,giving of treats ect.. eventually Bender will start to associate your Husband with good things and will start to trust him, he will come around in time you just have too keep encouraging him...

 

[Gunther]

It does seem that Bender was abused by his last owner ( poor fella ) . I would get your Husband to take over the feeding duties ,giving of treats ect.. eventually Bender will start to associate your Husband with good things and will start to trust him, he will come around in time you just have too keep encouraging him...

I would start there and add a long leash for walks, lots of patience and time!

Unfortunately you're starting with a damaged dog but with thime and love he can be fixed!

 

[Brindlegirly]

While there is a good chance you're right about abuse by a man, there is a chance he wasn't. I got my boxer at 7 weeks old and she is the way you describe your boxer with most men. She isn't with my husband but when other men come around she is very standoffish and will run if they try to pet her. Especially scared of men in hats and/or glasses. My dad won her over with treats and would give her bites of what he was eating. She now lets him pet her and is fine. There are times if he goes outside and comes back in with his hat in she forgets it's him until he calls her name. My point is I know my dog hasn't been abused or yelled at by a man, it's just how she is. Patience, time, and food will win your dog over!

 

[logannicole]

Thank you for advice. I will have him take over some of the duties (with food involved) When we go for a walk he doesn't seem to mind him though, a little weird.

I'll keep you posted on progress.

Thanks Again

 

[Gunther]

Puppy training classes could help also lots of people and dogs in a controlled environment!