Aggression Issues
- Thread starter Krikkit
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LokiGem
Super Boxer
Thanks Jan...
Will Loki always feel insecure around intact males? Why does he act aggressive towards them? Other than avoiding intact males, how can I curb this behavior? I would hate for him to become an outcast at the park because he has enjoyed his playtimes there since he was a pup.
Sorry for so many questions, but I'm trying to feel out this new problem so that I can handle it properly.
Thanks.
-Kim
Will Loki always feel insecure around intact males? Why does he act aggressive towards them? Other than avoiding intact males, how can I curb this behavior? I would hate for him to become an outcast at the park because he has enjoyed his playtimes there since he was a pup.
Sorry for so many questions, but I'm trying to feel out this new problem so that I can handle it properly.
Thanks.
-Kim
tcarlisle
Super Boxer
LokiGem said:
I know this is an old thread, but I see no other responses.
The intact males should not be at the dog park. Loki is probably not initiating aggression towards the intact males -- they are probably aggressively challenging him in very subtle ways that you cannot sense.
At the dog park I use, 90% of the time when an intact male is brought in it will conflict with another dog. 50% of those times I can read the dog and see it coming. Most people have no experience, and/or they fail to look at these dogs as animals, so they think it came out of "nowhere". Or they don't realize the intact male was actually the aggressing first (although maybe not physically).
I am not saying that no intact males exist that are not aggressive. But among the sampling I am exposed to at the ball park, it would appear that way.
Here is an example -- intact male stares down another dog, the other dog growls. Dog park people think the other dog "started it".
Another example -- intact male mounts a nuetered male. Dog park patrons laugh becuase it is cute/funny, and then become horrified that the nuetered male snaps at the intact male.
Another example -- intact male is brought to the park and is obviously aggressive to even the most inexperienced dog owner. It doesn't attack, but uses behavioral cues. The owner acknowledges that the dog gets a little aggressive toward neutered males, and the owner seems to manage the problem well. But over time, situation presents that is unmanageable for this experienced owner and a fight results.
You should not have to condition Loki, the solution is that intact males should not be in the dog park. If you are at the dog park and an intact male is brought in, keep your dog away from it and remove your dog if you have to. I recall my dog and play with him until I see the intact male interract with the others, and I get a read on the dog. If I decide to let my dog play at will, I watch carefully and if the intact male shows non-physical aggressive behavior (like staring), I recall my dog and remove him if I have to.
I find that trying to educate the owner of the aggressive intact male on the dog park ettiquette is pointless. Most are in denial, or don't care. Sometimes the owner is as big a jerk as his dog and should probably be neutered as well.
I can recall many instances of physical aggression that involved an intact male. After that, unspayed females. After that, neutered males & females.
My experience also correlates aggression incidents with breed stereotypes -- pit bulls are definately #1. Incidents with Rotties, Dobies, GSD, Akita are very prevalent as well. I have seen few incidents with Boxers as the aggressor (unfortunately our guys are often the recipient). But I have seen intact male boxers initiate an incident. :(
celtgoddess
Boxer Pal
Agressive puppy
Our puppy, Chopper, is showing some very agressive/dominant traits at 8 weeks old. He actually puts our older dog, Harley, on his back! He growls at us in a "mean" way, and also does this when I pick him up. He has started the "humpy" thing already, and refuses to be house trained in any way, shape, or form!!!! He has also bitten me twice (once on the face). I took him to the vet the other day for his 2nd set of puppy shots, and discussed these things with the Vet. She suggested a few things, 1. put 10-12 pennies in a can, and when he does something, shake the can really loudly. 2. When he growls at us, pin him down, and growl back even louder. 3. before giving him his food, make him perform a task, such as sit, shake, lay down. 4. (this is the one I'm not sure of) She also suggested a "pinch collar". She said she had always hated them, until she had an agressive Greyhound. She had resorted to it as a last measure, and it had worked for her. She said that she never did it hard, just enought to mimic the mother biting the neck. What do you all think????
Our puppy, Chopper, is showing some very agressive/dominant traits at 8 weeks old. He actually puts our older dog, Harley, on his back! He growls at us in a "mean" way, and also does this when I pick him up. He has started the "humpy" thing already, and refuses to be house trained in any way, shape, or form!!!! He has also bitten me twice (once on the face). I took him to the vet the other day for his 2nd set of puppy shots, and discussed these things with the Vet. She suggested a few things, 1. put 10-12 pennies in a can, and when he does something, shake the can really loudly. 2. When he growls at us, pin him down, and growl back even louder. 3. before giving him his food, make him perform a task, such as sit, shake, lay down. 4. (this is the one I'm not sure of) She also suggested a "pinch collar". She said she had always hated them, until she had an agressive Greyhound. She had resorted to it as a last measure, and it had worked for her. She said that she never did it hard, just enought to mimic the mother biting the neck. What do you all think????
celtgoddess
Boxer Pal
Jan, thanks for your advice. I wasn't sure, that's why I asked!!! His behavior is not "normal" (I know, what is normal?? 
), for an 8 week old puppy, I'm concerned by it. His growling, and biting aren't the typical puppy growl, it's far beyond that. I'm just worried that if I don't get it under control now, I'll have a problem on my hands. Thanks again!
), for an 8 week old puppy, I'm concerned by it. His growling, and biting aren't the typical puppy growl, it's far beyond that. I'm just worried that if I don't get it under control now, I'll have a problem on my hands. Thanks again!
celtgoddess
Boxer Pal
OOPS, that didn't sound like I meant it..I don't mean Chopper will be a problem, but that the behavior will be the problem!!!
celtgoddess
Boxer Pal
Well, gotta tell you, the agression issue is completely gone!!! We ended up with a second pup from the same litter, and (for whatever reason ) the behavior disappeared! Although, Chopper is still the more "stand offish" of the two, he is a very sweet pup!! They are almost 4 months old now, and just the best little buddies I could ask for!!
TYS0NSM0MMA
Boxer Booster
help with Sable
We adopted Sable in July (Canada Day to be exact!) and when her and Tyson first met they played and they had a little scuffle but no fur lost and eventually were fine. But now Sable has taken when we went to the dog park she jumps on any dog that is smaller or the same size as her and tries to force them to the ground. I felt terrible last time this happened because I thought the park was empty and took them there to get a good run but someone was hidden. Sable jumped on it and just grabbed on to the back of its neck and kept pulling on it. It was scary and I was alone (no hubby) and when she gets barking like that Tyson charges in and runs in circles barking (almost hurding the dog around) I grabbed her by the hips and pulled her back and put her halti on her and tied the lead to a fence then ran over to make sure the other dog was ok (thankfully it was) and Tyson immediately stopped barking and hurding. Sable has done this almost everytime we have encountered a dog other than Tyson. Even to other boxers!! (Although the one and only time she did do it to another boxer he was the same height but about 70 lbs (she is 55!) he told her what for) I feel like I cant let her go anywhere around other dogs, she has improved in leaps and bounds with walking on the leash she no longer pulls and she heels great most of the time. She starts out a bit pully then calms down some. But this attacking other dogs and trying to take them down is un-acceptable to me, WE NEED HELP!!!
thanks for the advice,
Colly
We adopted Sable in July (Canada Day to be exact!) and when her and Tyson first met they played and they had a little scuffle but no fur lost and eventually were fine. But now Sable has taken when we went to the dog park she jumps on any dog that is smaller or the same size as her and tries to force them to the ground. I felt terrible last time this happened because I thought the park was empty and took them there to get a good run but someone was hidden. Sable jumped on it and just grabbed on to the back of its neck and kept pulling on it. It was scary and I was alone (no hubby) and when she gets barking like that Tyson charges in and runs in circles barking (almost hurding the dog around) I grabbed her by the hips and pulled her back and put her halti on her and tied the lead to a fence then ran over to make sure the other dog was ok (thankfully it was) and Tyson immediately stopped barking and hurding. Sable has done this almost everytime we have encountered a dog other than Tyson. Even to other boxers!! (Although the one and only time she did do it to another boxer he was the same height but about 70 lbs (she is 55!) he told her what for) I feel like I cant let her go anywhere around other dogs, she has improved in leaps and bounds with walking on the leash she no longer pulls and she heels great most of the time. She starts out a bit pully then calms down some. But this attacking other dogs and trying to take them down is un-acceptable to me, WE NEED HELP!!!
thanks for the advice,
Colly
harleyboxer
Super Boxer
I think that it is possible to retrain aggresion that is from fear or unsocialization, but dominance with other dogs is another thing all together. If your dog is dominant it will fight for dominance with other dominant dogs. You can make it slightly better if you work with them, but you can never totally trust it. I have had several (ignorant) people tell me that I should take my dog to a trainer. He likes some dogs, but others he doesn't get along with. That isn't an aggression issue. He won't tolerate being jumped on and he especially will not put up with dogs that try to get to much attention from me. He will tell them to back off and if they don't listen he will eventually go for the throat. I had no experience with boxers when I got my dog and the lady at the animal shelter told me that this was a common thing with boxers. I just don't take the chance with him.
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