Aggression towards specific breeds

[austin02]

Hi!

I wanted to find out if any of your boxers have issues with specific breeds? I was doing a search on aggression and read a few articles (thanks for the links!), but couldn't find anything on this particular situation.

My 5 year old Austin (neutered) is aggressive specifically with German Shepherds, Aust. Cattle dog, and young yellow lab breeds when we are at the dog park or dog beach. Regardless of the size or age, he becomes extremely dominant and will mount them from behind and tackle them to the ground, laying on them when they come up to him. He growls and sounds very mean, but I have never seen him take a bite.

He is off leash and is fine with small dogs and other large dogs. I do have another female boxer 2 years that does fine at the park and runs her separate ways. So these incidents are confined to him and the other dog.

I am looking to find a behaviorist in the area...so any recommendations in the San Diego, CA area would be appreciated.

Thanks again!
Robbyn

 

[tesster]

I suspect that there are some body language exchanges going on between the dogs that you're not picking up on that triggers the dominant behaviors from your dog.

It could be that some breeds carry dominant characteristics that he doesn't much care for. Some herding breeds, for example, control and dominate their "flock" through sustained eye contact, which is a very rude gesture in doggy language.

A behaviorist will be able to shed some more light. Read up on doggy body language and see if you can spot what's going on in the meantime. If you spot it before he reacts you might be able to distract him before he moves in for the hump.

 

[whosierbabe]

I've seen this with dogs of other breeds too. My 15 year old yellow lab-beagle mix has always been annoyed by medium and tiny dogs. I guess that if she were around these dogs she might be aggressive because she barks at them like there's no tomorrow when they walk in front of the house.

My bro's 2 year old german shepherd also hates tiny dogs and oddly enough certain lab mixes, especially a dog that visits a neighbor periodically. She barks at him through the fence and acts very aggressive. This is usually started by the other dog and I have no idea what started it.

I think that some dogs just don't like some types of dogs. It could be the attitude of some breeds, like the herding dogs trying to herd, or it could be that they just don't like them.

I also know of a Great Dane who HATES long haired dogs, but it's very possible that this is from a previous negative experience.

You're definitely doing the right thing by getting help if he's acting on his dislikes. Best of luck!

 

[Biff]

I've met several people now with dogs who "don't like boxers - they're fine with any other dogs". One guy told me it was because his Jack Russell was attacked by a boxer when he was a pup