Aggressiveness to strangers

[anderkam]

I recently adopted my 6 year old female boxer this last May from a humane society. She is just awesome and couldn't asked for a better trained dog. She grew up with an elderly lady and I believe she was not socialized much.

I just moved to a big city in August and she went from being able to run without a leash around the lake area to a small apartment and has to be on a leash at all times when I take her for her daily walk. Since being here, I have noticed a lot of aggression toward strangers and other dogs. When she sees them, her hair stands up, barks, growls, and lunges toward them. I try and correct her. It has become worse to where today she actually pulled the leash out of my hand and attacked a lady. She bit her multiple times while the woman was running, trying to get away from her. My dog has NEVER acted to this extent, she is usually just such a sweet dog. So my question is what is going on?! Does she think these people are a threat to me and she is protecting me, is she nervous, etc. It's hard for me to go on walks with her when there are so many people walking around the city and be comfortable. Usually when I see people I make her sit and praise her while they walk by.

This has just started the past couple months and just wondering if anyone could give me any advice. I have been told to get a shock collar but I honestly do not believe in that. I just do not want to have to put her down in the future if it would happen again because she really is just such an awesome, well behaved boxer. I would appreciate any advice!

 

[Jan]

I am sorry that you are having problems. The first step would be to take him to for vet for a complete health check that includes a full thyroid panel, not the one that can be done at the vet's office.

Good luck!

 

[ehayes21]

I second the vet idea and then I would get in touch with a behaviorist or a behavior consultant - not just a trainer. Her behavior sounds fear based - which can be helped by getting a professional involved that can put a modification plan in place. For the time being quit correcting her or you could be in danger of making the behavior worse.

Here are a couple of websites to help you find a behavior professional.

International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)

Directory of Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists — Animal Behavior Society: Applied Animal Behavior

Good luck.

 

[Super Boo]

Please don't even consider a shock collar--at the very least they can make your dog even more dangerous. An animal behaviorist would be very helpful--it wasn't very expensive for us and gave us some good options.

 

[EAO76]

I agree that you need the help of a behaviorist. But any chance you could move back to a quieter area?

 

[dora]

Yeah I think a behaviorist would help a lot too.

Just an idea (but definitely see what behaviorist says first)

Maybe you could try to 'walk her' up and down the apartment stairs to wear her out some, and then slowly phase in the new outside world? If she is afraid, which makes sense ... a city full of people, cars, sounds, smells, etc. might be really scary and overwhelming for her to take it all in at once.

Maybe just walk out front of apartment let her smell around, and sit/stand by front of building with her for a few minutes at a time. Maybe she will start to get used to that area and its not so scary after all, then slowly start going on short walks, work up to longer walks.

Also, I think staying calm might help, because if you are nervous about her going after someone again, then she will pick up on it and be more nervous too.