I have a two year old male boxer (Chet) that has become agressive towards children and male adults. Chet goes crazy if a stranger (pizza man, UPS driver, etc...) walks up to the door. He will jump completely off the floor trying to jump through the window. This type of bahavior started about 4 months ago and has become even worse. He recently bit my 9 year old while they were playing. My 9 year old was sitting on the floor in front of Chet and my wife opened the door behind my daughter to throw away some food and Chet lunge after my 9 year old as if she was taking food from him. He didn't break the skin, but it was a scary moment for my daughter and my wife. We called the Boxer Rescue and they will not help because he bit my daughter. We called the local animal shelter and they said they would put him to sleep. My wife and I are torn, we want to find him a home but don't know where to turn for help. If anyone has dealt with an issue similar to this, please share your comments with me. Does anyone know if a behavioral trainer can correct Chets aggression. Any help is appreciated.
Boxer Agression - Looking for advice
- Thread starter woodjr
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Have you taken him to the vet yet for a thorough physical? It is very unusual for a dog to suddenly start a behaviour like that - so I would say it's likely that either the onset of the behaviour wasn't really sudden at all (though you may have missed early warnings given by the dog) or else there is a physical cause. Always check that out first - dogs that are in pain or unwell are just as likely to be short tempered as people.
As for getting behavioural help, definitely (unless of course, your vet finds a medical cause to treat). Check out the links given in this thread: http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46555 Do be sure to check that whatever behaviourist (not just a trainer - a behaviourist) you employ uses only positive techniques. Coercive techniques are a dangerous thing when applied to aggression issues - aggression begets aggression, so that's a sure way to make things worse.
Incidentally, please post your introduction to the community in the introductions forum. Boxerworld is a community, not just a message board and the polite thing to do upon joining is introduce yourself to the other members. Gives everyone else a chance to say Hi back too
As for getting behavioural help, definitely (unless of course, your vet finds a medical cause to treat). Check out the links given in this thread: http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46555 Do be sure to check that whatever behaviourist (not just a trainer - a behaviourist) you employ uses only positive techniques. Coercive techniques are a dangerous thing when applied to aggression issues - aggression begets aggression, so that's a sure way to make things worse.
Incidentally, please post your introduction to the community in the introductions forum. Boxerworld is a community, not just a message board and the polite thing to do upon joining is introduce yourself to the other members. Gives everyone else a chance to say Hi back too
peterthebrit
Boxer Pal
chet
barking at male strangers is not uncommon, hes protecting the family, biting the daughter was a warning i think, has daughter tried to take food from chet in the past? the fact that the skin wasnt broken says to me, that chet didnt really wanted to it.
try to supervise the taking of food from chet and chastising chet staight away if he gets aggressive, to the point where chet thinks its ok for daughter to take food
im not an expert of course im only thinking of posssible answers.
barking at male strangers is not uncommon, hes protecting the family, biting the daughter was a warning i think, has daughter tried to take food from chet in the past? the fact that the skin wasnt broken says to me, that chet didnt really wanted to it.
try to supervise the taking of food from chet and chastising chet staight away if he gets aggressive, to the point where chet thinks its ok for daughter to take food
im not an expert of course im only thinking of posssible answers.
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