boxer mom with a question

[lmiller]

Hi! I'm a new member to Boxerworld, although I've been logging on and looking at the photo gallery for months! My husband posted some photos of our boxer, Eros, a few months ago. Eros is a little over a year old, a fawn with natural ears, and the baby of the family. He weighs 70 pounds, but still wants to curl up on his mommy's lap for a nap every day. Eros has two best friends - our neighbor's Golden Retiever, Max, and another neighbor's beagle, Bailey. They play every night when we all get home from work.

The question I have is in regard to another boxer. New neighbors recently moved in and they have a boxer who is the mirror image of Eros. His name is Zeko and he's 3 years old, the same size as Eros, and has just recently been neutered. The problem is that when the two boxers see each other, they are fine for the first 5 minutes or so, then one lunges at the other and they start to growl and bark at each other. It's not play growling and barking - it's the real deal. We are having a neighborhood picnic this weekend and all of the dogs are invited (almost everyone in our neighborhood has a dog!) and I'm worried that Eros and Zeko are going to get into a fight. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep the dogs from getting into a fight? Both dogs are perfectly fine with all of the other nrighborhood dogs, but they don't seem to like each other. Eros has one other boxer friend, but she is a female and much smaller than he is. (Her mom is "mskerritt") Anyone else ever have this problem with two boxers? Thanks for any advice you can give me!!

 

[myrocky]

Is Eros also neutered? If not then that might be causing the tension. Do you break up the quarrel? I honestly would not step in at all. Let them work out their differences, they are trying to establish order I am thinking. They need to figure it out. Unless it is really getting out of control and you fear a blood shed then let them work things out on their own.

Also welcome to BW! We would love to hear some of your stories! :D

 

[budman]

Eros and Zeke

It has been from personal experience handling dogs, along with reading about the Boxer breed, that it is very dangerous to get into the middle of two dogs that are trying to establish dominance. In my humble opinion, I would leave Eros home he will never know he's missing a party and let the dogs settle things out with a fence in the middle. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

My first question is where did the two boxers meet for the first time? Was it in one or the other's yard or "territory?" If so, this could have contributed to the tension and the fighting.

Neutral ground is always better.

I have encountered the same problem with one of my client's boxers and my Maggie. The client's dog took an instant dominant stand with my two girls and was rather aggressive about it. The fight was on the first time they met.

We separated them and gave both dogs a time out, away from each other and calmed them down. We re-introduced them "ON LEASH" and let them sniff until they became tense and about ready to go at it again, then another walk away and time out.

On our second try to get together, they fought almost at once when off leash, but this time, I simply gave Maggie the "ENOUGH!" command and she stopped and came to my side as she knows to do. The other boxer did not follow. Both dogs were amply praised and rewarded for making the correct choice. They soon learned to associate good things with NOT fighting each other.

We let them play more and they seemed fine. No more fighting, no more snarling. They sniffed and Maggie tried to engage her in play, but she wasn't all that interested. But she stayed calm and didn't attack Maggie again. Again, more praise and treats for making the correct choice. So now the dogs are understanding that when they are nice with one another, good things happen. When they fight, they get put on leash and they have to sit and remain calm and can't play for a while.

The more exposure you give the dogs, (always carefully, slowly and with both dogs on leash until you are sure of their behavior) the better it is going to be and the sooner they are going to understand that the other dog is not a threat and can be a good playmate.

My girls and the client's boxer play like long lost friends now, greeting each other on the street with wiggles and licks and play bows. Today the other boxer even barked and barked at Susie trying to get Susie to run and chase her. It was absolutely adorable.

The dogs will eventually form a "pack" among themselves, but they have to work out the order themselves. You can help by not allowing them to get carried away and guide them into alternative ways to work out their order in the pack. Rewarding the dogs when they are NOT fighting is one way to teach the dogs to associate GOOD things with the other dog, and not bad things like you yelling NO or getting upset with them or pulling them away, or keeping them away from other dogs. This only defeats your purpose.

Hope this helps.

 

[MarinaS]

Hello and welcome I am glad you finally joined.

I feel for you as I have the same situation. my boxer girl Tina hates another boxer female which, in her turn, also seems to hate Tina :( We have quite a lot of boxers in the neighbourhood, and with all of them Tina is fine, except that girl. It's really a pity, because Leena (the other boxer female) is very beautiful and playful ( and she is also fine with other dogs), and I wish they could run and play together. But we just prefer to never come across each other at walk.

 

[budman]

Eros & Zeko

Thanks Tulsa Dan -- I've never had the opportunity to use the "on leash" method of introduction. I, like Marina, had to keep the dogs seperate for one anothers safety. Be good. Budmanappicon

 

[lmiller]

thanks for the advice!

Thanks for the advice everyone! To answer some of the questions you all asked: yes, Eros is neutered. The other dog has been neutered so recently that I think he still has all of those hormones raging through him and is still somewhat aggressive. The two times that Eros and Zeko have met have been on "neutral" ground so neither should have felt territorial. Eros is very protective of me though and he may have just been trying to "protect" me from Zeko.

If Zeko comes to the picnic, we'll just have to make sure that they are introduced and remain on their leashes. The suggestion of praising them and rewarding them with treats when they are behaving is a great idea! I'll make sure that we have an ample supply of treats for both dogs.

 

[RingWorm]

Boxers are a different breed of dog. They don't care for toys, just other dogs. I don't know what I would do with either on of my dogs if they were to be aggressive. Mine like to play with other dogs but if that other dog becomes defenceive they seem to "sworm" (non-aggressive mouthing like) and their is nothing that I can do. My best advice is in the best interest of your dog, don't take changes in getting into a fight. But I do agree with anothers reponse, on neutral ground and let them get out their differences. Lucy my older dog when she goes to play with her friends (2 labs and a Hientz 57) the one lab immediately put her in her place. Lucy would get so close to her and play, about 5 feet. Eventually she got closer and now she mouths with her all the time. Anyway good luck