Can't play nicely with other boxers???

[northernboxr]

Wow. It has been so long since I've been on BW!
Riker is now a whopping 15 months old and 57 lbs of pure, awkward silliness!

Anyway... Riker goes to a massive, fenced off-leash park every day, but I've noticed something odd. On our hikes he plays nicely with every size and breed of dog EXCEPT for other boxers.

He sees another boxer; they both crouch down in the same way; they both bristle their backs; they both skulk up to the other one; then they both do a really tense nose-to-bum greeting and then they POUNCE!

I know boxers sound like they are fighting to the death when they play!!!! Unfortunately the play is starting to seem a lot less like play and more like real fighting :( He has never, ever laid a tooth on another dog or anything-- but i still don't like it.

Any thoughts on his anti-boxer mentality?

 

[lucasmum]

Hi, Vicky,
Welcome back. I know what you mean, my last boy's best friend was another boxer and when they played it really sounded and looked like they were killing each other. We've even had people ask if they wanted us to help break up the fight, but they really were only playing, both of them knew exactly who was boss, and it wasn't my Boycie, but he was the one who did all the teasing, stealing his friend Bruno's toys, sticks etc.
The only thing I would say, is that I found, because Bruno was his first friend and he learnt to play in that rough boxer way, he approached all other dogs inthe same manner and it didn't go down too well. This time round with Luca, same age as your boy, I made sure his first playmates were calmer dogs, so now he only goes into that rough stuff with another boxer, or a young dog.
Are you sure it's not still just playing? What makes you think it could be getting out of hand?

 

[Lola's mum]

Depends on the dog, all of mine play rough with each other but only Zeb tries to play that way with other dogs.
Zeb just gets so excited and he's so hyper with other dogs. I have to reign him in and make him calm down or he doesn't get to meet other dogs, he's learning now bum on floor then he gets to meet & greet