Is this a show of aggression?

[Nashville]

Gina, our 6 month old rescue is finally housebroken! Two weeks and no accidents. It was a long hard training process with many sleepless night and lots and lots of carpet cleaning so we are thrilled! We cannot have a fence in our neighborhood and have an underground electric fence that has worked very, very well with Ursula (our 8 year old Rottie Chow mix). I waited to introduce Gina to it (we have had her since the begining of February) because she was abused as a pup and I was afraid she would be furter traumatized. Obedience classes really helped with her socialization and 'cured' her totally of her submissive peeing and most of her fears. She seems to be doing quite well respecting the boundries of the fence and has only 'broken through' once. Of course, we stay with her while she out there and will continue to do so until we are sure she understands it. My question (forgive the long intro.) is about her 'constant talking'. She was completley silent for several weeks after we got her (she was very sad and frightened)then she found her voice..boy did she ever! She talks and makes little (we call them her 3 Stooges sounds because she sounds like Curley!) wimpering sounds constantly especially when she plays which is (of course)most of the time! However, now she has begun to bark at my husband and me whenever we have to 'redirect her'. Sometimes, she will just stare at me and bark. When she gets caught doing something she is not suppose to do, like chewing the stairway (her Dad was really mad about this!) or getting on the bed, she will beging barking at us and will not stop! I have tried all sorts of things to distract her from this behavior but, so far nothing works and she stops only when she is ready. Is this normal Boxer behavior? And more importantly, is this a way for her to show us she is 'boss'? She had begun to show her temper in other ways (nipping, attempting to walk ahead of us while on her lead) and I put immediate stops to this when she does. Any suggestions on how to stop this? Sorry this was sooo long..and thanks.

 

[scarlet19]

As for the barking Canon also does this as if he's arguing with me. I haven't figured out how to stop it either. The other things she is doing sounds like she's trying to find her place in the pack. She knows she no longer has to be frightened and she's just pushing limits to see what she can get away with. This breed can be very stubborn and my 5 month old female tests everythig I say almost like a child.

 

[Christian C.]

I completely agree--from your post it doesn't sound as though Gina is exhibiting signs of aggression. Rather, she's become comfortable in your home and with you and is now testing the limits. She just wants to know, when you say "no" do you really mean it? This barking, unless it's accompanied by flattened ears, bared teeth and a low, threatening growl (unlike the "3 stooges" sound you described) is pretty normal from my experience. Like children, dogs don't like to be told no. Just be firm and eventually she'll give it up. Both me and my brother, whose boxer is now 11 months old, went through this with our dogs too. His was worse because Bishop would look at him and bark every 3 seconds, in exactly the same tone, for 15 minutes at a time! Very hard on the ears!

She's very lucky to have come to you as a rescue, and congratulations with your success on housetraining--my dog Georgie will be 7 months next week and is still not 100% trustworthy. Good luck to you and Gina.

 

[monty'smum]

Monty always has to have the last word, I simply have to ignore him as he just won't stop. Until I got him I thought my parents last boxer was the noisiest on earth. When they bought her at 15 months, together with her diet plan, favourite toys etc, was listed "hates to be said no to". Boy did she live up to that. Monty fusses me when I come home but then barks at me as if telling me off for leaving him. He barks alot at us but there is a difference in his bark when talking to us and when someone comes to the door. That is certainly a more deeper and threatening tone.

 

[pep0987]

I hate to say this but, I am so glad. I thought I was alone
in this matter of barking. Bailey, our 8 month old boxer has been doing this since he was about 5 months. Our other boxer never barked until someone would come in the driveway.