little female boxer loves to fight

[shaunseer]

I rescued a little female (40lbs) from Boxer Rescue LA in September. The first week I took her to a dog park, and she started a fight with another dog. Everyone told me it was too soon to take her there because she needed to adjust and to keep her on a leash to socialize her with other dogs. So I have been taking her to the dog park once a week on the leash so
she can be socialized with other dogs.

Yesterday I took her again, and I figured after six months, she would behave, so I took her off the leash. Within 5 minutes, she started a fight with a dog a smaller than her. I put her back on the leash and we stayed for another 1/2 hour then left.

I feel bad for her because she wont be able to run free with the other dogs, since she likes to fight so much. Any suggestions?
She especially likes to fight with other boxers even if shes onleash. It doesnt matter if theyre male or female.

 

[Scorpio]

Is she really fighting or just really playing rough? I know when Ozzy plays with other dogs, hes all over them and a lot of the other dogs don't like it and nip at him to stop.

 

[VTbxrFan]

This is not at all my area of experience, but maybe it would help to try letting her play with just one dog at a time instead of a busy dog park -- that might be too overwhelming. Do you have friends with dogs who would be willing to have play time?

 

[Donna741]

It may be too much for her to be around all those dogs all at once. Try a one on one play date with a friend or neighbor. It may also be that she just cannot be let loose to play with other dogs. There are some dogs who are not dog social but are very people social.

 

[Renee&Jake]

I would contact Boxer Rescue of Los Angeles and let them know what's going on.

They might be able to offer advice, or direct you to where you can get advice on 'Re-socializing' a rescue.

Or you could try:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/agbeh/

It's a chat group where people can discuss topics such as this, and they may be able to help, too.

In any case, it will involve some training, as aggression seldom disappears on its own, but it may be a situation where she was never properly socialized, so she just needs to learn how to communicate with other dogs.

Good Luck!

 

[Kurika]

I also have a female Boxer, and it's the same thing with mine. She has always been well socialized, she's very nice to people, but not to other dogs. She is almost 2 years old now and I tried everything I could remember so that she would get along better with other dogs, but no results. There are some dogs that she will accept, but it's very, very rare.

I too get very sad when I see all the other dogs running around and playing and she is on leash... :(

 

[vaboxer]

hmmmmm...my Dayla is leash aggressive...put her on the lead and attempt to have her play with anything and she gets upset and her hairs stand up and she wants to kill!

Take Day off the lead and let her take care of her issues with other dogs on her own...she is fine.

This was a slow thing though...we started by having a friend bring their cocker over every now and then...and we would let the two dogs "fight" their issues out. The thing we realized was when we let them deal with it on their own, they were less likely to "fight." But...if ran over screaming and yelling and took Day and Marley away from each other, that made them even more mad.

After she started seeing Marley on a regular basis the fights stopped and they actually kiss each other when they see each other now...and we recently went to a dog park and Day was perfect off lead...and on the lead!

I think proper socialization would help...one on one...and I think basic obedience training would help, as well as socialize! Dayla and I start classes tomorrow night and I am so excited as I know she will have fun...

Good Luck!

 

[willc73]

I got my boxers from the same rescue and I go to the same dog park!

I will tell you that a leash at the dog park is not a good idea. Mainly because all the other dogs are free. Whenever I go to the dog park and someone has thier dog on a leash I know that thier dog is probably aggressive. You should not take your dog to the park if she is aggressive.

Other dogs will try to play with your dog on the leash , and if your dog starts something and the other dog doesn't back down like most dogs wont, you have a big problem because yours is on the leash and the other one isn't.

Plus it is my experience with dogs is they are usually more aggressive on a leash.

Try your dog out with just one other dog. in a neutral area, not your house. See how that works.

I have gotten three dogs from boxer rescue LA, don't bother calling them , there is nothing they can do.

 

[Donna741]

The only things BRLA can do are refer you to a behavior expert (which will cost you $$ and may not solve the problem) or take the dog back.

I would really try to have a one on one session on neutral ground with a friends dog and see how that goes. If it goes well, introduce another dog, etc.