misinterpreting boxer play for aggression...I think

[karabracht]

Until recently, I've only had one dog, Bob, my boxer boy, who is now eight years old. he became aggressive when he was younger and has never really played with other dogs as it was difficult to get passed the initial greeting with them. With careful introductions I got my new girl Boxer, Maddie is two and a half. I've been watching them play in my backyard. They "bite" each other's cheek, ears and paws to initate play and they both love to wrestling, flipping on their backs and then getting up and shaking it off then going at it again. I can't tell you what joy I feel to see my dog playing happily with another dog. I realize though that now at the dog park with Maddie she tries to "play" this way with other dogs. At first, I thought this was aggression, as it was creating scuffles every now and then. Do all Boxers play this way and is it irritating to other breeds and will she learn that not all dogs want to play like this and eventually back off. Do I need to help her modify her behavior? I wonder if I misinterpreted some of Bob's playfulness at dog parks years ago as aggression and somehow made it worse? How do your boxers play with each other and other breeds.

 

[trc4941]

That's how my boys play. Other breeds of dogs don't like to play with them because of how they play. When they play together they bark and growl like they're fighting. If anyone saw or heard them they'd think they were killing each other. I've heard other boxer owners say how other dogs don't like playing with their boxers either. Boxers like to use their feet a lot (boxing) where other breeds don't usually do that.

 

[ELubas]

I find my dogs do best with other high energy breeds and of an equal size. My girl has taught her two best friends to "box". My boy is older now and gets on with any dog but my girl really needs that high energy rough stuff. I pick her playmates carefully as she can be very overwhelming and very pushy. I just do not do dog parks for that, and a host of other reasons. Good luck

 

[Cami]

Here is a link to a post of mine from a while back.
It's a video of my girl playing with her cousin, another Boxer.
In my experience ALL (or a very good majority) of BOXERS play this way.
Actually when I have taken Cami to the dog park she will make every attempt to get other dogs to play Boxer-style and if she doesn't get any takers, she just starts running around like a fool.
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103152

 

[EAO76]

I don't do dog parks either. Nano loves the dog park but other dogs (and their owners) don't appreciate her style of play. And my two boys don't care to play with strange dogs.

Nano & Trucker play just like the video Cami posted. Nano & Rosco (they are littermates and have been together since birth) are even rougher. It’s like watching an ultimate fighting championship. They wrestle, chase, pin, head lock, etc.

PS All of my foster boxers have had the same style of play.

 

[lucaluvsrip]

My boy Ripley plays this way as well, i know alot of the neighbourhood dog owners will not let them play with Ripley because they are not big fans of how he plays with other dogs. It is too bad really because he is the biggest suck you could ever meet and all he want's to do is play play play.. He is actually so gentle with the smaller dogs, it is a treat to watch him play with a little shitzu!! , he makes me laugh!!

 

[butlersmom]

Yep; dog parks are a problem with boxers for the very reasons you mentioned. Other dogs interpret their boxing as aggression and get defensive, often resulting in a scuffle. Luckily, here in Athens, GA there are many bulldogs of various kinds, so we see a LOT of boxers at the park, a few mastiffs, and some boxer mixes. I haven't found a way to break Butler of the boxing habit; I think it just comes with owning, or being owned, by a boxer.

 

[JulieJay]

The video that Cami has is Exactly how caine plays.
He plays very well with other boxers and normally doesn't make that growling noise, which sometimes i am still learning if its mean or not.

He wants to play the same way with all other dogs. I keep an eye on him at the park to ensure that the other owners are okay and we have yet to come to a disagreement on it. but when he starts to growl even if it is play i make sure i stop the play and tell him not to growl as i dont like it.

Good luck and jsut keep an eye on them with other dogs. you will get the hang of it soon.

 

[totallyhip]

I gotta chime in too

We don't like the dog parks and tend to stay away as well. Our whole neighbourhood (minus 1 person) things our dogs are aggressive! Their not!!! They are just BOXERS! They all play rough like that. Some dogs like it and others don't. I can see how it is mistaken for aggression. Our Leia growls as she plays. Luke's bff is a Pug who also plays like a Boxer. Some dogs don't like to play with him either!

 

[Murp.mm]

It was just this evening that my friend and I ran our dogs and we were chatting at how rough they play and if anyone heard them they would think they were fighting. So don't worry it's quite normal. Boxers are noisy and rough and just so much fun to watch.