Muzzle?? Please help.

[TheDukes]

My boxer has a problem with other dogs inside. He is great with any dog outside, but for some reason he does not like being inside with other dogs.
Would anyone recommend muzzling him when he is inside with other dogs? He is an only dog with us, and there is no problem there. I am thinking in situations when we go to visit family for a weekend or holiday. He loves my parents dog outisde, but wants to pick fights (once in a while) when they are inside. We are planning a weekend trip there in 2 weeks, and I would rather not kennel him if we dont have to. Previously we have just kept them separated inside, but Im trying to not be an inconvenience. Would muzzling Dukes while they are together be an idea??? Ive never used a muzzle and do not know much about them. Please let me know what you think, and if you have had similar situations.
Thanks

 

[Stacy W.]

I don't really know much about muzzling. But the problem I could see is that it may put your dog at a disadvantage if you muzzle him and set him loose with the other dog. It may cause more problems. Again, I am no expert and I am really curious to see what others opinions are.

 

[boxer sox]

Unfortunately, I do not think muzzling would actually address the behavior. Your dog would still be free to start any fights he wants, he just wouldn't be able to bite.
I am familiar with the type of behavior and it is possible that your pup is not starting a fight at all. Boxers have a very distinct "aggressive" style of play, I have found that many other dogs are not agreeable to this. If the other dog does not like such behavior, they can simply run away when outside. But when in closer quarters, the dogs may feel more cornered. That was the most important thing my dog learned when playing at the park was when the other dog told him to back off, in not so many words it took him a while to learn to back off, not to escalate. So whenever he was in a fight, it was due to his persistence of playing rough. It took a fight with a big german shepard for him to learn.
Plus, your best weapon against a rambunctious boxer is a time out! They so crave being around people, being the center of attention. When my dog does something bad or starts to get so fired up that he doesn't hear me, I very firmly tell him to sit, and then to follow me and tell him to sit on his bed for a timeout (5-10 minutes usually). He is dying to get back to the action, so once he calms down, he will listen very closely to receive his reward.
Good luck, the best advice is patience!