Hi, I'm hoping someone can offer some advice. I have a 3 yr old boxer rescue. I've had her for one year. She is a very sweet and loving dog, but she has a problem with small children. Everytime I walk her and she sees a small child walking or even sitting she tries to lunge at them. I have to drag her away while she barks and screeches to get at them. I'm terrified she will break the leash one day. It's actually the same reaction if she sees a squirrel or another dog. I had to take her out of dog training classes because she would freak out being around other dogs. She would never sit still and screeched non-stop. The trainer said the only thing I could do was to keep her away from other dogs or spend $1,000+ getting her "special training". I can't afford that. I can keep her away from other dogs, but children is another story. I am planning on getting married next fall to my girlfriend, who happens to have a 7 year old daughter. Whenever we've tried to introduce the two slowly, my boxer looks like she is going to eat her. She doesn't growl, but rather lunges like she would at a squirrel. I have asked the rescue from where I got her for any background info, but there is none. I don't know why she is like this. She is an especially needy but loving dog and I really want to have her get along with my soon to be step daughter as well as other children. I hate the idea of having to give her up because of her behavior. Can anyone please offer any advice??
my Boxer rescue has children issues
- Thread starter bransel
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I am not actually for sure on this but I figured I would post anyway. I have a 6 month old boxer and a 3 year old son. They get along great. But everytime I have her on the leash and my son is running around she will lung for him if he gets close. She doesn't hurt him or growl she just wants to play. She does this whenever she sees any children but becuase of my son I know she just wants to go and play with them. I think she thinks of them as other puppies and she just wants to be part of the fun. I know it is different becuase your dog is older but maybe if you didn't have a leash on and just held her collar when tyring to introduce her to your soon to be step-daughter it might help. I don't know how much help this is, but hopefully you will get more.
TracyLynn
Super Boxer
Hello! I feel you pain! You can see the issues that I have had with my girl on the behavioral issues forum under "seeking some advice." We even paid the big money for the special training and the issues are still present. Reading on this site has really made me feel a lot better. My girl will lunge/growl/bark at small children. How socially unaccceptable is this? HA I have had some great experiences with people yelling things like, "Why did you bring that pit bull to the park!" (No, she is not even a pit).,.. LOL
All I can tell you is that this takes times, love, and a willingness to see through your dogs eyes. Please read "The Dog Listener" by Jan Fennell as it helped me greatly, and I am currently working through her second book. Yes, your dog will do fine with the new child if you take it very slowly. Just a suggestion... The day that you are first to introduce the two, ignore your dog all day in order to create a situation where the dog is ready to get any attention at all. Have your dog on lead and bring it in the room where the child is (I would not have the dog in the room and then have the child enter). For only a few seconds stay in the room and give your dog the best praise you can and tons of yummy treats. Then take the dog away. Again, you become super boring owner, giving no attention to the dog. After a few minutes do the whole thing again. Gradually, over the couse of several days/weeks increase the time in the room with the child and decrease the distance. Eventually the child can start to offer the praise and treats. Soon everytime your dog sees the child the reaction will be, "Of, how great! It's that kid and I get tons of great stuff when she is around!!!" If the dog behaves inappropriately at any time (i.e. lunging) take the dog into the other room and ignore again. Then try again.... Eventually they will be the best of friends are you can start to decrease the treats. Just a suggestion from a fellow dog owner who truly understand your frustration because I too have a juvenile deliquent!! LOL
All I can tell you is that this takes times, love, and a willingness to see through your dogs eyes. Please read "The Dog Listener" by Jan Fennell as it helped me greatly, and I am currently working through her second book. Yes, your dog will do fine with the new child if you take it very slowly. Just a suggestion... The day that you are first to introduce the two, ignore your dog all day in order to create a situation where the dog is ready to get any attention at all. Have your dog on lead and bring it in the room where the child is (I would not have the dog in the room and then have the child enter). For only a few seconds stay in the room and give your dog the best praise you can and tons of yummy treats. Then take the dog away. Again, you become super boring owner, giving no attention to the dog. After a few minutes do the whole thing again. Gradually, over the couse of several days/weeks increase the time in the room with the child and decrease the distance. Eventually the child can start to offer the praise and treats. Soon everytime your dog sees the child the reaction will be, "Of, how great! It's that kid and I get tons of great stuff when she is around!!!" If the dog behaves inappropriately at any time (i.e. lunging) take the dog into the other room and ignore again. Then try again.... Eventually they will be the best of friends are you can start to decrease the treats. Just a suggestion from a fellow dog owner who truly understand your frustration because I too have a juvenile deliquent!! LOL
mugsysmom
Boxer Booster
hey , i feel your pain althought i dont have children . my rescue does the samething with kids esp. males which leads me to believe this was one of her abusers . she is very unsocialized and growls at anyone who tries to pet her but really will "go after " children . I dontthink she will bite cause she has had the chance but just wants to bark to mak them go away
My dog also does this sometimes with children in the park.
Reading your post I think that maybe the problem is the way you try to introduce the girl to the dog - "slowly". My boxer becomes aggressive when somebody comes to her slowly and cautiously. She never pays attention to somebody passing casualy and not taking notice of her. Maybe you should try first spending some time in the same room all of you without trying to introduce them. It will also help if the girl gives her something a toy, food or anything your dog consider a reward BUT ONLY AFTER they are used to each other even not properly introduced.
Reading your post I think that maybe the problem is the way you try to introduce the girl to the dog - "slowly". My boxer becomes aggressive when somebody comes to her slowly and cautiously. She never pays attention to somebody passing casualy and not taking notice of her. Maybe you should try first spending some time in the same room all of you without trying to introduce them. It will also help if the girl gives her something a toy, food or anything your dog consider a reward BUT ONLY AFTER they are used to each other even not properly introduced.
Bxrlvr
Boxer Booster
I have the same problem with our rescue. She is now 3 and we got her around 1. She was very aggressive towards adults and children. She has gotten a lot better with adults but is still terrified of children. She shakes like a leaf when any child is around and has lunged at several. I have noticed that if a child comes to the house, I instruct them to not make eye contact and to stand there and let Lexi sniff. Once she completes this she settles down but will still not approach them on her own. You may want to get a soft muzzle and slowly re-introduce him/her to children. Don't give up, someone else already did!!!!
Chris W.
Super Boxer
screeching?
The only time I've ever heard this screeching noise you're talking about a boxer doing, is when there is High anxiety. Like they WANT attention from someone or another dog SO bad. Although, with no idea how to act correctly once they DO get the attention they've been seeking, a small child can get hurt just by the dogs over excitement (even being chewed on like over rambunctious puppy play). I've heard this noise come about twice from pain. I have not heard it come about from aggression, not to say that I guess it couldn't come from aggression. Do you think it's you're dogs intention to hurt a child or make it go away? Or are you afraid to let them get too close because your dog is over excited?
If you are talking about over excitment, I like TracyLynn's suggestions. Treat for good/calm behavior, remove the dog from the situation if improper behavior. Keep the dog on a leash the whole time. I can't say enough good things about a gentle leader here also. You could crate the dog in the room you're hanging out in for the evening with the kids after a while.
It might also help to make a ritual of walking past school playgrounds and park playgrounds (on the other side of a fence would be best, so you're not swarmed with 100 kids yelling "DOGGY!")where there are many children playing outside, running, screaming ect. Just sit and watch them for hours. To try desensitizing and get exposure to lots and lots of children. Treat for good, calm behavior. Leave quickly for bad behavior. The time before leaving should increase daily.
Hope this helps too. Keep us posted.
Chris
The only time I've ever heard this screeching noise you're talking about a boxer doing, is when there is High anxiety. Like they WANT attention from someone or another dog SO bad. Although, with no idea how to act correctly once they DO get the attention they've been seeking, a small child can get hurt just by the dogs over excitement (even being chewed on like over rambunctious puppy play). I've heard this noise come about twice from pain. I have not heard it come about from aggression, not to say that I guess it couldn't come from aggression. Do you think it's you're dogs intention to hurt a child or make it go away? Or are you afraid to let them get too close because your dog is over excited?
If you are talking about over excitment, I like TracyLynn's suggestions. Treat for good/calm behavior, remove the dog from the situation if improper behavior. Keep the dog on a leash the whole time. I can't say enough good things about a gentle leader here also. You could crate the dog in the room you're hanging out in for the evening with the kids after a while.
It might also help to make a ritual of walking past school playgrounds and park playgrounds (on the other side of a fence would be best, so you're not swarmed with 100 kids yelling "DOGGY!")where there are many children playing outside, running, screaming ect. Just sit and watch them for hours. To try desensitizing and get exposure to lots and lots of children. Treat for good, calm behavior. Leave quickly for bad behavior. The time before leaving should increase daily.
Hope this helps too. Keep us posted.
Chris
All is not hopeless.Your dog can be helped with specific training. You are correct to be very concerned! This needs immediate attention. Boxers have so much love to give, and can be too much to handle if we don't give them the training they need.
Hooray to you for taking a boxer rescue.
You described something that has touched a need for several boxer rescue people!
I would recommend one more book, "Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson. It is a "must read" for all owned by boxers. When we learn what they are thinking, then it is not so difficult to suit our training methods to their specific needs.
I would try desensitization mentioned in other posts and it can be accomplished without the expensive courses. Try "classical conditioning". I probably wouldn't start with your new daughter to be. I would take her to a park where there are likely to be children, but do not approach any. Position her far enough away from the children so that she sees them but is not reacting to them. It is okay if it is quite far away. Feed her small bits of a much desired food as a treat. Do this every day for a while. Slowly let her approach closer and if she does not react, feed her there. The idea is to form a subconscious connection for her that children equal food and this is good. Feed her lots of food and praise.
Also, had you tried NILIF? (Nothing in Life is Free) Simply, never give the dog anything until the dog does something first. For example, ask your dog to sit before feeding, every time. Also, require her to sit and wait before going thru the door. Also, a sit or down before petting. This teaches "impulse control" and your dog will more likely look to you for direction rather than "launching" into stimulating situations.
Good luck.
Hooray to you for taking a boxer rescue.
You described something that has touched a need for several boxer rescue people!
I would recommend one more book, "Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson. It is a "must read" for all owned by boxers. When we learn what they are thinking, then it is not so difficult to suit our training methods to their specific needs.
I would try desensitization mentioned in other posts and it can be accomplished without the expensive courses. Try "classical conditioning". I probably wouldn't start with your new daughter to be. I would take her to a park where there are likely to be children, but do not approach any. Position her far enough away from the children so that she sees them but is not reacting to them. It is okay if it is quite far away. Feed her small bits of a much desired food as a treat. Do this every day for a while. Slowly let her approach closer and if she does not react, feed her there. The idea is to form a subconscious connection for her that children equal food and this is good. Feed her lots of food and praise.
Also, had you tried NILIF? (Nothing in Life is Free) Simply, never give the dog anything until the dog does something first. For example, ask your dog to sit before feeding, every time. Also, require her to sit and wait before going thru the door. Also, a sit or down before petting. This teaches "impulse control" and your dog will more likely look to you for direction rather than "launching" into stimulating situations.
Good luck.
Krikkit
Boxer Insane
All very good suggestions posted here 
I'd also second the advice to read 'Culture Clash' along with another Jean Donaldson book 'Dogs are from Neptune'. Another excellent resource is 'Ruff Love' by Susan Garrett.
I really like Chris's suggestion about the head halter - this would make things much easier for the both of you. Buy a connector that goes from the halter to her collar, or use a double ended lead. Article of fitting a halter here: http://www.boxerworld.com/training/headhalter/
For dogs who stress in group classes, one on one training can be excellent until they are able to relax enough to move into group situations. It does not cost thousands here - maybe you could do some searching and see if someone (make sure they are a true positive trainer) near you is able to help?
I'd also second the advice to read 'Culture Clash' along with another Jean Donaldson book 'Dogs are from Neptune'. Another excellent resource is 'Ruff Love' by Susan Garrett.I really like Chris's suggestion about the head halter - this would make things much easier for the both of you. Buy a connector that goes from the halter to her collar, or use a double ended lead. Article of fitting a halter here: http://www.boxerworld.com/training/headhalter/
For dogs who stress in group classes, one on one training can be excellent until they are able to relax enough to move into group situations. It does not cost thousands here - maybe you could do some searching and see if someone (make sure they are a true positive trainer) near you is able to help?
Tulsa-Dan
Your Friendly Moderator
There are also pamphlets and tapes available for this issue (aggression) from http://www.dogsbestfriendtraining.com An excellent source for valuable training on aggression and other behavioral problems. I found the tape on aggression to be most helpful.
Check it out and good luck.
Check it out and good luck.
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