Hello; This is my first post other than my introduction but I really need some advice from the experienced Boxer owner. I have my first boxer who is a 6 mo. old male. Let me start off by saying he is extremely smart, a quick learner and very lovable and sociable....with people that is. When he was 10 weeks old I took him out just around the block to get him used to the leash. I have already been slapped on the hand for this due to the fact that he was not fully immunizised at that point. Anyway, we happened upon a nice lab and my boy went bezerk! Growling hair standing up, wanting to bite etc... I was quite surprised as I have two dachshunds that he is fine around at home, but I figured maybe it was fear? I tried his first puppy class at 12 weeks and was asked to come back in another month due to his unruliness. Tried again one month later and was asked the first night not to return. Fast forward to now. He is six months old and acts exactly the same way on walks. The problem now is, he is 50 pounds of pure psycho. I don't get it? I can take him out to Starbucks and he is a gem around all strangers , loves children, obeys all my commands, has never destroyed anything but he seems to hate dogs. I was hoping as he got older he would calm down but it is to the point where I can't even continue to try and work with him because he is just to much for me to handle when we come across another dog. He walks perfectly fine with me, sits on command, heels perfectly, but throw a dog in the mix and goodnight. For those of you that have been repeat Boxer owners, is this just a trait I will have to accept? I have spoken to a private trainer but he uses techniques that are'nt allowed to be talked about on this forum so I won't. I don't want my dog treated that way. I feel as though it could make him worse. After all, If I were zapped everytime I misbehaved around another dog I would probably hate them even more. I wish I could express this issue better, but the easiest way for me to describe him when he sees another dog is that a bomb goes off in his head! Help!!!!!!!
Need advice from seasoned Boxer owners
- Thread starter phonodel
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Just-A-Clown
Completely Boxer Crazy
I agree with BxrMommieNAZ, not a Boxer trait but an individual dog issue. And that you need to find a behaviorist and not a trainer.
Note, you can't deal with aggresive dogs by being aggressive to them, that's like throwing gasoline on a fire that you are trying to put out. Once a dog elevates to that level of rage, it's already to late to correct. I agree with you, the methods you were eluding to will only make things worse, not better.
It's unfortunate that your first puppy class trainer asked you to come back later. This was the perfect time to deal with these issues. Although your puppy class trainer obviously was not equiped to deal with these issues, the right thing to do would have been to refer you to someone who could help you. Trainers that only want to deal with the "perfect" dog is no trainer at all, its the problem dogs that need our most attention. I'm ranting here, sorry, but your story irritates me, those people who call themselves trainers only to push a side those dogs that really need some help... there I go again.
Listen, bottom line, find a good behaviorist and you should be able to manage this problem with some work. Dog agression is more common than you think.
Note, you can't deal with aggresive dogs by being aggressive to them, that's like throwing gasoline on a fire that you are trying to put out. Once a dog elevates to that level of rage, it's already to late to correct. I agree with you, the methods you were eluding to will only make things worse, not better.
It's unfortunate that your first puppy class trainer asked you to come back later. This was the perfect time to deal with these issues. Although your puppy class trainer obviously was not equiped to deal with these issues, the right thing to do would have been to refer you to someone who could help you. Trainers that only want to deal with the "perfect" dog is no trainer at all, its the problem dogs that need our most attention. I'm ranting here, sorry, but your story irritates me, those people who call themselves trainers only to push a side those dogs that really need some help... there I go again.
Listen, bottom line, find a good behaviorist and you should be able to manage this problem with some work. Dog agression is more common than you think.
ELubas
Boxer Insane
Your boy sounds just like my girl, Nysa. She was nine weeks old the first time she went after another dog. I believe it is just who they are. She was the boss of her own litter. Just to make you feel better she did puppy, intermediate, and regular obedience-which is great-but she is still dog aggressive so I do not know that not doing those classes makes a big difference. I will say she has never bitten, just pin and pounce-so her bite inhibition is amazing. I will tell you what helped Ny. She needs to meet dogs slowly. She has about a dozen friends now that she gets along great with and she loves my other dog at home. To introduce we walk on lead only several times (no contact), then we sniff and walk, then we long lead play (her on long lead, other dog off lead) and usually by then she has totally accepted the other dog and they are fine. I am careful with timid, fearful, and old dogs as she is very dominant and will "bully" them. She does best with young dogs her own age who are high energy and calm "top dog" types, like my Frazier, who will not hurt her but will correct her.
I worked with a behavorist and that was invaulable,. We tried prozac-did not do much but others have had success-worth discussing. I use high, high value treats wtih her that she only gets in the presence of strange dogs. I walk the perimeter of dog parks, training classes, vet offices, etc to work on her reactivity. No one, and mean NO ONE, gets to manhandle her. It is pretty much proven now that dealing with these dogs in a punitive or physical way will get you more of the same. The idea is to make great things happen in the presence of strange dogs so he associates strange dogs with food and toys and affection appearing. I would either try a gentle leader or a training collar (sits up high on the neck) to get his walking under control. You need to learn about reactivity-not getting closer than the dog can handle to another dog. Enlist friends!
I know by now you are thinking I am nuts but my girl is 2 1/2 years old and we are making progress. She will never, ever be the "dog park" dog but she is a good girl and she is trying
She made a new friend this summer and it took two months but to me that is a success Please do not give up on him or let folks tell you it is hopeless or that you have to be "dominant" or any of that crap. Despite my trials with Ny I will say our bond is so strong because we work togther so much-and no one gives sweeter kisses or woo-woos! Good luck and please keep up posted.
I worked with a behavorist and that was invaulable,. We tried prozac-did not do much but others have had success-worth discussing. I use high, high value treats wtih her that she only gets in the presence of strange dogs. I walk the perimeter of dog parks, training classes, vet offices, etc to work on her reactivity. No one, and mean NO ONE, gets to manhandle her. It is pretty much proven now that dealing with these dogs in a punitive or physical way will get you more of the same. The idea is to make great things happen in the presence of strange dogs so he associates strange dogs with food and toys and affection appearing. I would either try a gentle leader or a training collar (sits up high on the neck) to get his walking under control. You need to learn about reactivity-not getting closer than the dog can handle to another dog. Enlist friends!
I know by now you are thinking I am nuts but my girl is 2 1/2 years old and we are making progress. She will never, ever be the "dog park" dog but she is a good girl and she is trying
She made a new friend this summer and it took two months but to me that is a success Please do not give up on him or let folks tell you it is hopeless or that you have to be "dominant" or any of that crap. Despite my trials with Ny I will say our bond is so strong because we work togther so much-and no one gives sweeter kisses or woo-woos! Good luck and please keep up posted.Thank you so much to everyone that has replied. My next step will be to find a
behaviorist . Any recommendation in the S.F Bay area? Thanks again.
EAO76
Boxer Insane
Yes find a good behaviorist. And after you do that look around and see if anyone offers a “feisty fido” class near you. We took one and it was great. I think all reactive dogs should take that type of class. They set up all sorts of real life senerios for you to work through but its totally controlled and the ‘decoy’ dogs that they use are very well trained and non-reactive. It was a wonderful learning experience and gave us a great foundation to work in the ‘real world’
Also there is a book called “the feisty fido” & a book called “click for calm” I recommend both. Good luck!
Also there is a book called “the feisty fido” & a book called “click for calm” I recommend both. Good luck!
entelekia
Super Boxer
phonodel, I am in the Bay area also and there are TONS of resources around here. My first choice would be the Marin Humane Society in Novato. They have "Difficult Dog" classes geared specifically towards dog on dog aggression. Very positive methods and knowledgeable instructors.
You might try the SFSPCA if you want, after all Jean Donaldson herself works there!
If you tell me where exactly in the bay are you are I can give you more specifics.
You might try the SFSPCA if you want, after all Jean Donaldson herself works there!
If you tell me where exactly in the bay are you are I can give you more specifics.
phonodel, I am in the Bay area also and there are TONS of resources around here. My first choice would be the Marin Humane Society in Novato. They have "Difficult Dog" classes geared specifically towards dog on dog aggression. Very positive methods and knowledgeable instructors.
You might try the SFSPCA if you want, after all Jean Donaldson herself works there!
If you tell me where exactly in the bay are you are I can give you more specifics.
Hi, and thank you so much for the help. I am actually out in East Contra Costa County, quite a distance from the city or the peninsula. Antioch/Brentwood to be exact. Let me know if you know of anyone, otherwise I may call the resources you mentioned and ask for refferals. Thanks again.
tigersmummy
Boxer Pal
My first boxer baby was very intolerant of other dogs, especially bitches, and would go after them in a very aggressive manner. However, she never ever actually bit another dog, she would just bowl them over and pin them down. I think it was a dominance thing, or maybe she was just being protective of me - I don't know, but we learned to live with it. We would have to scan the horizon for other dogs when ever we walked her off the lead, and if we saw another dog we would put her back on her lead. When we got our second boxer she was very unimpressed, but tolerated him all the same - eventually they became the best of friends. There was one embarrassing incident when they both went after a German Shepherd and pinned it to the ground. The other owner was terrified of the boxers and furious with me for walking them off the lead (even though her dog was also off the lead) and she wouldn't accept my assurances that the dogs weren't vicious (it was a German Shepherd that bit me on the face as a child so I was far more nervous of her dog). By all means consult a professional if you think they can help, but so long as your dog doesn't do any physical damage then I wouldn't worry too much. Training your dog to come back even if it spots another dog would be a good place to start.
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