New boxer owner needs training!!

[Daisymaysmom]

My husband and I went to a party last night. Well They knew we have a Boxer and love him to death. So This young guy says I just rescued a boxer--He was a beautiful boy. Fawn, flashy. docked and floppy. He could've been Cain's twin. I was so glad he rescued him wonderful..But then he had absolutely no control over him, the pup was on a regular collar and leash. There was a lot of people around him so naturally he was just wanting to go say hi. Well everytime he lunged at someone. the owner jerked him back hard!! And there was no correction or anything just a nice hard yank. I bit my lip.. thinking ok just this once..nope he kept doing it harder and harder then got mad at the poor boy cause he wasn't listening. Then he asked us if Cain ever barked or growled at us..Nope, he is a good listener when playing he knows when we say gentle to be gentle....He started to tell us that his boy doesn't listen until he has to smack him and then he said he punched him in and the dog barked and growled at him...jeez i think i would too! Well then he showed us how they play..I was shocked..he smacked the dog in the muzzle several times(not hard-but still) until the dog got on his hind legs and started to box him..while growling and barking..-this didn't look like playtime. it looked like the dog was like back off.. I mean kudos for rescuing the pup..but is he any better in your care? then he said how the dog gets no exercise cause he didn't have a yard?! I just felt so bad for this boy..I actually had to walk away when they were "playing" I couldn't take the smacking. We don't play like that with our dogs..does anyone? I was even telling the guy about the prong collars and the different kinds of training tools they have and was even raving about going to dog school..but he was like I have a shock collar and when that doesn't I just smack him till he listens...I don't know how this makes you feel..but I was so angry with that guy..My husband was just like he's a dumb kid he doesn't know any better..uuggghhhhh...I wish I could've brought him home with me!!!
When we rescued Comet my lab we had to go thru such a process to make sure we were suitable "Parents" for him. we actually got turned down 2x before we got him. I was pregnant at the time and they felt that was be to much change for him to be adopted then have a baby. but anyway I still can't believe this kid was a suitable parent?!?!? just had to get this off my chest..when I got home last night my boys got extra hugs..

You need to report the guy , no one should ever hit a dog or anything forthat matter

 

[DyckDogs]

I agree with Daisymaysmom. This guy needs to be reported.
It made me sick to read your story.
I would have said something to him (but thats just me, I don't know how to bite my tongue). He obviously knows nothing about training a dog or even how to treat one.
What he did is totally unacceptable under any circumstance.
As far as I'm concerned, he didn't rescue this puppy.

 

[Cainsmommy]

Thanks guys..I glad for everyone's suggestions and I know I will be running into this guy again prob. this weekend. We go to the same campground. So I will make it a point to give him this website and maybe bring Cain along and show him how love and kindness make for wonderful playtime. And also how to get a dog to interact with you without physical roughness. When this guy kept telling us how his interacts with his dog. I did suggest -rather nicely-about dog school and treats for training and everything that helped me--although I didn't mention this site--this has helped me tremendously. But he was just not listening. I even went so far as to show him how to teach his dog to sit and the proper position of his collar and..he got yanked back-because he stood up on me..But anyway I am defiantly going to keep my eye on him and find out where he got the dog and If need be I'll report him..Thanks everyone for your suggestions on how to deal with this!! I think he just doesn't know any better. Maybe if we show him a different way to interact with his baby they could have a long lasting wonderful relationship!!

 

[bucca]

this man is an animal abuser straight out!! that poor dog isnt safe in his care. you need to report him. its so hard to understand how a roomful of people didnt beat the hell out of him for doing this to the dog. my husband would have put him through a wall if he saw that( he is like me he wont tolerate any form of abuse whatsoever.) also prong collars and shock collars arent the answer they are both cruel, the answer is patience, training and love both of which this guy doesnt have. to bad this weekend camping the dog doesnt get "lost" if you know what i mean.

 

[LucNesbitt]

I really hope you continue to run in to him and have the chance to share some positive training advice with him. If that doesn't work, maybe ask the rescue if they can do a follow-up visit of some kind. I agree with a previous poster that if this guy thought he was doing something wrong, he probably wouldn't be that quick to show it off. I just hope in the mean time he doesn't do anything that will cause permanent problems for this dog in the even that he has to be re-homed.

Best of luck to you and I think your ideas of showing him how you and your baby interact will be a good place to start.

 

[Box Boys]

I think the best approach to this guy would be some gentle teaching of do's and dont's...but I'm not certain that this "guy" will get it. I am amazed that some people think this type of "play" with their dogs is acceptable play. Some dog owners just don't get it. While some can be taught, others cannot because they think they know it all. I think I might seriously consider contacting the organization where he got the Boxer from, if you know. Make an anonymous call.

 

[katisblonde]

So Sad

Your story made me really sad. I feel so bad for that poor boxer, he is going to become so aggressive because of their 'play'. The hard jerking is terrible too, I feel bad for Kingston when he tries to take off after bunnies, lizards or bugs and jerks himself. No yard either?! How did the rescue let him take the boxer home I wonder?

Is it possible to report the boy to the rescue that the boxer came from? I know that is a bit extreme but I worry that the boxer will become so defensive and aggressive he might hurt someone someday and then have to be put down because some punk thought it would be cool to have a dog.

I have to go hold my 30 pound 'lap dog' now.

 

[BoxerMom999]

So sad!! Can you discuss the breed - that boxers react best to kindness and firmness? That they need lots of exercise to alleviate boredom, that aggressive behaviour brings more aggressive behaviour?? If you can manage to inform this person you may just save this boxer's life!!

Good luck and let us know how it goes.