Question about socializing a boxer

[josarchelbo]

We recently...well maybe 2 months ago....adopted a 2 year old boxer. BEST decision we ever made as a family.....could not ask for a more perfect dog. As boxer owners yourselves I'm sure you all understand how incredibly wonderful these dogs are!

Anyway....Rosco does his business outside, usually responds to stay but sometimes gets a bit excited, is pretty calm around our grandchildren and basically pretty darn well behaved. The other week my boss brought her 6 year old boxer over so we could walk the dogs together. We both had them on leashes and slowly walked toward each...they sniffed for a second and then all hell broke loose and Rosco basically just went into attack mode! I was so flabbergasted! It took all my strength to get him away from her. A week or so later we took him to my daughter's house and I was outside with him in her fenced in yard and he acted the same way when the neighbors dog came over. He started growling and DIGGING trying to get at that dog!

It really just amazed us because he is normally such a silly goose. He's pretty good with strangers...he has the initial "who are you" and is reserved but then warms up to everyone with no meanness.

I'm just not sure how to socialize him with other dogs since I can't risk another dog getting hurt. Any suggestions?

 

[johann]

Find a good behaviorist or possibly trainer (depending on their qualifications/experience) in your area.

But first- DO not let your dog greet other dogs on leash. Especially nose to nose, that is asking for a scuffle with many dogs (even ones that are good with other dogs). If you see someone approaching and looks like they are planning to let the dogs greet, loudly say "He's not friendly saying hello on leash, please keep your distance" and step off the path/street/etc to maintain a safe distance. Johann is oftentimes a monster when greeting other dogs on leash, so he is not allowed to do so. I have to be proactive on walks, but it is pretty easily managed. We've been doing this for so long, that he now doesn't even really try to say hello to dogs anymore. He gets playdates with pre-screened dog friends and does well with them.

I'd actually keep your guy away from other dogs in general until you can get an eval/session with a behaviorist to help you figure out his triggers. The comment about walking slowly towards each other before sniffing could be concerning or a warning sign, but it is impossible to tell without seeing the interactions. If you want to walk him with other dogs, I'd outfit him with a halti or gentle leader (train him to be used to these first) and then walk side by side (but not close). Don't let the dogs greet or sniff, especially before the walk.

Please don't try to do this on your own! You need professional help and very soon, the more he is able to practice his reactions, the more ingrained they will become and thus harder to train out.

All that being said, it is very possible to get a leash reactive/and or dog aggressive dog to be controlled in public and enjoy a regular life. Johann goes to obedience competitions and public events where there are many other dogs of all sizes, often in very close proximity. We have not had any issues since I stopped letting him greet other dogs on walks and in public. But, we got to this point with the help of an excellent trainer who has experience with bully breeds and reactive dogs. We did a lot with clicker training and desensitization for Johann.

Good luck, and I'm sure you will get good answers on how to help your boxer. Thanks for adopting him. Maybe the rescue/shelter that you got him from will have resources for behaviorists in your area. Make sure you find a positive one, not one that uses choke collars/prongs/e collars/corrections/etc. Trying to fix reactivity or aggresssion with punitive measures is going to make the situation worse.

 

[sriley]

I second the advice Kate has provided above. I don't have much experience with this, but I do know that when two dogs are being introduced for the first time, it is typically done on neutral territory. Some dogs can be incredibly protective and/or aggressive of their owners and property if/when another dog intrudes on their territory. Good luck and please keep us posted.

 

[larrygs]

Great advice. I am sure what occurred is very troubling. However, as you become more aware of reactivity, it will really help put things in perspective, avoid conflicts, and enable you to help Rosco deal with things.

As said, dogs meeting on leash or on opposite sides of a fence creates an anxiety, which they may react to. I have often seen dogs happily play together off leash, before or after such encounters. That is why every dog park says to remove leashes before you enter.

Boxers are incredible good a reading your emotions. One of the difficult things with reactivity is that as you become nervious and fearful, they read it and are on even higher alert, which you then react to, etc. So first thing is to become aware, yet keep calm. There are many of us who have gone through this and life is good :D

At this point, it is hard to tell how reactive Rosco is. A number of dogs will react just like he did. Of course boxers will get noticed more than most others.

Layla had become pretty reactive in certain situations. It was confusing at first because she is very sweet and would play just fine with dogs when off leash. Yet other times she would display a ferocious attitude. Unfortunately it was getting worse, happening more often and in more situations. We ended up getting help from someone skilled with reactive dogs, (not just a regular trainer.) Best thing we ever did. She is now so relaxed, even when around excited dogs, we get positive comments.

Sounds like Rosco is a great dog. Good luck!

 

[superneataz]

same thing

We to just adopted a 2 year old male boxer and we love him sooo much but like you we are having some of the same issues.......

Our Goose is fab with kids and people and very well behaved but when he sees other dogs he loses all listening ability and there are some that he is fine with usually females but there are some males he does not like at all.......we have been very cautious when walking him and tell people with other dogs he is in training. That seems to help them feel better without fear.

They think that Goose was used as a stud before he was found....since he has been fixed and we know that his hormones need to relax a little more and that may be part of the problem....we have found that he was also abused and there are some people and things that make him nervous. Those are triggers....normally he will not go after another dog unless they act aggressive first, then he of course goes into protective mode.

I have hired trainers in the past and my mother owned a pet store for 20 years so I feel comfortable with my ability to train. We are also having a custom "front hook no pull halter made" this will help with control and using the "leave it" command. With a front hook it makes it so that you can turn the dog to help divert attention.....this combined with the leave it command is starting to work.....we have to remind ourselves its going to take time to undo what someone else has done.....Patience and consistency.......research and if needed help! I hope that helps......hope we can talk again soon sounds like we may share allot of the same experiences.
Good luck!!

 

[Brunopierock]

I know how you feel! My oldest boxer Bruno, used to be very friendly with other dogs and I could take him anywhere. There was a time that a much smaller dog responded in an aggressive way towards him and he snapped...it has never been the same since.

He is definitely afraid and reacting to protect himself/us. I only take him out on leash, so I don't know how he'd be off. Going to the vet is kind of a nightmare.

A year ago, when he was 8, we decided to adopt a 6 year old male boxer (both dogs are neutered) from the shelter. I knew that he had been pretty well behaved in a foster home with other pets, so I had hope.

My husband enlisted his parents to help us. We took them to their big fenced yard (that Bruno doesn't really know) and my husband and father in law took turns walking them around the yard, slowly getting closer and closer as they passed...starting from several feet away. My husband is a strong alpha, so he was able to keep Bruno under control, and Rocky was mostly nervous. I was a wreck (nervous) so I stayed away to avoid agitating them. There were a few scary moments, but ultimately they made nice without incident and now love each other to pieces. They even snuggle when they sleep.

In the future, I would probably hire someone to help. I was naive to think that it would be quick and easy...but it's totally worth the work. I know that sometimes it's just not meant to be, and it's always best to be honest with ourselves and do what's right for them. I wouldn't want to be stuck living with someone forever who was attacking me all the time!