The Boxer stare?
- Thread starter Karen J.
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KelAndRoxy
Boxer Booster
I guess maybe I'm out of touch then too. Roxy goes to doggy daycare once in a while but never had to take a test. They just kept an eye on her for the first day and made sure that she went in a yard with dogs that suited her size and energy level. I've never had any problems. Struck me as odd also. The no rough-housing/barking rule is definitely weird though. They're dogs-that's what they do. I don't think they understand rules like that!
Kellie
Thomas Liggin
Boxer Insane
It is true, that staring can be trying to assert dominance. It then becomes a contest, and if one refuses to look away, it could lead to a fight.
You can try this with your dog. There are two types of stares that I have seen. One is if you are talking to your dog and giving him attention, he may look continually at you in what I would describe as more of a gaze.
The second which will show how staring works is that when your dog gets in trouble, and is scolded, stare at him intently and he will quickly avert his eyes and look away. He may even turn his head away from you.
It is a sign of submission, much like laying the ears back.
There is an excellent book, which I got as a Christmas gift entitled, "What is my dog thinking?" The author is Gewn Bailey.
It has some interesting info about dog behavior and their interaction with other dogs.
Tom
You can try this with your dog. There are two types of stares that I have seen. One is if you are talking to your dog and giving him attention, he may look continually at you in what I would describe as more of a gaze.
The second which will show how staring works is that when your dog gets in trouble, and is scolded, stare at him intently and he will quickly avert his eyes and look away. He may even turn his head away from you.
It is a sign of submission, much like laying the ears back.
There is an excellent book, which I got as a Christmas gift entitled, "What is my dog thinking?" The author is Gewn Bailey.
It has some interesting info about dog behavior and their interaction with other dogs.
Tom
Bxrdogsrgr8
Boxer Pal
RE: The Boxer Stare
Hello! I have two boxers and I take them both to doggie daycare downtown in Denver two times a week. My day care had a very long talk with me about the "evils" of the Boxer too but they were willing to try them out. They said that its usually not the BOXERS that cause problems its the other dogs REACTING to the boxers. I think they passed the test because they are both babies. I have been really REALLY working with them from day one. My girl is not quite a year and my boy is only six months. I have them both in training classes and the trainer told me all about boxers staring. They said they have can bad body language and that I have to be dilligent about making sure I am on top. When I go to the dog parks I see my girl getting pretty riled up and jumping up and down on other dogs backs. Just the other day I took her and she was messing with a lab type dog. The lab didn't want to play with her and she WOULDN"T leave him alone. She kept following him around staring at him trying to get him to play with her. I saw him getting more and more mad and I had to step in and call her over to me. She came bouncing over not even thinking she was being rude. All waggy waggy. The other dog was getting pretty mad at her though. I think my daycare doesnt like barking either. I mean you hear a little barking when you go in but nothing much really. I asked her about it the other day after I read this post and she said that since they do boarding its really stressful for the dogs. She said that she tries to keep the dogs under control and playing happily and that if there's a lot of barking the dogs get wild and accidents can happen. I guess that makes sense. I travel a lot and have to board so it works for me. I mean..I want my two to be barking their heads off at home and if they bark like crazy at daycare that might make them back when I am not at home. Wow. Sorry for the hugely long post. I will shaddup now. Haha.
Ally
Hello! I have two boxers and I take them both to doggie daycare downtown in Denver two times a week. My day care had a very long talk with me about the "evils" of the Boxer too but they were willing to try them out. They said that its usually not the BOXERS that cause problems its the other dogs REACTING to the boxers. I think they passed the test because they are both babies. I have been really REALLY working with them from day one. My girl is not quite a year and my boy is only six months. I have them both in training classes and the trainer told me all about boxers staring. They said they have can bad body language and that I have to be dilligent about making sure I am on top. When I go to the dog parks I see my girl getting pretty riled up and jumping up and down on other dogs backs. Just the other day I took her and she was messing with a lab type dog. The lab didn't want to play with her and she WOULDN"T leave him alone. She kept following him around staring at him trying to get him to play with her. I saw him getting more and more mad and I had to step in and call her over to me. She came bouncing over not even thinking she was being rude. All waggy waggy. The other dog was getting pretty mad at her though. I think my daycare doesnt like barking either. I mean you hear a little barking when you go in but nothing much really. I asked her about it the other day after I read this post and she said that since they do boarding its really stressful for the dogs. She said that she tries to keep the dogs under control and playing happily and that if there's a lot of barking the dogs get wild and accidents can happen. I guess that makes sense. I travel a lot and have to board so it works for me. I mean..I want my two to be barking their heads off at home and if they bark like crazy at daycare that might make them back when I am not at home. Wow. Sorry for the hugely long post. I will shaddup now. Haha.
Ally
PatrickManda
Boxer Booster
Athena does the "boxer stare", right before she pounces on her brother, Jax. But I've never seen her do it to a strange dog.
SkippyToo
Completely Boxer Crazy
In my opinion, it sounds as if they simply do not like boxers. I had this occur with a few trainers in my past. So...if boxers are pointed out as not being up to their expections, then I would quickly go to another daycare that do not have the same opinion.
The trainers said that most boxers are stubborn and not teachable. I know this has nothing to do with the "boxer stare" question, but it did remind me of my trainer experience. Because the trainers were predisposed to not liking boxers, I truly beleive, I had a bad experience as the training continued. I cut the training off after several sessions, when I saw that Samson, my oldest boxer, was not being treated very gently and patiently.
My Delilah is a little on the agressive side, mainly with food. We work with her daily with this problem. She does have a "stare" when she is in one of those moods. My other two boxers do not have a "stare."
I would chalk this up to the person possibly not liking boxers, and everyone has their own likes/dislikes, and look for another doggy day care.
The trainers said that most boxers are stubborn and not teachable. I know this has nothing to do with the "boxer stare" question, but it did remind me of my trainer experience. Because the trainers were predisposed to not liking boxers, I truly beleive, I had a bad experience as the training continued. I cut the training off after several sessions, when I saw that Samson, my oldest boxer, was not being treated very gently and patiently.
My Delilah is a little on the agressive side, mainly with food. We work with her daily with this problem. She does have a "stare" when she is in one of those moods. My other two boxers do not have a "stare."
I would chalk this up to the person possibly not liking boxers, and everyone has their own likes/dislikes, and look for another doggy day care.
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