What is your boxer scared of?

[lion1993]

Chill out!

Originally posted by Shadowboxer
Yes, your little 'experiment' with Crown does sound cruel and grossly insensitive. Why would you wish to subject your pup to such stress? How do you think you would feel if you were cornered and surrounded by spiders/snakes/whatever your phobia or fear may be?

If you wish to desensitize him just leave a bag casually lying around so that he may approach or avoid it as he wishes.

Dogs' fears are no funnier than the fears, rational or irrational, that we humans feel.

Let me clear the air here, because boxer owners are a little uptight. First of all I was attempting to help crown overcome his fears by helping him confront the bags. How would you overcome your fears? That if you ever overcame any of your fears. I was hoping that Crown would see that the bags couldn't hurt him and start chewing them up like he does everything else. Secondly you don't know my dog, you've never seen him bite the vacuum, remote control cars, lawnmower tires, brooms, and well you get the picture. I never expected him to be afraid of an empty bag. The point is I love my dogs very much and would never do anything to hurt them intentionally, so keep your comments to yourself about the welfare of my dogs.

 

[Super Boo]

NOTHING

That's their main problem!!

No actually--we have horses and they are instinctively scared of plastic bags.

What we do is associate them with something positive like goodies. Goodies only come in big scarey plastic bags. They soon associate them with good things and voila! Bags turn into a happy thing.

 

[lion1993]

Dear, Super Boo

I'm currently using the bags as toys. I'll let him watch me cut up the bags and make several little balls and we'll play with the balls of paper on the floor. Now when he sees the bags he thinks it's play time.

 

[Shadowboxer]

Lion1993 - You protest too much! Obviously I have touched a nerve here.

I was not questioning, or casting aspersions, on your concern for the overall welfare of your dog.

However, I stand by my original post, and my worry that forcing a dog to confront its fears "cold turkey", even if done with the best of intentions, is a form of mishandling that is inevitably counterproductive.

I am pleased that you have adopted an approach to the problem that will prove less traumatic to Crown.

 

[ToksImg]

Originally posted by lion1993
I was attempting to help crown overcome his fears by helping him confront the bags.

I seen some very loving, caring dogs do insane things when backed into a corner and scared. I don't care how cool, calm and collective a dog is, if it's scared and feels it's life is being threatened, it WILL protect itself!

My dad always said, "I'd rather firght ten of the biggest, baddest, men than fight a single scared person, because a scared man will kill you.

Same goes for animals.

 

[MrBsMom]

The only thing that scares my guy is the garbage truck going down the alley. I think its because he can't see it because of the fence.

 

[Yunie]

Cheyenne is afraid of basic sudden noises. The thing that has gotten the biggest negative response is when we fold or unfold her crate before we travel. I actually had to set it up today, and my boyfried walked in the living room (Cheyenne tentatively behind him) and, in a concerned voice, asked what I was doing. He said that Cheyenne (normally being a momma's girl and never leaving my side) went into the computer room, backed up to her daddy's chair, sat down and was shivering. She doesn't mind going in the crate, and actually wouldn't get out of it when I was trying to get her mat straight. But she HATES us messing with it. We are trying to desensitize her to that, but letting her hide behind daddy, but in the same room, but since we don't move it that much it rarely comes up.

 

[SkippyToo]

These are cute and funny stories!

I have thought hard about this question, and I cannot come up with anything that my boxers are afraid of.

Delilah doesn't like to have anything done to herself, like having her nails clipped, or being treated for a scratch or cut. She goes balistic. I would imagine she does get scared.

I cannot think of anything that startles my boxers though...but I am sure I'll see something and remember this thread someday!

 

[KELLY W]

WIND!! Yes, my big, bad Muggsey is afraid of the wind. He will not go out to do his business if it is really windy. It scares him for some reason. If we make him go out, he goes potty so fast and then runs right back up to the door. We always tease him and call him a big sissy and then he gets mad!!!

 

[Shotze's Mom]

I think the only thing that kinda gets her anxious is the grandfather clock. She isnt afraid of my horses at all....or anything else I can think of. She is VERY curious...but if she is getting into something and the clock starts chiming...she turns tail and runs.