WHy does she act this way when we have company?

[sonmiles]

This is my first post here and I really need some advice. Our Lexi is great when it's just my husband and I but when company comes over she is just a pill! She gets so excited she forgets her commands and does not listen to me or my husband. She like to jump and wants attention from the company right that minute she tries to give kisses all the time -especially kids. Even if they say hello (pet her) she never settles down until they leave. I am losing my patience and I need help - what can we do to break this behavior - I hate having people over because she will not leave them alone. Some people do not like her slobber (hard to believe I know!) and get annoyed at her behavior.

Thanks
Tricha

 

[coveyjt]

Best advice is to do a quick search on licking, jumping or visitors.

But one of the better threads is:

Visitors

 

[Taliesyn88]

Because She is a Boxer!!!!!

Hi,

I have 4 boxers and they all act the same way!!! They just go wild when anybody comes over to the house. This includes policemen, utility men, children and any other people!!! They do go nuts with children, I guess they sense something about them. I can usually get them under control though in about 10 minutes. You are right, many people do not appreciate the slobbering and licking. Sometimes, if I know a serviceman is coming, I will lock them up in one room until the person leaves. Many people though do not seem to mind all of the attention!!! I guess they would rather have the slobber than an agressive dog who will try to bite them!! I had a policeman come out to my house, he was deathly scared of dogs, and did not know how to take my friendly crazy animals. This trait is typical in all boxers. My brother owned 2 and they were the same way.

I don't know what to tell you about this trait, or how to prevent it. I usually get on my dogs when people come over but half of the time they do not listen. After a few reprimands, they will eventually calm down but never cease licking. If your dog is too out of hand and you cannot control her, and the company you have over is not tolerant to "boxer love" then I suggest you do what I do, put her in a room until the company leaves. I know this is cruel, but some people do not like dogs and it is better just to keep them separated.

I don't know if I have been much help, but just know that your dog is exhibiting "normal" boxer behavior.

Wendy, Rusty, Casey, Rocky, and Saddam

 

[catneon]

Quoted from the Puppy section:

When you return home ignore your dog for 5 - 10 minutes then when you do say hi, do so calmly. This is not cruel, it will teach your dog that you can come and go as you please without a major production of greetings and emotions. Dogs will respect the new calmer you more than the old hyper you. If your dog proceeds to launch himself at you full pelt when you arrive - stay upright, turn you head towards the ceiling, yawn, and then slowly turn your back on your dog, do not give them any recognition at all for the unwanted behaviour - this is a 'calming signal' for your dog and if you are consistent you will have less problems with a Boxer missile. Your entire family and any visitors to your house should do the exact same thing. If any visitors object, then they are not really doggy people and hopefully will not visit you anymore. Just joking, if non-doggy people do visit you and are not willing to co-operate, then put your Boxer away in her crate, or the yard, or a room, so she can not keep up with the 'self-rewarding' jumping behaviour.

The whole article can be found here:
http://www.boxerworld.com/puppy/jumping/

Good luck

 

[sashamom]

Have to agree that it is just normal behaviour.....especially around here....she just goes nuts....particularly when one or both of us has been gone somewhere for more than an hour...she goes NUTS!!! Good advice though on how to handle the jumping syndrome which we have yet to get under control!!

 

[ssleighter]

Yes, you'd better be prepared for a mauling at my house as well, but we are working hard on it with my 3. The best solution we've found so far is to put the dogs in the yard or baby gate them in another room so they can see the visitors as they come in, then one by one we bring them out on lead. We instruct guests to only acknowledge them if they sit to be petted. And of course we PRAISE PRAISE for good behaviour. As soon as the first one is calm and okay to go off lead we go get number two and so on. Yes, it takes more time, but my guests aren't being mauled by Hammer and Booker. We hope to be able to remove the leads in a month or so.

Whoever said to ignore a jumping dog, don't make eye contact or even reach out to block them, has never been to my house. Doing that will get you hurt because no matter how hard you try to ignore a 70 pound boxer hurtling himself at you, it's proved to be impossible!

 

[mobrian]

This has been a struggle at my house as well. Unfortunately, not all of my guests love dogs the way I do. If Jesse will not settle down we will give her a 5 min. time out in her crate which is right in the living room with the guests. This has been working really well for us.
Definitely, keep working on it because Lexi has to know that it is not acceptable to be jumping on and licking the guests.

 

[blurble33]

we have that same problem with our youngest, we have been told to do what ssleighter said to do. don't let people pet them and play with them until they sit, this (i ahve been told) only works great if you your self do not acknowledge them until they sit for you.

on the other hand, our oldest one runs into a room and hides if someone comes inside the house. but we know why she is so timid, we believe as well as our vet, that one of her last owners mistreated her. so naturally she is terrified of strangers. it took my husband and i a long time to get ehr to trust us and she is still jumpy, especially with my husband.

 

[cherny]

How old is your boxer? We have a nine month old male that does exactly the same behavior. We joke that no one besides my wife and I believe he is a good dog. We are the only witnesses to his affection and charm.

Have you tried keeping your dog on a gentle leader and leash while your company is over?

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

Check my response to this thread:

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=43678&highlight=guests