Witching hour

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FrankieT

Boxer Pal
my 8 month old boxer after playing will all of a sudden get nuts and starts running all over, jumping on me and nipping and fighting me. The running around I understand since they are full of energy, but I want to stop the nipping and the jumping on me. Also, he tries to be dominate over me, what do I do?
 

CrazyCharlie

Completely Boxer Crazy
Well it sounds like he is just trying to burn off some energy and make you join him. I would go for a long run/walk or play ball outside around this time to help him get the engery out and help redirect the engery towards the toy.


As for trying to dominate you, how is he doing this? What are you doing when he is doing it?
 

Snowdogg

Boxer Booster
Well it sounds like he is just trying to burn off some energy and make you join him. I would go for a long run/walk or play ball outside around this time to help him get the engery out and help redirect the engery towards the toy.


As for trying to dominate you, how is he doing this? What are you doing when he is doing it?

Agree with the above, I did giggle when I read the witching hour...when Raleigh was around that age he'd go nuts around 11-midnight every single night, could set the clock by it, he'd be a whirlwind, as he got a bit older he stopped, that was even after walking him several times a day, lot's and lot's of playing..:)

Raleigh, 5 year old Brindle wild boy x

Morrissey and Brooster, 11 years old, Faw males, at the bridge, always in our hearts xx
 

FrankieT

Boxer Pal
all I am doing is either playing on the floor with him or sitting in my chair or just walking. He tries to grab my leg and mount. And when he does this he also likes to nip at my hands or mouth my arms, I tell him no but he just get crazier and crazier. What should I do? Everyone is telling me to neuter him, since that will stop the mounting and calm him down...HELP
 

CrazyCharlie

Completely Boxer Crazy
Well, I never had this issue with Charlie, but I took his manhood away when he was 8 months (on the day). He never started this either, some dogs are more prone to is than others, Neutering him can help a lot, but you also need to be doing more than just telling him no. He is obviously ignoring you. Try with pushing him off forcefully (nothing to hurt him but to startle him). You need to establish that you are the Alpha not him. If you don't start doing something now you will never be able to control him, he will control you. I know a lot of people are againt a quick swat and a very firm NO, but it will take his attention off what he is doing. Boxers are very sensitive so this should have a huge effect, and you dont need to swat him in the head (this can cause hand shyness), just on his side works well.

As for neutering, my father and brother REFUSE to neuter their male dogs because they feel bad. lol, of course it helps a lot with certain behaviours, agressiveness (sometimes), hyper activity (to an extent) and can actually extend their lives. So just something to consider. :)
 

FrankieT

Boxer Pal
Well, I have made the appt. to fix him....he will be 9 months when it gets done. I smack him on his butt with a firm no, but it seems to just fire him up more. He looks to mount and wont stop trying to nip my hands. I hope fixing him will help with these issues. Also, will fixing him affect his growth?
 

larrygs

Super Boxer
Neutering him will do nothing regarding the nipping and jumping behavior. Search this forum about bite inhibition as well as jumping. You will find a great number of threads on the subject. The basic idea will be to withdraw the thing he prizes most, your engagement. Smacking him and saying no is actually increasing engagement and reinforcing his bad behavior, stop doing it. His reaction is very typical for a boxer, basically sees it as excalating the play. If he isn't going to play nice, much better to immediately withdraw, ignore him, including leaving the room if neccessary.
 

CrazyCharlie

Completely Boxer Crazy
Neutering him will do nothing regarding the nipping and jumping behavior. Search this forum about bite inhibition as well as jumping. You will find a great number of threads on the subject. The basic idea will be to withdraw the thing he prizes most, your engagement. Smacking him and saying no is actually increasing engagement and reinforcing his bad behavior, stop doing it. His reaction is very typical for a boxer, basically sees it as excalating the play. If he isn't going to play nice, much better to immediately withdraw, ignore him, including leaving the room if neccessary.


I agree the jumping and nipping will not stop, but the mounting may or atleast take some of his dissire away, he wont have such a strong urge to "dominate" things or people. Some neutered dogs do still mount on occasion though.

If he is getting more excited when you are trying to correct him then yes ignoring him, getting up and leaving that sort of thing will probably help because you are turning your attention away from him. He may try harder to get your attention at first but eventually should stop and go lay down somewhere or just wait for you calmly to return your attention to him.

It will not stunt or affect his growth in anyway, I was worried about that with Charlie, but my vet assured me it wouldnt and he is a happy healthy 80lbs and a pretty big boy.
 

ehayes21

Boxer Insane
I agree the jumping and nipping will not stop, but the mounting may or atleast take some of his dissire away, he wont have such a strong urge to "dominate" things or people. Some neutered dogs do still mount on occasion though.

This type of thinking is a little outdated. ;) Mounting has nothing to the urge to "dominate" things or people. And more times than not it has nothing to do with mating either so neutering won't necessarily help either. It's usually an adolescent response to being over excited or not knowing a full range of social skills.

OP, please don't swat your dog as suggested - if you want him to stop doing what he's doing now, then teach him what you do want him to do instead. He sounds like a typical teenage boxer - so if you know he gets excitable around the same time every night then turn it into a training session before the behavior starts. Find some short fun things to do with him that will exercise him mentally. There are some great ideas here:

Fun & Handy Tricks | Karen Pryor Clickertraining
 
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