Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Questions & Answers on AllExperts.com

I'm an expert in the Boxer breed category for AllExperts.com and thought it would be helpful to post some of those Q & As here.


Question

My male boxer is 5 months old. recently he has been very aggressive, he gets in these moods where he growls, barks, jumps, and bites. You can tell him off or no, but he gets more aggressive. I am at my wits end at what to do. I have already tried taking him to the classes, and that is when his behavior got out of control. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

Answer
You took him to classes and that's when his behavior got out of control?

Was the "classes" with a trainer and you and your Boxer, or did you leave him with a trainer without being there?

These are important factors. Leaving him doesn't help establish that you are the master-- the "alpha" of him.

He is only 5 months old and at a playful stage.

Do you have other dogs in your home?

It is too difficult to answer because I don't know everything about your home and classes to evaluate for you.

Please tell me if there are other dogs in your home and what kind of classes absentee or present... Tell me as much as possible.

Since he is 5 months old, his playing style is aggressive and growling is a normal Boxer play (as well as a warning) and barking is playing, etc. Does he "play bow"? That's putting his butt up and his front down... That is playfulness.

It does sound like a Boxer playful mischief, and that can get out of control. It does not sound as aggression.

Spend time playing with him, let him bark and growl playing and play fighting with him. Use a tug-of-war toy, a ball, any toy he likes, throw ball, tug-a-war with him, rough house, etc. It's pent up energy and a release for him.

He isn't getting enough exercise to release his energy and tire him. He needs to be in the backyard to run, and when nice weather, you play outside with him too. Spend quality time with him as you teach him the things you want to teach him.

Have you leash trained him yet? This is EXTREMELY important for a Boxer owner. Have you trained him to mind you on command?

Start now before it's too late. Reward him with treats, or small pieces of cheese when he TRIES and when he gets things right too.

Be sure to call him by his name so he knows you are talking directly to him, capture his eye to eye contact to know you have his attention, and make him stay calm when training and leash training. There is a difference in that and in wildly playing and rough housing around.

If you don't want the playing all the time or at certain times, start the command training now to discontinue the playing except when allowed. Tell him to "settle" and physically make him stop and sit and calm him. Use a soothing, reassuring voice to assure he is loved and all is okay.

Make play times routine at routine times if possible, because dogs have a built in clock and he will know when to play.

Feel free to ask me more but provide the answers I've asked so I can get a full picture to evaluate the problem if it is a problem.

























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