booge Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 My boxer boy is now 6 years old, first Boxer I've had. I now know I did the wrong thing by picking the most energetic rowdy one from the breeder (His pedigree name is "Lotsa Attitude"). He's been to dog training on and off for a few years of his life. But i've never been able to curb his poor manners with other dogs. His approach is fairly dominant, when meeting dogs, when walking towards them he is almost in a stalking pose. Generally the result is some sort of altercation(not a fight), whether it be growling or just tense. My question is....Is this just a Boxer trait? Or is it a combination of not enough socialisation/dominance towards other dogs? He lives with a Pug and gets along fine with other dogs once he's got the first meeting out the way. I find I don't enjoy my time with him as much as I'd like to as I'm constantly tense and frustrated with him. A new dog park has opened up nearby but I don't take him in there with other dogs around in case he causes problems, he doesn't listen at all when he's around new dogs. Any advice or Boxer owners comments most welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasels Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 I can't quite picture the approach your describing, but I've observed that a lot of dogs don't 'get' or appreciate boxer greetings (mine included). Do you know any other boxers he can play with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodoggies2001 Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Several years ago, when I had a standard schnauzer, his best friend at the park was a boxer. The way they greeted each other was very loud aggressive sounding growling and other park users thought there was an almighty fight going on, but in fact they really loved each other. I also don't know if this is a boxer trait, but they never hurt each other. It was all a lot of noise. The boxer would also 'stalk' my boy which was quite amusing, because if they saw each other across the park, this would go on until they finally came together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
booge Posted May 27, 2012 Author Share Posted May 27, 2012 His approach is head up, chest out, moving straight towards them instead of the side to side kind of greeting. Hopefully that explains it better. Don't know any other boxers. I just don't want to be known as "that guy with the boxer" at the park! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinabean Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 I think you are wise to avoid the dog park scenario, especially if he doesn't listen to you when there are new dogs around. I have just had some good advice from Jed, Melbomb and Weasels in the 'Boxer' thread over some of the issues you describe. I agree with Weasels that a lot of dogs don't 'get' or appreciate boxer greetings. The exception I've found is, not surprisingly, other boxers. I'll second Weasel's question, do you know anyone else with a boxer (preferabley a female)? My boxer plays beautifully albeit boisterously, with other boxers and a friend's Airedale. Is he more tense on lead than off? My limited experience is that a boxer's body stance and facial expression can be hard for other dogs to 'read'. Others may disagree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 (edited) My girl has real problem with Boxers. She is a reactive at the best of times but if we have a Boxer approaching all hell breaks loose. I am not sure if it is their upright stance or growling kind of noise they make. They tend to be very bouncy too. Maybe a mix of all the above. 99% of them have had great temps. Just think that she miss reads their stance etc as dominant behaviour. Edited May 27, 2012 by BC Crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
booge Posted May 27, 2012 Author Share Posted May 27, 2012 He seems a tiny bit tense/excitable on lead....not that I'm a dog whisperer. Off lead he'll generally run straight at another dog, stop before he gets there, head down (stalking pose) then run at them....probably more rough play, but I'm just not 100% that's what it is. I know one dog owner in the past yell at me when he "stalked" her and her dog while off lead, that time he was just playing....but it made me aware of how intimidating he can look....I know he's just a sook though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Hi booge, and welcome to the forum. Unfortunately, your breeder was very remiss in not telling you how to socialise and handle your dog when you bought him. This is the way a confident boxer with good nerve approaches other dogs. Unfortunately, not all dogs a boxer meets have good nerve, so they feel threatened. And he might be threatening them - it's impossible to tell without seeing him. Because this boy is 6, and you are asking, it is too late for you to do anything about it without help. You need help. You need help from a good, experienced trainer, used to boxers, or a boxer breeder. It can be fixed, just not via the internet. He can become a pleasure to take where there are other dogs - providing he is not seriously threatening. What state are you in? He should have met and interacted with lots of other dogs when he was young. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
booge Posted May 27, 2012 Author Share Posted May 27, 2012 I'm in Victoria. The last dog school i went to was quite good, Alpha Dog Training held at Boronia Heights Secondary College. Unfortunately with both my wife and I both being shift workers we couldn't attend regularly enough to make it part of the routine. He still passed about 4 levels of the school though. He's a smart dog when, he wants to be! Just a handful when dogs are around. I know he wasn't socialised quite enough when he was young. He has definitely taught me patience being a stubborn dog. I'd do many things differently with the next dog....already contemplating an Amstaff when my boy passes on. Although my wife isn't so sure about an Amstaff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Ashley Reid gives show training lessons, and is used to boxers. I think it would be worth asking him if he could help - or if he knows anyone who can. Someone needs to assess what he is actually doing - whether he is being friendly or not - and show you how to handle it from there. No big deal. This is not what Ashley usually does, so he may refer you on. Shall find his phone no. for you :) Do take him to training. It will make such a difference, to him, as well as to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
booge Posted May 28, 2012 Author Share Posted May 28, 2012 Ashley Reid gives show training lessons, and is used to boxers. I think it would be worth asking him if he could help - or if he knows anyone who can. Someone needs to assess what he is actually doing - whether he is being friendly or not - and show you how to handle it from there. No big deal. This is not what Ashley usually does, so he may refer you on. Shall find his phone no. for you :) Do take him to training. It will make such a difference, to him, as well as to you. I just found his website which has a phone number. Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Is he entire? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
booge Posted May 28, 2012 Author Share Posted May 28, 2012 No I had him desexed at around 18 months on advice from the breeder, he said to do it later than 6 months for physical development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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