Help! Crazy Boxer Alert

[arby]

Hey guys

Ok Humphrey is going good stopped chewing things inside house, somewhat listens (as good as most boxers would). Heres the problem thats becomming increasingly common. When someone goes outside, he gets really hyped up and as soon as you step on the grass he wants to play. He jumps up on people and sort of play bites hands etc. When he was younger he never did this. He'll run around all crazy and hyper and then jump on you. Now this is really bad considering he's 30kgs and still growing. He doesnt really jump up face to face. He will jump up on your back sorta thing when you try to walk away. He also starts barking if you tell him "NO!" or "ah ah" or tell him to sit.

He gets plenty of exercise. We'll also start agility soon but not sure when. Hopefully that would help.

Any idea what would be causing this behaviour or how to stop it?

[mackindy]

Hiya

I have two boxers and have used the dog listener method of Jan Fennell on both of mine. Don't let anyone tell you that boxers don't listen or can't be trained - in fact i have seen them used as guide dogs in the US. You need to assert yourself as the alpha member of your pack -once you do this you will see a completely different dog. I can't recommend the dog listener book highly enough - the methods really worked on my two. Borrow the book from the library if you have to - you've got nothing to lose and a more settled, happier dog to gain!! Good luck with the hyper jumping (i had one of those too!!). Yelling "no" at my boy only increased his bad behaviour too - dogs don't speak in human language! The book taught me better ways to deal with the problems - and not a smack or yell to be heard.

Edited November 14, 2006 by mackindy

[arby]

Hiya

I have two boxers and have used the dog listener method of Jan Fennell on both of mine. Don't let anyone tell you that boxers don't listen or can't be trained - in fact i have seen them used as guide dogs in the US. You need to assert yourself as the alpha member of your pack -once you do this you will see a completely different dog. I can't recommend the dog listener book highly enough - the methods really worked on my two. Borrow the book from the library if you have to - you've got nothing to lose and a more settled, happier dog to gain!! Good luck with the hyper jumping (i had one of those too!!). Yelling "no" at my boy only increased his bad behaviour too - dogs don't speak in human language! The book taught me better ways to deal with the problems - and not a smack or yell to be heard.

Thanks heaps

should give it a read

I know how smart boxers are. Humphrey was great with the drop command. It was only a few months after he learnt it that he started doing it of his own free will.

Boxers are a bit different to train compared to other dogs I think, they are cunning and playful and very intelligent (no matter how dopey they look).

[Erny]

Hi Arby. Smacks of leadership issues here. How old is your dog by the way? Any chance he's somewhere between 7 months and 12 months of age? Do you belong to a training school up there in Sydney? K9 Force will be able to show and assist in relation to gaining a higher ranking status than what it sounds you have.

Briefly, two things I would recommend you do (at least):

1. Apply the "NILIF" program. (Nothing In Life Is Free) Don't give ANYTHING AT ALL to your dog for free. Make him do something for you first.
   
2. YOU initiate contact with your dog. NOT the other way around.
   

Many have proclaimed success using the "TOT" (Triangle of Temptation) program which K9Force has had "pinned" to the top of this training forum. You could put that into place too.

I think if you correct this leadership imbalance, your dog's behaviour will show improvement. But you MUST be consistent. Don't expect to see results for a period of two weeks (assuming you keep up the good work ). You might see results sooner, but if you don't, that doesn't necessarily mean it's not working, so don't give up.

[arby]

Thanks Erny,

I had a feeling it would be a leadership issue. Most days he is fine with me and my OH. The problem is the OH's family, they're really bad at keeping training. So i guess I will be training them too.

He's 18months, so he's still a growing brat.

Its kind of funny because he pushes the boundary with me but after a bit of a power struggle I manage to dominate over the little bugger. I think its a problem right now because he is entire and he is growing bigger everyday. He wont be full size for at least another 6 months and he's already 30 kgs.

Will try the TOT, NILIF has worked with other problems before so should try doing that. If i still have problems then we'll get K9 involved.

[Erny]

Will try the TOT, NILIF has worked with other problems before so should try doing that. If i still have problems then we'll get K9 involved.

18 months? Then he's had a fair period of time to learn, establish and exhibit this behaviour and convince himself of his higher ranking position. You've used NILIF before and stopped? This should be a consistent program, not one that's only there when there are problems (especially at his young age). A leader must exhibit leadership consistently for it to retain its credibility. Each time you let it slip it will become more difficult and time consuming to re-claim. Leadership is something each member of the family should practice.

Edited November 14, 2006 by Erny

[arby]

Will try the TOT, NILIF has worked with other problems before so should try doing that. If i still have problems then we'll get K9 involved.

18 months? Then he's had a fair period of time to learn, establish and exhibit this behaviour and convince himself of his higher ranking position. You've used NILIF before and stopped? This should be a consistent program, not one that's only there when there are problems (especially at his young age). A leader must exhibit leadership consistently for it to retain its credibility. Each time you let it slip it will become more difficult and time consuming to re-claim. Leadership is something each member of the family should practice.

Sorry Erny didnt make myself too clear, I think the ridiculous hour of the night might have something to do with it.

Well the jumping thing has only come out in last 4 months, before that he was undercontrol. We still to the NILIF, just with the jumping there is a powerstruggle right now. This I think is mainly due to us having been overseas for 6 weeks. During that time my OH's siblings were looking after the dogs and I doubt they did anything we taught them. At the moment it seems the ranking is my OH, me, the dog, the rest of the family. My OH's parents still have some control. Humphrey couldnt care less about the 2 siblings (ones 25 and other 23). They do everything opposite to what they should. When he barks they start screaming at him etc, which just makes things worse.

I make sure that when he's playing up he gets put in "time out" until he settles down. When he settles down I'll go out to him again practice a few commands and if he does them then i'll play with him or take him for a walk.

When he gets all jumpy and stuff with me and the OH we will get very stern with him and he'll settle down and become submissive. Sits down ears back looking all innocent.

Just need to figure out how to make him listen to the rest of the family.

[Erny]

Just need to figure out how to make him listen to the rest of the family.

Or perhaps make the rest of the family listen to you so that he will listen to them? :D

[arby]

Just need to figure out how to make him listen to the rest of the family.

Or perhaps make the rest of the family listen to you so that he will listen to them? :D

I've tried...It just ends up with me getting mad.

My OH's sister has a thing about saying Humphrey is basically stupid, should be kept outside and makes the whole house dirty (coming from a person who takes over 3 rooms of the house). She will scream in a high pitch tone at him, any wonder why he barks back. Also the siblings have a thing about teasing the boxer with food before kicking him out of the house for realy long periods of time. Being a very social dog it drives him insane. It also amusing that the only items he destroys in the house are my OH's siblings stuff.

[MonElite]

Whos dog is it? Considered moving out of the place?

[Erny]

Just need to figure out how to make him listen to the rest of the family.

Or perhaps make the rest of the family listen to you so that he will listen to them? :D

I've tried...It just ends up with me getting mad.

People EARN the respect that comes from the Leadership they exhibit. If they don't exhibit it, the dog won't have anything to respect. You could of course take control (eg on lead) of the dogs and work on command reliability so this can be used by you when the dogs AND you are in the presence of others (and as leader this is part of your responsibility too), but it is not going to follow that your dogs will learn to respect them .... they'll simply be learning to respect and defer to your choices, not theirs. Remove you from the equation and the dogs are left with no-one they can respect.

I don't ask people around me to learn about dogs with the passion and interest that I do. But if they will not at least follow my request for certain response behaviour when they are around my dog, then I take that as a slight and lack of respect to me.

[arby]

Hey myszka, the dog lives with my OH and his family. Right now there is no chance of moving out :D

Erny now you know why I really want to do a dog trainers course. Boxers are very smart and they can be very cheeky and even vengeful if they dont get respected or made to feel like a part of the pack. They can really hold a grudge and I've seen proof of this first hand.

I cant wait to start agility with him, I really think that it will help this situation, keep him stimulated and also get closer to me and the other half. He really loves exercise and running around and thats his motivation. That way I can use agility as a motivation for NILIF.

[MonElite]

Is the dog your OHs or parents or whos?

IMHO if the dog is mine I tell other people what to do or not what to do with MY dog, if they dont follow they dont get to play with the dogs. With OH I ahve an occasional arguement but I also had other people live at my place for leanghty periods of time and they are basically not to "touch" my dogs unless they follw what I tell them.

Perhaps your OH can implement this sort of thing in his household? Bit hard - I know but maybe the best for the dog in the long run.

[arby]

hey myszka, Humphrey is my OH's (and he's also my boy).

I really want to be able to implement that sort of thing but with this family its a bit different. Humphrey is good with my OH's parents he mostly respects them. LIke i said he basically walks over the OH's siblings because they have no clue about dog behaviour.

To me you have to earn a dogs respect. I doubt you'll get that screaming and screetching at them or locking them out of hte house when they are actually behaving.

[MonElite]

From the training perspective if the siblings are "misbehaving" with the dog they are also training him the wrong things, so its better for the dog and for you in the long run that they actually lock him out and dont wrongly interact.

But I know where you are coming from, people at home = dog at home, not outside.

[arby]

From the training perspective if the siblings are "misbehaving" with the dog they are also training him the wrong things, so its better for the dog and for you in the long run that they actually lock him out and dont wrongly interact.

But I know where you are coming from, people at home = dog at home, not outside.

well my OHs sister especially is bad at training Humphrey the wrong things. She will give him food give him cuddles one day, then she will tease him with food (eating infront of him, pretending to give him some then eat it herself), then another day she will lock him out of the house...even when its raining and very cold and night time. He's used to being let in at night if someone is home. My OH's siblings will keep him locked out, and just watch tv in the back room (lots of windowns and the dog can see inside). Just just stresses him out. I mean usually when he comes into the house, he'll want a cuddle or a pat and then go to sleep.

She's also the one responsible for bringing over young kids under age of 12 and not looking after them around the dog. These 3 boys will tackle the dog, tease it, run around screaming, actually teach him to jump up on them and then when they get injured or scratched or somethiing its suddenly the dogs fault!!

When the kids are around I've actually gotten to the point of taking the dog and locking him up with me in my OH's room.

[MonElite]

When the kids are around I've actually gotten to the point of taking the dog and locking him up with me in my OH's room.

Good idea!

Is he crate trained? if they want him inside but not all over them, perhaps he could be in a crate in the room where they watch TV?

[arby]

When the kids are around I've actually gotten to the point of taking the dog and locking him up with me in my OH's room.

Good idea!

Is he crate trained? if they want him inside but not all over them, perhaps he could be in a crate in the room where they watch TV?

he has never been crate trained but will be soon. As we go into agility he'll need to learn to stay in a crate. He's usually so good in the house. Will go sleep on the couch or in my OH's room just waiting for his mum and dad to come home.

[mackindy]

Great idea with removing him from the situation with the visitors. He doesn't need the mixed messages! (Some people will never get it!!)

[arby]

Great idea with removing him from the situation with the visitors. He doesn't need the mixed messages! (Some people will never get it!!)

especially 3 little uncontrollable bush brats age 7,9, 11 their spoilt 9 and 13 year old cousins all together in the backyard. I saw them teaching our boxer to jump up on them and also teasing him with food and I just go stuff that.

I kinda agree what my vet said at puppy school. Usually when kids are with dogs, she doesnt worry about the dog starting something, she gets worrried about what the kids might do to the dog!