She is being aggresive towards other dogs...Help!

katiejosmom · #1 09-08-2009, 02:47 PM

So my sweet Katie Jo is great at home with our two dogs and up until recently was great with other dogs in public (i.e. Pets Mart) with the exception of being overly playful with smaller dogs. But now she is being aggressive! We have been in a training class at Pets Mart and we go every week but now anytime she is near another dog she starts growling and jumping at them. We tell her Leave it and pull her away but it is almost every dog including the other boxer in our class. The trainer thinks she is just trying to be dominate but I need advice on how to handle it. I am at the point where I don't want to take her out of the house/yard. Help!

sargboxerluv · #2 09-11-2009, 04:02 AM

I would start by bringing lots of treats on your outings - smelly ones that fall apart are best. Not something hard like a biscuit, maybe liver of chicken. When a dog starts approaching distract your dog with the treat. Put it in your hand so she can't get it, but put your hand in her face so she will keep pushing your hand with her nose. Every so often let her get a little piece to keep her interest. What you are trying to do is associate dogs passing with good things - food. You basically don't even want her to acknowledge the dogs at this point.

*If anyone tries to come toward you for a meet-n-greet, in a very calm voice tell them to stay back. Don't get upset because the dog will sense it and react, but do not let other dogs approach your dog at this point.
As she learns not to pay attention to other dogs, start walking without the treat in her face, but in your hand. Wave it once so she knows it's there, but don't hold it out for her. Then every once in a while give her a piece. Eventually you want to get to the point where you don't have to show her you have treats, and she will still ignore the other dogs. This takes weeks to do.

Only once she consistently does not react to dogs passing by with no treats should you attempt to walk up to anyone. And when you do transition to approaching people, you might want to start with them tossing treats to her from a distance, so now she can associate other dogs with good things.

It could also be helpful to have a behaviorist evaluate her. They can tell you why she is reacting this way.

Murp.mm · #3 09-17-2009, 11:20 AM

Well she's almost 2 and that's just about when my girl started the same thing. She's maturing and becoming her own self. It sounds like she's showing dominance like my girl who has lots of doggie friends but she has to get used to them before she's can be nice. I'm always mindful of this when we're out for a walk. I have to keep her close to me if not she jumps up and tries to get at the other dog. She was even like this with my daughters dog (which she adopted) until after a few attemps she was fine and now they're great friends. The key with Ms. Ali is taking her to the other dogs house first. If the dog comes to her house first she's very territorial. So when I want to make friends with another dog we take her to that house at first. Then again she has the odd dog that she just accepts right away. I guess he/she shows they are the boss so she goes along with it. Nevertheless it's not uncommon for boxers to be the bullies. As much as Ms. Ali was socialized she still wants to run things. Could be the female thing too!!!!

KatCH · #4 09-19-2009, 04:32 PM

My girl has also become very aggressive towards other dogs. She is 10 months old and is a sweetheart with us...so affectionate and loving, our 9mo old boxer boy and other dog friends, but if we go to the dog park, or like today at the vet she is aggressive towards the other dogs there. Barking, growling, and if she gets close enough she stands over them squeezing them with her front legs and growling. She hasn't ever snipped at anyone, just the growling, but it really puts people off and makes it a bit unpleasant at the dog park. I'm not sure what to do with her either. She's been spayed, so I am out of reasons.

And if I have both pups at the dog park, and she starts her aggressive behavior and then the other dog responds to her behavior with a growl, snarl, or bark, then my boy gets involved and tries to stick up for her, and then they become the bullies and basically double team the other dog. I don't want to not socialize them, as I think it will only make matters worse, but I am not really sure what to do. Once she establishes she is the dominant one she is pretty good, but it's getting to that point that I don't like. She is relatively small for her age/breed (only 42lbs) and if she does this to another dog who retaliates she could really get hurt.

I am going to follow this thread as I really need help in this area as well.