New boxer is backing into the kids

[Jhensley]

We just adopted a 2 and a half year old boxer. She is very sweet and has no problem obeying me. However, she has been sitting on and backing into my 4 year old daughter and 2 year old son. I see these as signs of dominance. We have only had her for a short time but how do I let her know that she is below the kids in the pecking order? Thanks.

[srennie]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 'backing in to' but boxers are leaners. They like to be touching the people they like. They are notorioius for sitting in the lap of anyone who happens to be sitting on the floor. This is affection, not dominace. But, she does need to learn to be careful around the kids since they are so small. If she isn't jumping on them or knocking them over then I'd say she sounds very sweet. Maybe if you were more specific as to when she does this and the circumctances around it we could better understand and be more helpful.

[Caney Creek]

I agree that it is not a sign of dominance. Some boxers are "leaners" like was mentioned above, and I think that some may also have "personal space issues," in the sense that they don't quite understand the concept. My two girls are not much for leaning on people, and you will almost never find them cuddling up to one another, but I know that many other boxers are leaners and they also are very comfortable sitting and laying on their human and canine companions as if they were their own personal cushions. Again not a dominance thing but just something that they need to be taught is inappropriate if you don't want it to happen.

[Jhensley]

Thanks. I had read somewhere that this was an act of dominance. She is a great dog, I just want to address any issues early so she doesn't get used to it.

[TwoDogs]

Is the dog is doing it to insert its body between the children and you or between the children and someone else?

If so, it can be that the dog is attempting to efficiently move the children farther from the attention they are getting from you or other people. Some dogs do this to people and sometimes they do it to other dogs.

If it's pushy behavior, that wouldn't be allowed in my house. I feel dogs shouldn't be allowed to insert themselves between humans and humans or humans and other dogs. They should be taught to patiently wait their turn.

[Demismom]

My boxer plops her little fanny in my lap at every opportunity. As for the backing into, she does it a lot too, I think she just likes to be touching me and nothing more.

[LILYLARUE]

Smiley always backs up into laps and into legs. It's his way of getting close and cuddling. Boxers do the lean and the backing up pretty well. It's all part of their loving nature.

[Angelika_23]

Our Beau does the backing up thing, it is his way of being close to us and asking for petting. Odin does not do it, he does a sideways crab-walk thing when he wants attention. (?)

[joannaryan]

Originally Posted by Angelika_23

Our Beau does the backing up thing, it is his way of being close to us and asking for petting. Odin does not do it, he does a sideways crab-walk thing when he wants attention. (?)

Odin is doing the boxer kidney bean dance, it's their way of greeting you , happy to see you type of dance