naughty boxer

Question
To answer your questions - no, she doesn't escape from the backyard when we are not here and when she has she either always goes for a wander and finds her way back or is found nosing around other front yards in the street.  She has pretty much been behaving like this since we have had her (only I'm sure due to boredom, she used to be a lot worse by chewing everything in sight which has now ceased) - although recently it seems to have become more frequent.  This has coincided with a couple of storms, which she hates, but not most of the time.  She comes inside each evening until bedtime and then sleeps outside.  She is very excitable when she first comes inside and definitely loves to be around people but then settles down and usually sleeps most of the time.  Unfortunately, she doesn't get much exercise - as up until recently both my husband and I have worked full-time but I have recently stopped worked due to the imminent birth of my second child.  My son, who is nine years old, is unable to take her for walks as she is far too strong for him and pulls him over - I'm afraid she isn't well trained in that regard and wants to have a play with every dog she sees or hears on her walks.  She does have a level of obedience, will sit on command and go to her bed, come when called but she can still be very boisterous.

Hopefully this may give you more of an insight as to what we can do.  Many thanks for your time.

regards
Janet
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi there,

We have a rescued boxer cross that has been with us for about 18 months - she is approximately now 2 and a 1/2 years old.  At night time, she consistently tries to get in through the bedroom window that we sleep in which backs on to the back garden.  She has chewed through a number of fly screen to try to achieve this over time (and has succeeded only once).  Even when the window is closed, in the middle of the night she will jump up at the windows and very much make her presence felt by the amount of noise her paws make against the window.  We have barricaded the front of the windows with large pot plants and got out of bed to tell her off but all to no avail - please help, the disturbed sleep is driving me mad!
-----Answer-----
Dear Janet,
Thanks for the question. My first thoughts are - I wonder why hasn't she adapted to her environment?

Does she escape from the back yard when you are gone? If so, exactly how and where does she get out and where does she go once she is out of the back yard? Does she go straight to the front porch and wait for you? Does she go galloping around the neighborhood?

The behavior could be an anxiety issue, a fear issue, a boredom issue, a neurological issue, or a personality issue.  

Has this behavior been occurring for 18 months? Does she ever come inside? If so, when and what does she do? Is there any reason she can't be inside at night?

How much daily exercise (outside of the back yard) does she get? Do you take her on walks? Play ball? Does she know any obedience commands?

Does the behavior coincide with approaching storms? Is she afraid of storms?

Please answer the questions and I'll do my best to help. I'll be out of pocket for a few days, but get back to me and we'll go from there.

Happy Thanksgiving!
AT  

Answer
Hello again Janet,
Thanks for taking the time to answer questions. In a nutshell, your girl need more exercise, more "people-time", more stimulation, and more training.

Dogs are individuals and a particular environment that 'works' for some dogs is too stimulating for another and 'not-stimulating' enough for a third dog.

The idea is to stimulate her mind and her body. Food hunting is good for both!  

How does she get fed? Toss out her food bowl and 'make her work' to find her food. You might scatter-feed - just like you are feeding chickens. Toss about one-third of her meal on the patio or yard and let her find each piece. When she has found all of it, toss another third of her dinner onto the yard or patio.

Food dispensing toys are also good. Try this- get a Kong (or 2 or 3 Kongs) and place a bit of duct tape over the small opening to seal it off. Drop a few treats inside the Kong and fill the rest up with some dog food. Fill it with water (and maybe a teaspoon of chicken broth). Place it upright in your freezer - let it freeze.

Take it out of the freezer, remove the tape and give it to her.

I like freezing with a bit of broth because it keeps the dogs interested. But - Instead of freezing it, you could just stuff the Kongs with food and treats.

More exercise, - walks outside the yard - would be helpful. AND Of course your 9 year-old can't walk your 'not-leash-trained-boxer! (smile) heck, he's 9 not 19!

Somebody should teach and encourage your boxer-girl how to walk nicely. I'm guessing your husband might be able to perform the task??? If not, buy a Weiss Walkie or a Gentle Leader head collar so someone can walk her. Both these tools are short-term, teaching tools, not long-term management tools.  

If you simply cannot provide her with more exercise and stimulation, your only other choices to stop her window behaviors are to bring her inside at night, isolate her in a pen or kennel or hurt her the instant she jumps at the window.  

I like the first one (bring her in at night)and totally dislike other alternatives that involve harsher punishment or isolation.

It's not your fault that - at this point in your life - you may not be able to provide your dog with the individual attention she needs, but why should animals suffer if we haven't the resources to fulfill their social, emotional and physical needs?

Try a Kong and scatter feeding. Give her a very large, frozen Kong 'dinner' before she is most likely to jump at the window. That may do the trick.

Before you use harsher punishers or isolate her, consider placing her with another family.



Happy Training!
AT