my boxer agressive

Question
Hello,
I have a three year old boxer and 3 Chihuahuas my boxer is a male not neutered he gets along good with the little dogs there are 2 males and one female I have recently taken in a 3 month old German shepard and have tried to get them together but my boxer is very aggressive towards the new dog what would you recommend?

Answer
You have a pack with the Boxer and two Chihuahuas and now, adding an additional dog to the pack.

The alpha, which is probably the Boxer, is not accepting another dog into the pack.

What you should have done is slowly introduce the new puppy into the pack while supervising, allowing the Boxer and other dogs to sniff the new dog, access the new dog, and allow them to be accustomed to a new member, checking to see if they accept it.

Now that you have the puppy and it's too late to allow them the introduction in the proper way, you have a problem.

The puppy is innocent and does not know what to do and the Boxer is being unduly aggressive because of his position-- you will have to keep them separate and supervise the introduction again, allowing the Boxer to adjust.

Personally, you should NOT have introduced another dog into the pack that you have. This is a no-no because the Boxer is already an adult and probably the alpha of the three dogs.

You will have to protect the puppy at all times, keeping him separate in sleeping and eating and everything while supervising the other dogs around it. When the Boxer becomes aggressive, you will need to verbally reprimand him and lay him down on the ground and hold him in a submissive position for a minute or so to be submissive to you. You must teach him you are the alpha- not him.

Try this technique to establish you being the alpha of the pack (and not him):

At feeding time with the three dogs (not the puppy)...

Place their feeding bowls on the table or kitchen counter with food in them. Take a cracker or cookie and place on the table or counter behind the bowls.

Stand and eat it slowly while they sit and watch you. Do not make eye contact with them.

Then, when you are finished, set their food bowls down in front of them and tell them it is okay to eat.

This is to establish you are the alpha.

In the wild, wild dogs and wolves have a leader- the alpha. The alpha eats first while the pack waits patiently. When the alpha has finished eating, he gives the pack permission to eat what is left (if any).

This is the way in nature, therefore, you must establish to the Boxer and the others, that YOU are the ALPHA- not them.

This will help with the acceptance of new members within the pack- as if you accept a new member- the pack must too.