aggresive biting

Question
We adopted a boxer from a rescue shelter three weeks ago, He is 2-1/2 they say, He is great with us ,but attacked the neighbor(who he has meet several times,but didn't seem to like)yesterday. No reason, charge attacked him as he got out of his car. this is not the first sign of aggression we have seen. Someone knocked on the door, and he would not listen, broke through my restraining him and charged him. We cannot have these issues. Considering taking to pound, we love him very much and are heartbroken. Shelter did not reveal any such info on him, only he had been abused/neglected. we are his forth home and always wondered why,because he seemed so well behaved before these issues.any suggestions?

Answer
The "key" word here is "abused."

Since you do not know the extent of the abuse, I can certainly say that not liking the neighbor who he has attacked, is probably resembling his original abuser. That, and the fact that dogs instinctively know the innate character of people and dislike some, just like people dislike some people. There is always people that we dislike and cannot get along with.

But, this is still unacceptable behavior for him.

The aggression toward someone knocking at the door is a typical reaction of most any working/guarding breed dog. The key here is to train them at a early age to not be guarding and aggressive- in which you could not because you got him at age 2 1/2 years old.

My suggestion to try to modify his behavior before completely giving up and dooming him to the shelter, or possibly his execution, is to work with him.

When someone knocks at the door, grab the leash (keep it hung handy close by) and leash him immediately. Then remove him from the area and either allow someone else to hold the leash, or you hold the leash and someone else answer the door, and if only you- then take him to another room closed off or put him outside in a fenced yard while you answer the door.

Then you should bring him back to the living area on his leash and make him sit, then you need to physically push him down into a lying position on his back in the submissive position.

If you always force him down to lay in the submissive position, you are showing him that you are the alpha and he is the submissive.

The key is the leash, and the forcing the submissive position on him.

You can also use a whistle with this technique. Keep the whistle and leash handy at all times, and blow the whistle and leash him when he becomes aggressive, and force him into the submissive position.

The whistle will break his train of thought- stop him, startle him, bringing him back to reality and a calmer state of mind. It also signifies bad behavior and a "no" signal once he has associated the whistle sound with the offending behavior at that time.

Dogs learn by association, and they learn by what their mothers taught them, which was to be "big, bad Boxers" and protect and guard as well as play rough. They learn by the alpha (you) in the pack and do what the alpha tells them to do.

You must become the alpha. You must remain calm, cool, and collected and never raise your voice and shout. Alphas are leaders and not excitable. They are confident.

He will follow the alpha.

You might try this technique to help you establish that you are in fact, the alpha.

At feeding time, place his bowl on the table where he can "see" it but not get it. Place some cookies or crackers on the table behind the bowl. Add his dog food, and sit the bag down out of the way. Be sure he is sitting in front of you and watching you. Do not look at him. Pick up the cookie or cracker and stand there and eat it. Let him watch you eat.

This signifies to him that the alpha eats BEFORE him because that is exactly how it is done in the wild; wild, feral dogs, wolves, etc.

The alpha always eats first and as much as he wants, and when finished he leaves what remains for the others after signaling them that they can eat. They always stand waiting for the alpha to eat and wait until the alpha tells them that they can eat.

Establishing your position as alpha is very important. This technique helps you establish the alpha position which from then on, helps him obey you and take the lead from you.

Please let me know how this has gone for you in a couple of weeks. I think you'll find that the eating routine (you can go back to normal feedings after a couple of weeks of this routine) and the leash and submissive position goes.

Good luck!