aggresive boxer

Question
our 3yr old boxer has become very very aggressive over the past couple of months, and im not sure why..?  she has turned on me several times & has attacked our other dog that we've had for 6 yrs she's a shi tzu. anyways last nite she attacked her & caused instant brain death according to our vet....& we had to put my shi tzu down...afterwards the boxers runs throughout the house all nite looking for her whinning, like she didnt know what she had done.  Its like shes bipolar or something....what do u think?  i guess what im needing to know is as much as i hate to do it, does she need to be put down as well, either way we arent keepin her. i love both my dogs but now i worry bout my family being safe around her.

Answer
Do not put her down. It is not her fault that it happened.

Dog aggression is caused by nervousness and anxiety- not out of "meaness."

Has something changed in your household- your family dynamics? Have you moved? Has a someone moved in? Is there a change in schedules? Anything....

First- re-home her. If you prefer, call the closest Boxer rescue and explain the history.

They will re-home her after fostering her for awhile, and watching her behavior. They can socialize her with other dogs in a "pack" and run test on her to see what triggers her.

Boxers are not all as aggressive as some people might think- and always excellent with children.

There was something that happened to her that you obviously are not aware of and did not see happen.

Maybe the Boxer was playing with the Shi Tzu once or twice, and the Shi Tzu bit her. This creates a behavior of survival, and instinctive behavior to dominate and not show fear- so the Boxer became a surviver and dominant over the Shi Tzu out of instinct. It is not uncommon for any breed of dog when this happens in a pack (a pack is two or more dogs, and the family members too)...

She will not turn on you. If you say she "turned" on you- how can you be certain that ws her intent? Was if simply a really rough play? What was happening at the time? Was their confusion going on? Was there anything in the moment that triggered any aggressive behavior? Were you discipling her at the time? Showing affection to the Shi Tzu at the time?

I would like some history: when you got her, how you socialized her, how you have disciplined her, any changes within the family dynamics, history of her and the Shi Tzu, etc.

Please answer those as best you can, and I can get to the bottom of it.


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