8 month boxer female and 3 yr male rescue

Question
QUESTION: Jannie,
Hello!  First let me say to all those that read this that Jannie is a wonderful person with great knowledge of information about boxers!  I do not personally know her - but she has helped me many times.
Okay - now on to my questions.  Our young female boxer is 8 months old.  We adopted a 3 yr boxer from a rescue.  He has had a very rough life and we are working on some issues - but he is really great!  We got another boxer because we were told a playmate would help her with her energy and help settle her down.
Our 8 month old is having issues of "pouting" even though we are spending a LOT of time with her.  We try to spend one on one time with her - she gets along with him when they are one on one - but does pouts as soon as we walk into the room.  So - that is my issue with her.
With him - it does not matter how many times we have him go outside and go to the bathroom, even if he has just gone - as soon as she goes outside and squats to pee - he runs over and pees ON TOP OF HER.  Not where she has peed - but on her body.  What can we do to stop this issue?

Thanks again for your help!

ANSWER: Hello Karen

You have a couple of things going on.

Let me address the simple things first.

The issue of him peeing "on top" of her is kinda strange- but I think what is happening is his marking his mate.

That is where the male and female claim one another, and every where one pees (or even poops) they will go pee on that area to camouflage the scent so other dogs cam't smell them- especially when the female is in heat. But this is normal, instinctive behavior and they will continue masking their scents.

Now, the issue of him peeing on her- maybe it is excitement and doesn't wait to mark her scent, or maybe it's a dominance issue. I am not certain without actually watching them together and their "routine."

You might try using a whistle for behavior that you want to modify- even that.

Each and every time he begins this, blow the whistle 3-4 times and verbally reprimand him in a stern and assertive "alpha" voice. Make him stop and move away from her. Even if this means leash him.

Continue this until he breaks the bad behavioral habit. Once achieved, you won't have to worry about it again.

My main concern is him being a rescue and having a rough life, as we don't want to inhibit his progress with you and your family- so be easy on him and repeat the whistle to get his attention (and he will associate the sound) and leash him removing him from the area.

Try allowing them out separate times, unless you are willing to supervise and work on modifying his behavior.

Concerning her pouting: I would like to ask what makes you believe she is pouting. Does she shy away, go lie down, sulk, not get involved with playing? Does she whimper or sigh? Explain as best you can the "pouting" so I can better access the situation of what is going on with her.

Try petting and loving her each time you come into the room for awhile. Make the effort to do this before sitting down and settling in. Do play with both together, and her one on one as you said you are. But the object is to get her to share you with him at the same time and not feel threatened by it. We don't want her insecure because she has a new friend in the house now- and we don't want him insecure because of his previous history.

You will have to pay attention to speaking to them, acknowledging them, petting and loving them each time you come into a room where they are to ease their anxieties and insecurities. Being equal as much as you can instills sharing and community.

This is what is needed. The sense of sharing and feeling secure while sharing- sharing you.

Both need to feel loved and equal, in order to be happy and healthy.

Try using the whistle technique for any behavior you want to modify. Blowing it always gets their attention, so they will stop what they are doing, and try to teach them command to sit so they will pay attention to you. If you need to use a small tidbit of a treat to keep their attention and enforce the positive, you can.

P.S. Thank you for the compliment and faith in me :)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Her pouting:  I call it pouting becuase she reminds me of a child....lol.  She walks away if we are in the same room as he is.  If we show him any attention - she either goes to another room or goes to a corner and lays down.  If she IS close to us and we say her name or call her - she turns her head and looks the opposite way.  She has become "picky" and will actually not eat for a day ...  that is why I say she is pouting.
We try playing with both of them - try making sure we speak to both, but she walks off as soon as we show him attention.

We will be getting a whistle tomorrow and putting it by the back door to stop his issue with peeing on her!  That is a great idea - thanks for the help.

Answer
That really is pouting. At least it isn't aggression because of jealousy, though.

You might try leashing her and bringing her back into the room with him and play while her leash is on.

You also might try using the whistle when this happens then leash her and bring her back.

It is conditioning.

Once she discovers it is fun- she will get over the pouting and join in.

P.S. Her name should be "Miss Prissy."