biting boxer

Question
Hello!  I have a 1 year old male boxer that we've had since he was 14 weeks old and recently has started to bite me when we are out on our walks.  This usually happens when he sees other dogs and starts to go towards them.  When I correct him on the leash he turns on me, jumps me, and starts to "attack" me which has resuleted in bites on my stoamch, thighs and hands.  I've always walked him on my left side and I use a nylon sliding choke collar.  But even when I pull up on the collar under his neck he is still able to spin and bite me.  I've started to use a chain choke collar, again right underneath his neck, but he's still able to spin and bite.  He was fixed at 10 months and is the only dog we have. Our household consists of my husband, myself and the dog.  He is crate trained and sleeps in there every night, door open.  He is not allowed on the furniture and I walk him every day 30 mins.  My husband works from home so he is only crated when we are not home, never more than 4 hrs.  We started to attempt leaving him out of the crate for an hour here and there but he got up on all the furniture and chewed whatever he could find.  Your expert advice is most appreciated!

Answer
Hi Deanna,

Whenever a dog has bitten an owner it is best to seek inhome guidance from a trainer or behaviorist who is willing to come to your home and help you. Please locate a trainer or behaviorist in your local area asap. This is a serious situation and needs to be addressed asap with professional help. Call or visit your local vet and ask for references on trainers or behaviorists in your area. Go and watch the trainer or behaviorist and choose one who's methods and techniques you approve of as not all will meet your approval. I personally never use a choke collar and prefer a muzzle and/or the Illusion Collar which can be found at amazon.com. The Illusion collar fits right up on the neck and is almost fool proof as to where you need to place the collar on the dog to have better control. If you misuse a choke collar like your using or the choke collar is not put on correctly it can and will injure the dog. I would also take the dog to the vet and have his thyroid checked as one of the first signs of thyroid problems is aggression. Other underlying medical conditions should be ruled out as well before any training or rehabilitation is started. The trainer or behaviorist should also be firm but never harsh with the boxer. The harsher the methods the more resistance the boxer will put up. The boxer should be motivated to obey your commands by using positive re-enforcement methods like his favorite toy, treats and praise. The trainer you work with should be able to find the perfect combination of techniques to alleviate this behavior.
Thank you for your questions and good luck with your beloved boxer.

Angela Donald
Canine Behavior Consultant
http://www.hitowerboxers.com