female boxers fighting

Question
I have had 2 female boxers from several years, unfortunately my 13 year passed away about a month ago.  Her companion is 8 years old and seemed so sad and depressed I thought I would try to get another boxer to keep her company. I went to the animal shelter to rescue a one year old female boxers who's family is being deployed.  She is a little timid around men but loves women. She was in the kennel with another dog when I picked her up so I was hoping the transition would be fairly easy.  Wrong! As soon as my older dog approached her she started growling. We took them for a walk hoping to get them used to each other, but when we turned them loose in the back yard they started fighting. We pulled them apart and put her in the kennel so they could see and smell each other and then tried again to put them together several hours later. At first it looked like it would work but if we petted the new boxer the old one would attack.  They've fought during feedings and sometimes for no apparent reason. Its been 3 days with no improvement.  I would really like to keep the new dog but I'm ready to take her back to the shelter because I don't want them to hurt each other. Is there anything I can do to stop the aggression or will it get better with time?

Answer
Hello Gaylene,

Unfortunately, this is the problem with female Boxers. They are the aggressive one of the gender.

If they had grown up together, it wouldn't be as bad, but there would still be some fighting between them. Females are very dominate and territorial.

Your older female is the boss of the house and really doesn't want to share it or you. All can be well until her family and food is "threatened."

Try this:

Buy a loud, obnoxious whistle, and have two (2) leashes ready (and collars on both girls) and two (2) crates (large crates so a Boxer can stand and turn around in it)....

Now, when either (or both) girls get aggressive toward the other, blow the whistle loudly, numerous times, and grab your leashes, leash them both, all the while, verbally reprimanding them in easy to understand terms, in a stern voice (not yelling or shouting, etc.) and put each in their own crate.

Leave the girls in the crate for 5-6 minutes (seems like an eternity to them) and allow them out one by one. Stay ready. Be on guard.

Do this each and every time- consistently.

Also, keep their individual food and water bowls separate in two (2) different locations (in the same room is okay- but separate corners!)...

If they begin aggressive behavior over food and water- repeat the same as above.

Good luck and let me know the progress.