Boxer biting family member

Question
First, I would like to thank you for this forum.  It is extremely helpful to those of us who need advice to be able to directly question experts who give freely of their time.  It is appreciated.

My question is in regard to our "granddog", a 3 year-old neutered male boxer.  My husband and I have been providing  daycare for him since he was just a few months old, as his mom and dad work full-time.  He is an active, healthy, friendly guy, who is loving and playful.  But he has moments when he surprises both of us with his aggression, particularly when we are close to him physically....petting him (particularly in his hind quarter), tending to a problem he might have, like removing a tick, or cleaning his ears, etc.  I guess I could say he doesn't always like us "in his space", and usually he sends a signal to let us know we're too close and we comply and move away.  But this morning, I was shocked when I gave him a treat after our morning walk, as I have done every morning.  Normally, he sits on command, takes the treat, lets me wipe the drool from his jowls and strolls out to the back porch to take his spot for the day.  But this morning, as I was wiping his jowls from behind his head (as I do often), he turned and bit my mouth drawing blood.  The look on his face scared me and I am at a loss as to why it happened.  Needless to say, I'm afraid to approach him, though I can tell he feels badly, because he followed me into the bathroom when I went to tend my wound.  This is the second time he has done something quite this serious and totally unprovoked.  The first time, when he was about a year old, he was out in the back yard and did not want to come in.  When I pulled on his leash, he jumped and snapped at me.   What concerns me the most is that my son and wife are planning to start a family soon and I would be very fearful that he could become more aggressive, particularly when a small baby becomes his competition.  We all know that he will play "second fiddle" to the child, but, more importantly, how will he handle that change; will he bite more often when he feels things aren't going his way?  Any guidance you can provide would be most appreciated.

Thank you again for your time and advice.

Answer
Well, he is 3 years old, and should be fully trained.

Apparently, his real mom and dad haven't completely trained him, and being a working family, aren't aware of some of these issues first hand.

Some Boxers have a personality that are much like an aggressive puppy. I have had them and had to pay special attention to training them before selling them.

He simply wants what he wants when he wants it, and also reacts on a whim in an instant without repricussion.

He must be reprimanded and punished for his unacceptable behavior.

Verbal reprimands in a stern and displeased voice, while leashed, is a solution. Do not allow yourself close enough for him to nip you and keep him leashed while you attend him.

Talk loving and positive to him, while on a leash, and if he acts aggressive, yank the leash and reprimand him. If you have a crate, put him in the crate as use as punishment and a time out.

I usually don't like using a crate for punishment but in some circumstances it's warranted.


You can not allow him to behave any old way he wants when he has the whim.

Each and every time he is being attended to, you must leash him and tug the leash tell ing "no" and "bad boy" whatever commands you choose, and if necessary, use a flyswatter for your "spanker." You can make him fearful of a flyswatter once he's learned he will be swatted with it and stop his bad behavior to keep from being swatted.

I swat on the hip and if they nip, on the nose. I know a of people would frown at this, but some personalities warrant a more drastic reprimand than others.

Carry the flyswatter with you, show it to him, tell him "no" and "bad boy" when he misbehaves, and use it if necessary.

Do not put yourself close enough for him to nip you again.

Once you have established your alpha position and be consistent with the leash tugs, commands, reprimands and flyswatter-- he will know to behave.

You can offer him a special treat for good behavior and obedience, and allowing you to wipe his jowls without incident, which is a positive reinforcement. Positive gets positive and they want to please you.

You simply need to break him of his on a whim attitude that it is not acceptable. Tell his real mom and dad so they can join in at home and do the same so all will be consistent and uniform.