Trainging, and Behavior

Question
I have a male boxer, bo. Hes just over 4 months. My husband is a U.S Marine and hes gone alot, so that leaves me trainging bo. Im also 6 1/2 months pregnant. He seems to understand to go to the bathroom outside, but he often has accidents in the house still. I understand hes a puppy, but i will take him outside and he will go to the bathroom, and then come back in and a few mins later pee on the carpet. I read that spanking is not good so i have been putting him in his kenal for 10-15 mins and also saying no if i catch him in the act. But he dosnt seem to be getting it. Also when we first got him we had him in my mother in laws house and she has 4 "weiner" dogs wich are much smaller than him. He got along fine with them and played and he was never aggressive. Since we brought him home to the apartment, whenever i take him outside and there are children or people he freaks out on me, he dosnt growl but his hair will stand up on his back and sometimes he even throws himself on the ground. I dont understna dwhy he acts like this now when he was fine with all the people and such back home. its gotten so bad that im afraid to take him outside when there are people out there becuase i dont want him to turn and bite someone. He also has been starting this act where if i catch him peeing in the house i will tell him no and put him in his kenal but in that process he has starting growling at me. Or takes off running and i cant be chasing the dog around when im this far along pregnant. He was doing so wel when we brought him home but seems to be going on a downward hill. I know people say dogs dont do things out of spit but he is nothing like this when my husband is home. Im afraid he will turn on me someday becuase im the one who has to punish him and put him in the kenal becuase my husband is gone so much. Also while my husband was away for a week he chewed the carpet and the door frames wich i know boxers will chew things, but while my hussband is home he wont dare do it. But my husband is also gone so much that when he is home he tends to play with the dog moer and not disipline him when he does something wrong, he dosnt even like putting him in the kenal. Iv gotten to the point where i dont know what to do anymore, and im hopeing he will calm down before the baby arrives becuase i would hate to get rid of him...can you please give me some pointers!!!!

Answer
We have an awful lot going on here:

1) First; Bo knows your attitude, feelings, and fears. He is obviously your husband's Boxer, not yours, and Bo has NOT bonded with you at all.

Bo is a normal Boxer, however, most Boxers love ALL the family members as they think they are human and family, not a dog at all. So my question is: Why has Bo not bonded with you? Answer might be that you do not really like Bo or the Boxer breed, or dogs for that matter. Bo knows this instinctively.

2) Some Boxers are more aggressive than others with a more upbeat personality and extroverts. He is JUST 4 months old, which is only 1 month (maybe 1 1/2 months) from actual weening age from his mother and litter-mates; and now he is on his own and testing his own abilities that his mother taught him (yes, she taught him how to be a big, bad Boxer boy!) i.e. "Alpha" therefore, he is establishing his "Alpha" position in your household. YOU and your husband should be the "Alpha" not Bo. And YOU have not established that but your husband obviously has already. He is away, so Bo has taken over the "Alpha" position in your family/household.

3) Peeing/accidents inside the house: You probably aren't being consistent with taking him outside to pee. Accidents will happen at his age. It is not on purpose, but a lack of proper training and consistency.

You must take him out first thing in the morning, then after he eats and drinks (breakfast feeding) then every 20-30 minutes since he is a baby still. Then after a lunch feeding and supper feeding or whenever you know he's eaten and gotten a drink- wait 10-15 minutes max and take him out. Take him outside before bedtime.

Adults can (I do not recommend this) hold their bladders up to 8 hours if necessary. A pup is 1/2 that= 4 hours, and the younger the pup, the less time they can hold it. Say he can hold it maybe 1-1/2 hours tops, but do not test that since you have not been consistent with his potty training.

Do not spank. This will cause him to believe that peeing at anytime, anywhere, is bad and wrong and make him NOT pee outside too. Do not scold him either. Same result will happen.

Instead, you must immediately tell him "no" in a firm voice, and take him outside to show him that he should pee outside. Give him a treat, preferably a special treat he normally does not get. He will associate peeing inside as bad with a reprimand and not pleasing you-- with going outside and getting a treat and pleasing you with praise and attention. Good versus bad. Treat or no treat. Reprimand or praise. You see what his choice will eventually be. Especially puppies, as they like treats and attention because this is all new to them in this learning stage.

4) Aggression outside: growling or barking or acting up around other people (strangers outside the family) and especially other dogs is normal. Boxers instinctively protect their family and domain/territory. (Boxer females are more aggressive, especially to other female dogs.)

You must reprimand him in a firm voice, grab his muzzle and hold it while reprimanding him "no" if you want to establish dominance/alpha position, and tell him it is alright, friends, whatever word you choose. I say "friends" myself.

Consistency, consistency, consistency is your key. Not only in what and when you do it, but what and how you say it.

He is a baby, just like a 2 year old child. Remember this at all times.