Rocky the Boxer Dog

Question
QUESTION: Hi, i have a 20 month old brindle male boxer dog.  He is the most loving loyal dog i could have wished for as we chose carefully having a young child who he adores.  My only problem with him is when he is out walking he shows aggression towards other dogs, he goes bonkers and it takes me all my strength to hold him.  This is even worse when my little boy comes with us.  He is ok with my mums dog and gets on brilliantly.  He was once bitten on the face by a small dog and wondered if that could have anything to do with it ??  Also sometimes he just sits and barks at us and will not come back if he is off his lead in the field, he just runs round us in circles barking and has nipped my husband in a playful manner. Any advice on how to make walking a pleasure would be so much appreciated and advice on the barking.  Kind regards, Sam

ANSWER: Hi Sam,

It sounds as though he's not been properly socialized.  When you were raising him from a puppy, what type of socialization did he have?  How many new dogs did he meet?  New people?  New places?  20 months is very young to be showing dog aggression.

He should not be let off lead until his recall is 100%.  I assume, because of the things you've said (mum, etc.) that you are posting from the UK?  I visit their frequently and I know that you don't have leash laws like we do in the States...however, this doesn't mean that every dog should have free roam in the field.

What type of training have you done with him?  What type of collar/lead combo are you walking him with?  How did you (or did you?) teach him to walk properly on a lead?

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

QUESTION: Hi Nicole, yes i'm from the uk.  Thank you for your quick reply.  When he was a puppy we walked him round shows, events everywhere where dogs were and people, and he never showed any aggression to the other dogs.  We have done basic training sit, paw stay and he will do this and is very good but still has a mind of his own but eventually will do it if not the first time. He is a very lazy boxer dog and loves nothing more than to sit an snore!!!  He is walked every day and never left for long, he doesn't really chew alot as he has alot of his own toys.  We have a halti that we use to walk him as he is very strong and he walks lovli on it and gives more control especially when walking past other dogs.  Do you think this can be sorted out ?  In the cold weather he pokes his nose outside and runs back upstairs rather than go walking, very funny but he still has to go!!!  We only ever let him off the lead in a deserted field where nobody is around for miles.   Hope this helps, kind regards, Sam

ANSWER: Hi again and you're welcome :)

You're missing the point a bit.  It doesn't matter if you only let him off lead when you're on the moon...if he doesn't have a reliable recall (which he doesn't) he shouldn't be permitted off lead full-stop.  If you want to give him room to run, invest in a training line...if you have a Pets At Home near you, they carry them, if  not, order one online.

By letting him off lead and calling him 82 times and letting him ignore you, you're only teaching him that you aren't serious and not someone to be listened to.  With a training line, you can call him to you ONCE and reel him in if need be.

It's the same for training at home.  There is no 'eventually'...he is made to do something after you have said it ONCE.  You tell him to sit, he doesn't do it...you repeating sit sit sit sitsitSIT only makes you sound ridiculous and gives him the upper hand.  The command is a sharp 'SIT' not a whining sitsitsitohpleasesit.  If he doesn't do it, give him a correction.

Once you begin to treat him properly, it will carry over.  He'll begin to look to you as the dominant pack leader and everything will begin to fall in line.  Right now, you're a pushover and you aren't respected.

The halti is fine as long as he can't slip it.  Your Boxers tend to have shorter muzzles than ours in America...be careful.  Even our longer nosed Boxers have been known to slip a halti.  :)  I'd prefer that you taught him to walk properly on a normal collar but if you need control, a halti is probably best.

You stated that he's aggressive towards other dogs...but that he was well socialized.  When did the aggression start?  And are you sure it's actual aggression?  What does he do when he meets another dog?  If he was truly dog aggressive he'd not be getting on with your mother's dog so yes, this can definitely be sorted.

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

QUESTION: Hi, sorry, yes got the point makes sense not to let him off even when out in middle of nowhere until he is fully trained to listen.  When another dog walks by even from a distance he stands looking ready to fight trying to slip his halti and has managed it a few times but is always attached to the lead so he isn't able to run off. He barks and growls and thrashes his head about and jumps up and down sometimes turning quickly at me.  Even out the car window when he sees a dog he barks and growls.  He has been walked with another dog apart from my mums and showed no aggression.  I can only really pinpont it to when a neighbours friend was visiting and let their dog loose and opened our gate leaving it wide open and this dog bit Rocky on the face, he certainly doesn't like smaller dogs.  When we walk i am sitting him each time until the other dog passes holding him with his collar and lead whilst talking to him.  He's not daft he knows the gardens we walk past an if there are dogs out in them and gets worked up ready to start the aggression.  He stands like he is ready to fight is a way of describing it.  We have never had any problems with people with him he loves anyone who comes near him.  We was walking yesterday with my mum and her dog and there were other dogs in the field and he started going bonkers, then calmed down always looking behind then another dog was off it's lead and its owner had no control because it wouldn't go back to him.  I made rocky sit and held him so tight almost sitting on him, the dog came within inches of him.  The man thought it was funny, i was really cross, i'm sure if i hadn't held him so tight he would have lunged at the dog. He does go to kennels at the most three times a year and is good for them.  I decided on the halti because when he started to do this he would jump up at me and it worried me he could turn on me as he seems so focussed on other dogs when he is out.  I love walking him but get very tense when i do.  sam

Answer
Hey again Sam :)

I understand your fear but truthfully, if he's behaving at the kennels but not for you, he's probably picking up on it and that could be 1/2 his problem.  You are consciously, or unconsciously, tensing up when you see another dog because you 'know' what's coming and there he goes.

This is a behavior you really want to get sorted.  He's young and it shouldn't take long but I'm going to suggest you consult with a proper behaviorist.

The behavior can get out of control, more so than it is, and a behaviorist will be able to consult with both you AND your guy.  They can then give you tools to manage him specifically and to help you as well.  If you really want to get this problem sussed, let me know and I can get with my friend and try to help you find someone good in your area.

You can email me privately at Nicole@boxerdogplanet.com so you don't have to post that type of information publicly.