I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

For some strange reason my 2 boxers have turned against each other, quite nastily, for no apparent reason resulting in some nasty fights.
The younger female has always been a bit bossy, but this is hellish!!
Three times today they have nearly killed each other, and for no reason??:confused:

Any doggy experts out there?

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

That is very worrying indeed - how old are they and have they both been desexed?

Hormones can play a large part in it if one is due in oestrus. Depending on how old they are, dominance issues could be raising their ugly head.

I don't know much about behavioural problems though but would suggest googling a behavioural expert.

Hopefully someone on here might have some experience in this.

Not a nice situation to be in though.:(

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Lampard is the male, he has been desexed and is 5 years old.
Chelsea is female, she is nearly 3 and has not been desexed.
Although we had Lamps first Chelsea is the dominant one, maybe Lamp has had enough of her bossy ways?:o
They are now giving each other really dirty looks, but by tonight will both be curled up on their bed together?

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Are you going to get Chesea desexed?

I deffo would start with talking to your vet, I am sure it can all be ironed out but I dont think you shouldnt do it alone because one mistake in behavioural training can have lasting effects. Best learn the right way from the beginning.

Bitches are bossy though, my whippet bitch was dreadfully bossy - I miss her so much.

I still love that name Lampard:wub:

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

We have two boxers as well but they are both desexed, we have had no fights. Maybe your boy has had enough of her bossing him about and snapped today. Do you have them crate trained? Maybe sometime out away from each other would calm things down.
Good Luck :)

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

I do think the problem is Chelsea....she is a very tiny boxer (from the land of the little people) but she has this habit of glaring at Lampard, and he is then scared to move!!!
She often sits staring at OH, she acts like a duchess, but she is a bloody bitch!!

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Only male is desexed, female not. Crate trained??? Nope, just banish them to their beds when they are naughty!

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

She has dominance issues I am afraid, my whippet used to try and stare me out and I always won.

My Kelpie tries to be dominant but I always win, he never wins tug games, I can stare him out and he always walks behind me going through a door.

Is she due in season?

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

No season was a few weeks ago, as for the staring she is always doing that.
Gee Sam you are a star...............think I will have to book her in to be desexed

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Doggy is a favourite of mine ... :thumbsup:

PM me for any advice whatsoever :blink:

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

People assume that once the season has finished that is the end of it, but about 6 weeks after (give or take) their season has finished, they are susceptible to pyometre (infected womb), and also their hormones are having a party inside of them. My whippet was awful a few weeks after her season and had no tolerance at all, we had to let her have a season as she was rescue and we were not sure if she had been desexed.

But from the pyometra risk, from the sexual frustration risk - I would get her desexed.

Some bad habits are formed by the time you get them desexed but with bitches where hormones can dictate heavily, it is a good way forward with some issues.

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Thanks for your advice.................I have a week off at the end of the month, will get her booked in.
As for the 'staring' issue, we have always thought she was quite funny, now I realize its her way of domineering...............will put a stop to that!!!

Who needs specialist treatment when we have fantastic help here on BE :thumbsup:

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Karma Sent!!! :thumbsup:

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Be careful with the staring as it can mean to some dominant dogs you are challenging them and the dog can go into defence mode. The Alpha dog of a pack will stare at other dogs to put them in there place, but they will look away so if a dog does this and you continue to stare back its a challenge to a dog then to defend its pack position.
We have two large crates (like cages) and when we go out they go in there and if they are going to crazy and need calming down they go in there to cool off, its there own space and they know they are safe and always get a treat when they are in them.
I think you will she a huge difference in her when she has had her op. Kymba had it done at 5 months she was up and about the same night I think I had two days off work with her.
A great book to help you learn the mind of a dog is The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell.
Boxers are hard work at the best of times. Hope it all works out ok with her.

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Many thanks for your advice. All has been ok this afternoon, but have come to the conclusion it is definately the female causing the problems.
Will arrange for her op as soon as possible, hopefully she will lay off the big boy then!!

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Its the same as Willo, although being younger and a lot smaller than Angel she is the boss out of the two !
She just has give Angel one of her funny looks as we call it , and the poor thing turns into a nervous wreck !

Think if you have two or more dogs in one house , there will always be a domimant one !
Hope it works out well, will be lovely to take them all out to the beach again soon !

Nicky

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

It was Kerry that was being helpful.:thumbsup:

I couldn't help jumping in when I read this. I'm sure there are a large group of men on here that could have told you this.:rofl:

Mark

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

I could get away with staring at my bitch because her attempts to be dominant were half hearted and my tom cat used to bash the crap out of her.

Boxers do make me laugh, my mates Boxer 'Baggins' could trash a kitchen in the shortest time, go through the cupboards and bins - pasta/rice everywhere even on his face and he would still 'deny' it.

They lived in shared house for vet nurses and one day he went into the other vet nurses room and took a dump on her floor, and calmly went downstairs. That dog was so funny, Boxers are real characters - I love them. Baggins used to drool - you could paper a wall with his drool

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Boxers do make me laugh, my mates Boxer 'Baggins' could trash a kitchen in the shortest time, go through the cupboards and bins - pasta/rice everywhere even on his face and he would still 'deny' it.


You're dead right there...........I could go on all day about the things they have trashed!!!
The worst was when they 'ate' the monster size bean bag I had taken ages to make...............big enough for both of them to spread out on...........lasted all of about 2 hours!!:eek:
Bloody mess everywhere, took hours to clean up. Both of them looking at me,as if to say..'wasnt me'....... with bloody beans stuck all around their gobs!!

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Yeah but Chelsea is getting really nasty!!
Sunday night, sitting there, thinking where the bloody hell has Lamps gone..............found him hiding in the ensuite toilet!!!

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Sandra I'd recomend you see a behavioural consultant before giving her the chop - especially if there's a reason why she hasn't been spayed in the first place. There are so many factors to take into account, and so many opinions out there - why waste the time, effort, money and pain when it might have little/nothing to do with her hormones. Your vet should be able to recomend a local behaviourist.

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

That is very true but unless she is a brood bitch, not having her spayed puts her at greater risk from a pyo.

Ill never forget seeing one 4 year old bitch die because of a pyo - she deteriorated fast as well.

I was always taught as a vet nurse that unless you are breeding from your bitch, get them spayed - to avoid pyo, to avoid unwanted puppies and to avoid pent up sexual frustration when they are shut in a garden when they are in season.

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Sudden behavioural changes are also a classic sign of illness or injury and because the dog may look fine, it is often overlooked and put down to other things especially when they are the dominant type to start with.

I would start with a full health exam and agree with Sam to get her desexed.

Hopefully, harmony will be restored soon :)

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

First of all, whats Pyo?

Secondly the vet has confirmed she is of a very dominant nature.We initially didnt get her desexed as she is extremely pretty......she has a 'puppy' face. But she is very tiny and the vetss have expresed concern over her delivering if we breed.............so we are def going to get her desexed

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Kymba is just the same she is very pretty and still has that cute puppy look, which is a pain when she has been naughty as it's so hard to tell her off when she looks so cute at you.
We had Kymba's op done straight away because if we had bred from her I would never of been able to give the puppies away. I would now have a house full of very cute Boxers :D

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Is this the woman who was on CH5 in the UK? If so, she was superb and I used some of her techniques on a relatives Boxer and they worked in ten minutes - amazing.

Cooler

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

She did have TV programme but can't remember what channel it was one.

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

:rofl:

I love boxers too! Not that I have one- mine is an obnoxious staffie cross (vet thinks staffie x whippet, which makes sense).

Second (third?) the getting her speyed vote.

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

I hope your pack return to a 'calm submissive' state soon! I've watched the Dog Whisperer Cesar Milan A LOT and most dominence issues arise from the dog not recognising the humans as pack leaders....dominence over you can be all that 'cute' stuff like jumping up to great you when you come home which is actually them ascerting dominence over you, sleeping on your sofa, putting a paw on you..are all dominence signals in the dog world...as is dragging you on the lead etc. Maybe some boundaries need to be set to make them understand that you are in control of the pack and that they don't need to sort it out between them. Dogs are very bloomin' clever at making us think they are being cute and affectionate when in fact they are thinking we are loyal subjects lol!!!!

Good Luck with it your dogs sound cool!

http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/tips/

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

See the following info taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Millan

Criticism
Despite his results, some view his methods as outdated. Among his methods are quick leash corrections, quick assertive touches, and walks to drain energy. One controversial method he uses is the alpha roll, where he physically rolls a dog on its back.[20]

Dr. Nicholas Dodman, the director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine of Tufts University, has said "Cesar Millan's methods are based on flooding and punishment. The results, though immediate, will be only transitory."[citation needed]

Jean Donaldson, the San Francisco SPCA Director of The Academy for Dog Trainers has criticized Millan for physically confronting aggressive dogs and using check chains for fearful dogs.[21]

On September 6, 2006, the American Humane Association issued a press release criticizing Millan's tactics and called on the National Geographic Channel to cease airing the program immediately. [22]

In October 2006, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants wrote a letter to the National Geographic Channel regarding concerns "that the program may lead children to engage in unsafe behaviors." The Association called for a change in the program's rating of TV-G. [23]

I used to be a big fan of the Dog Whisperer untill I started studying canine behaviour and did a little more digging - most behaviourists/trainers that use positive techniques shudder at the sound of his name.

A really interesting perspective on "dominance theory" can be read in "Dominance Theory and Dogs" by James O'Heare...then you can make your own minds up whether we should be treating dogs like wolves! After all - should we be treated like apes? :confused:

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

After all - should we be treated like apes? :confused:[/QUOTE]

Yes most of the time! In fact we would probably treat each other better if we behaved more like apes.

Dogs are still essentially wolves don't be-mislead, just this week on the news a pet dog that had been lost overboard a boat four months ago was found on a remote island where it had learnt to hunt wild kid goats!

I don't believe what Cesar Milan does is cruel at all those dogs love him and he always puts the best interests of the dogs first. You have to ask are these dogs better continung bad habits and potentially being abandoned/re-homed, or having a short period of correctional disicipline with re-educated owners? Rhetorical question. I hold my belief on it you're entitled to yours...

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

As I type little Chels is at the vets being desexed. I had a long discussion with the vet, (who has always treated both dogs) regarding Chelseas behaviour.
I explained all the problems we had with her, and after checking her over, and doing some sort of tests on her, she stated that NO she does not have behaviour problems, and that between the dog they have sorted out the 'pecking' order. .......and she is the top dog. (Strange that we have had Lampard longer and he is the big dominant male?)
She advised this is natural for a dog to do and no amount of training will change the situation. She stated that on each occasion when Chels had gone for Lampard, it would have been triggered by Lamps 'over stepping' his mark??...............and Chelsea is putting him in his place!

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Yeah Cooper does that, if Kymba over steps the mark he will give her a growl to put her back in place. But they have never got to the point of fighting, thank god.
I hope everything goes well at the vets and she gets over her op very quickly.

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

She is now curled up sound asleep like a little angel!!!! (shame she cant stay that way)
Mind you nearly had a fight with some bloke on the way back from the vets.
I have Chels in the back of the car, very woozey and 'all over the place'
Now this is about 4.30pm , when everyone decides they are going to cut through Kinross at 80ks..................I am at a roundabout when there is a gap in the traffic. I pull out but have to go a bit on the slow side, as she has decided to try and look out the window. Now at this time of night, you have to pull out a bit sharpish............but no way am I doing that with her in the back with a huge open wound down her stomach.
Theres this w*anker, right up my ar*e, giving it all the hand signals and verbal abuse................all because I am not doing 80ks in a bloody suburb.
Well my window came down.................and he got a lovely mouthful!!!:curse:

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Had her desexed as advised but wish i hadnt. She was operated on last Thursday and has been quite poorly since!!
She refuses to leave her bed, is hardly eating, (we have to hand feed her just to coax her to eat), she has lost 4 kilos and is not at all good.
Been back to the vets twice to be checked and have been told its a reaction to anaesetic, apparently as she is a boxer they have to be very careful.
And as for her temper, she is watching Lampard all the time out of the corner of her eyes, and if he dares move, shes off on one!!

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Here she is all curled up with Lampard (she uses him quite badly!!!)LOL

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

Hope she gets better soon (she will:)) In the long run it will be worth it, lower chance of cancers etc. You have done the right thing.

If she keeps bullying Lamps, try feeding him 1st and keeping her out of the way. Might be worth a try. Failing that take him to Karate:thumbup:

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

If she keeps bullying Lamps, try feeding him 1st and keeping her out of the way. Might be worth a try. Failing that take him to Karate:thumbup:[/QUOTE]

Now apparently thats the WORST thing we can do!!! Vet advised that as she is the top dog she has to be first ALL the time, fed first, petted first, watered first...I would have thought this was 'playing; into her hands, but vet says NO, she must be first, if she is not she will go for him???
She is ssoooooooo cute looking.....................but looks are decieving!!! LOL

Re: I need The Dog Whisperer!!
 

....................on top of that she is half his size!!!! She seemed to stop growing after a couple of months, she is a sweet tiny little boxer..........and ole Lamps is like a huge old duke next to her!!