Territorial/protective Barking

JULIA JEFFRIES · 09-29-2008, 10:47 AM

Hi all, I am new here! Please could somebody offer me some advice??
I have a 2 year old female boxer. Perfect family pet, until, any male approaches the house or next door be it friend or stranger. She will persistantly bark, fur stood on end jump in the air and not calm down or listen to me recall her. This makes life difficult when the post man comes etc not to mention she scares the hell out of them. She also displays this behaviour if we are out and she knows the surroundings well e.g at my in laws farm. She will run around and encircle whoever she is barking at, again pays no attention to me telling her its ok. This is the only problem i have with her but it is something i feel i have no control over and makes me feel out of control with her when i dont know what to do..

KeeperBoy · 09-29-2008, 11:21 AM

It sounds like she's doing this out of fear so positive reinforcement will likely be your best best. Enlist a male friend that she doesn't know too well to work with her. Find a distance she won't react, it may be 100 feet. Take a step closer with her on a leash. If she starts to react, even a tiny bit (ears change, stance changes, tail goes higher or lower) take a step back. Once she is calm again take two steps forward. Praising her the whole time. The trick is to take a step back before she really starts going crazy. A good watch me command can help also, to bring her attention back to you. A leave it command is also useful.

Has she had any formal obedience?

Keepers is fear aggressive and it's been a long road for him. We used an in home trainer for months and just a few weeks ago he was able to start a group class, which was a huge accomplishment.

JULIA JEFFRIES · 09-30-2008, 03:28 AM

Thank you for your advice, sounds like a good plan...it's going to take a while to crack i guess. If i can't crack this by myself i will seek out a professional to assist. I'ts me who needs the training to then train my Lilly! But she was an angel until she 'matured' then she decided to guard and protect me and the children from every man in the world and it just happened, so no she has never been to any classes as she is perfect in every other way!! The other interesting thing i forgot to mention was if a male comes near with a dog she is more accepting and usually doesn't bark and growl at the man??

KeeperBoy · 09-30-2008, 08:22 AM

That's interesting. Keepers has issues with just about everything, people and dogs. We've been doing intense training with an in home trainer and he's come a really long way. I think it will take years before he is ever a really "normal" dog though.

One thing that we've found really interesting is how my anxiety can go though the leash to Keepers. Once we realized he had some issues I got really nervous taking him for walks. When I saw a person or dog I would really tighten up on the leash and my breathing would change. Even if he hadn't seen the dog or person I saw he would get really nervous because he could sense my change. I have to work really hard to stay calm when we are out walking so I don't make him even worse.

Ron · 09-30-2008, 08:34 AM

I know over time, Tie has associated me tightening his leash with "somethings going to happen" If i'm relaxed, he's usually ok too.

JULIA JEFFRIES · 09-30-2008, 02:38 PM

Thanks guys, yeah i have read that the dog picks up your emotions or energy, but it doesnt help that boxers are very powerful on a lead! Well i gonna see if i can crack it have started trying out something i read on the net ..fingers crossed its a start!!!