Rescued boxer now showing behavioral issues

rigbys mom · 11-15-2012, 03:59 PM

My sister's neighbor had a female brindle boxer locked in a cage the size of a closet filled with feces, she had sores on her bottom from sitting in her filth, a ring around her neck from a chain that was about to be imbedded,ears were being eaten by flies, she was 3 or 4 and completely skin and bones. After seeing the dog my sister tried everything from calling cops and rescue groups but no one would help. She finally convinced this "person" to give her the dog and after a few trips to the vet and food everyday and a comfy pillow by the couch to sleep on she seemes to be getting over her ordeal. she has filled out and the sores are about gone only some bald spots left but now that she has her energy and health back she seems to be displaying some food aggressive issues. it is understandable she would have some since she wasnt fed regularly before but obviously she cant continue to behave like this. besides this she is the perfect dog no accidents, loving but how to proceed with her food aggression?

af_wx_wife · 11-15-2012, 04:54 PM

From my understanding you have to keep working on a food aggression like this. I hope she's in a home with no small children as they might not understand to not touch the dog while eating. Also making sure no other pet goes near the food dish while she's eating. I wish you the best & glad to see that this pup is now getting the love she deserves.

Georgiapeach · 11-15-2012, 06:24 PM

I found this article: Food Aggression: Common Dog Aggression Problems: Training
The behaviorist recommends completely doing away with the food bowl at first. I wouldn't have thought of this, but her advice, if you read the whole thing, makes sense to me.

**Gypsiemouse** · 11-15-2012, 07:07 PM

It makes sense to me that she would be food aggressive due to not getting enough food.
In time she will realize that the food supply is going to be there, but I would recommend having her sit /stay for her bowl and a little bit of hand feeding too maybe.
Maybe NILIF (nothing in life is free)

rigbys mom · 11-16-2012, 01:24 AM

they have put a baby gate up so she can eat alone because they just learned the hard way that she cant eat food with any dogs relatively close they have a small dog who unwisely got to close she didnt hurt the dog just pinned her to the ground and made a lot of scary noises but just to be sure they will be separated during any meal times

Mom2Jax&Bay · 11-16-2012, 02:09 AM

Feed the dogs in their crate and away from each other. They need to feel safe while easting.That wil fix it.

Mokarainey · 11-16-2012, 06:51 AM

In time she will learn and that behavior will not be there, she will learn to trust. Thanks for helping her!

**martinc** · 11-16-2012, 08:35 AM

I remember Valant when I got him...hand feeding him,he would swallow the whole hand in a swift move and taking it with a bit of skin a few times...

Thankfully he was trained so he would wait if I told him to.

Now he takes stuff with his lips/tongue,as he should.

But a starved dog is a whole other thing,which might require more time and patience.

Lots of love,but first and foremost,lots of time with her before anything else.

Long slow walks,giving attention in smaller enclosed areas,watching TV with her laying at your feet,etc,etc. (bummer its winter coming,easier done in summer)

This is what I did with Valant and it worked.

cadkids · 11-16-2012, 10:46 AM

Brandi was like this too when we first got her we free fed her for the first few months after we had an issue with her snapping at Roxi over food once she realized she could have what she wanted and there was always food there she lost the aggression not to say the others dont still defer to her she gets to pick her bowl first then everyone else picks one in the pecking order that exists in a pack

11-15-2012, 03:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
rigbys mom Intermediate User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Washington Posts: 99	Rescued boxer now showing behavioral issues My sister's neighbor had a female brindle boxer locked in a cage the size of a closet filled with feces, she had sores on her bottom from sitting in her filth, a ring around her neck from a chain that was about to be imbedded,ears were being eaten by flies, she was 3 or 4 and completely skin and bones. After seeing the dog my sister tried everything from calling cops and rescue groups but no one would help. She finally convinced this "person" to give her the dog and after a few trips to the vet and food everyday and a comfy pillow by the couch to sleep on she seemes to be getting over her ordeal. she has filled out and the sores are about gone only some bald spots left but now that she has her energy and health back she seems to be displaying some food aggressive issues. it is understandable she would have some since she wasnt fed regularly before but obviously she cant continue to behave like this. besides this she is the perfect dog no accidents, loving but how to proceed with her food aggression?

11-15-2012, 04:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
af_wx_wife BoxerForums Addict Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,432	From my understanding you have to keep working on a food aggression like this. I hope she's in a home with no small children as they might not understand to not touch the dog while eating. Also making sure no other pet goes near the food dish while she's eating. I wish you the best & glad to see that this pup is now getting the love she deserves. __________________

11-15-2012, 06:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Georgiapeach Super User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Newnan, GA Posts: 1,869	I found this article: Food Aggression: Common Dog Aggression Problems: Training The behaviorist recommends completely doing away with the food bowl at first. I wouldn't have thought of this, but her advice, if you read the whole thing, makes sense to me. __________________

11-15-2012, 07:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Gypsiemouse Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 9,461	It makes sense to me that she would be food aggressive due to not getting enough food. In time she will realize that the food supply is going to be there, but I would recommend having her sit /stay for her bowl and a little bit of hand feeding too maybe. Maybe NILIF (nothing in life is free) __________________ Lynne- Owned by and Slave to Maggie and Mongo

11-16-2012, 02:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mom2Jax&Bay BoxerForums Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: East Houston area Posts: 3,003	Feed the dogs in their crate and away from each other. They need to feel safe while easting.That wil fix it. __________________ Owned by Jaxon- Flashy Fawn docked and natural 11/21/09 and Baylee- Fawn docked and cropped (kind of) 4/07/09 Rescue Lone Star Boxer Rescue volunteer since 2010

11-16-2012, 01:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
rigbys mom Intermediate User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Washington Posts: 99	they have put a baby gate up so she can eat alone because they just learned the hard way that she cant eat food with any dogs relatively close they have a small dog who unwisely got to close she didnt hurt the dog just pinned her to the ground and made a lot of scary noises but just to be sure they will be separated during any meal times

11-16-2012, 06:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mokarainey Intermediate User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 28	In time she will learn and that behavior will not be there, she will learn to trust. Thanks for helping her!

11-16-2012, 08:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
martinc Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Montreal,Quebec,Canada Posts: 3,721	I remember Valant when I got him...hand feeding him,he would swallow the whole hand in a swift move and taking it with a bit of skin a few times... Thankfully he was trained so he would wait if I told him to. Now he takes stuff with his lips/tongue,as he should. But a starved dog is a whole other thing,which might require more time and patience. Lots of love,but first and foremost,lots of time with her before anything else. Long slow walks,giving attention in smaller enclosed areas,watching TV with her laying at your feet,etc,etc. (bummer its winter coming,easier done in summer) This is what I did with Valant and it worked. __________________ Born 22-02-2002 @ 2:22:22-Yes I'm a rescued dog (28-07-09)...now get that camera out of my face!

11-16-2012, 10:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
cadkids Super User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: south bend indiana Posts: 1,438	Brandi was like this too when we first got her we free fed her for the first few months after we had an issue with her snapping at Roxi over food once she realized she could have what she wanted and there was always food there she lost the aggression not to say the others dont still defer to her she gets to pick her bowl first then everyone else picks one in the pecking order that exists in a pack __________________ Carol mommy of Roxi aka "rotten" at the bridge RIP sweet girl you are missed, Brandi, Buster and miss Ziggy and occasionally Mia

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
Boxer Forums Advertisement