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Are people Afraid of you when you walk your Boxer??

9K views 44 replies 17 participants last post by  Patriot8 
#1 ·
Does your Boxer allow anyone past your front door without barking??.
I ask as I am trying to find the best breed for my family(you may have seen my other post Boxer or GSD). I walk a lot alone and while I dont my dog to bite anyone-I'd rather take the approach that any undesirables would stay well clear anyway,because of my dog.
Any input very gratefully recieved!
Regards Tina
 
#2 ·
Yes, people are afraid of Duke. But he doesn't like strangers either and will not allow strangers to pet him if we are out on a walk.

No one can get anywhere near our house without him barking. Even if they are just walking by on the sidewalk, he's at the door growling. He's a great watchdog.

I would say that Boxers do have that intimidating look, but most of them are big clowns and just want to lick you to death. There are Boxers with anxiety issues and others that are afraid of everything. So you never really know.

The best bet would be to find a reputable breeder that does thorough health testing for DM, heart disease and hip dysplasia and find one who's breeding pair has the temperament that you're looking for.

The major thing that made us choose a Boxer was how wonderful they are with children! I've never felt uncomfortable with letting Duke play with our younger nieces and nephews. Our niece would walk him around the house on his leash and he followed her without pulling at all. It's like he just knew to be gentle with the little ones.
 
#3 ·
Thats lovely sasasola! Duke sounds like a wonderful dog-spot on what I need!. Yes the children thing is important to me too. Guess you could say i'm looking for my dog to be 'dual' purpose. Great family dog but also with an element to make people think twice, is he friendly? before they pet him!
 
#4 ·
The 1938 AKC breed standard posted on Wikipedia in the temperament section was one of things that tipped the scales towards a Boxer for me:

"The character of the Boxer is of the greatest importance and demands the most solicitous attention. He is renowned from olden times for his great love and faithfulness to his master and household. He is harmless in the family, but can be distrustful of strangers, bright and friendly of temperament at play, but brave and determined when aroused. His intelligence and willing tractability, his modesty and cleanliness make him a highly desirable family dog and cheerful companion. He is the soul of honesty and loyalty, and is never false or treacherous even in his old age.
— 1938 AKC Boxer breed standard[18]"
 
#10 ·
And of course I have to add my two cents on this! And again this is "applicable" to both breeds!

That standard was created as far as I know "before" the "American Boxer" arrived on our shores! It is still accurate for the WL GSD and most likely for the Euro/German Boxers.

I still have not worked with any full Euro Boxers as of yet but I have a worked with 50% Euro/American and yep pretty aloof at first but they seem to get over it pretty quickly! :)

A WL GSD ... not so much, they kinda hold onto the "I don't know you thing???" for quite a bit.

Unfortunately I don't remember the source but a book on the history of the Boxer said "Boxer's first arrived on American shores with the troops at the end of WW Two and at that time it was felt that the dogs were too "fierce" to be let loose on the American public!"

Thus was born the "American Boxer!" Now depending on your point of view?? The American Boxer is either a total success or a complete disaster??

Personally for me I think "we" got it right! :clap2:

With the American line Boxers the two "attributes" that stand out are "The Clown Price of the Dog World and "Goofy!" :)

I have a good old time bringing up Boxers on the GSD Forum! Kinda ticks of Jax08 she has two and they are very unlike my girl?? Euor's maybe?? I don't know??

I don't know "everything!" But I tend to have a large collection of "Who you gonna call folks" when I need backup!

And one of them is "Pirates Lair!" He has an "extremely" low thresholds for fools! This is an example of one of the dogs he helps to train!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_aBLcPanJI

And this is his wife and there PPD at work!:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5osw4ynoUI

That is a "PPD!"

Pirates Lair said he had no use for the "Boxer" as a PPD, he said the Dog's are to "Skinny and Goofy!"

I merely "smiled" and said well I prefer the terms "athletic and personable myself" but if people want a Boxer for a PPD?? "We" got that covered!

Meet "Cliff vom Grand Kevin"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyBvlAi-kdM

He said "OK ... now that's a dog! :cheers:

If you want to "know" what is involved in a "true" PPD ...he's the man to ask!
Since your on the GSD forum he would be the man to ask! Especially if your considering a WL with a family! You can PM him and be sure and tell him Chip sent you.

I do understand from the "Pro's" that a Dog can be taught to "Bark" on command! I don't know how to do that myself and so I can offer no advice on the subject but I do know that "screwing" around with hamfisted attempts at PP training is liable to result in a dog that is "unpredictable" at best and a "law suit" waiting for a place to happen!

By and large for "passive" PP "appearance" is key! So in keeping with my KISS principle a GSD is easily recognizable by pretty much everyone! A "Boxer" not so much??

A safe neutral approach is "Who Pets my Puppy or Dog" I do that with "every" dog I work with (rescue) because "I" don't know those dogs!

People "neutral" it over comes the "American Boxers" "everybody" is my friend thing! No automatic wiggle butt as it were! If "Mommy or Daddy" is good with this person ...then so am I! Not that hard to do, you just have to know how to accomplish it and now you do!

I will say a Blk GSD is pretty impressive at night! Extremely difficult to see! Rocky walks either in front or behind me off leash around here and I know he knows there! And at times I can't see him! Pretty much some one coming up on us at night?? Is going to have a pretty heart stopping moment if they have ill intent!

What would he do?? I have no idea but as I said ...not my problem! He knows what "normal' interaction looks like! And as the saying goes "you won't like me when I'm angry!!"

And a Blk GSD SL dog "would" have the same "appearance" and I did observe that although we get tons of compliments on how well behaved he is ... not many people were to eager to approach him!

"People neutral" folks have difficult getting a read on him ...but of course, I can! :)

So had you not thrown the "PPD" aspect into the mix, most likely it would have been a somewhat easier call!

The only issue with an "American line Boxer" and kids would be toddlers! And biting would not be the issue but speed would!

Boxers tend to treat toddlers like "Webbles" but as you know ...:


But to answer your question directly ...for me "No one" was every afraid of my "Boxer" and that was fine by me. :)
 
#5 ·
Our boy, who is now 1, doesn't know a stranger. He loves everyone and doesn't bark very often. Most people come up to us wanting to pet him. Though I notice now when we take him to say a Home Depot, some people will cross over to the other side of the aisle, while some will come and just ask to pet him. Of course he is still very much of a puppy at 1 year old.
I think perhaps, and its only my own thought you should consider the training you want to do with your dog and then decide on a breed. To me boxers stay kind of goofy and loving, while say a GSD, rottie, or doberman have a more serious nature, while still being loving to their family. Me personally if I wanted another dog that was good with my family but who strangers would be afraid of I would have a rottweiler. I had two in the past, both were actually very sweet natured and wouldn't harm a flea but people were afraid of them. My children grew up with them too. I did however remove them when friends were over, not because I was afraid they would hurt anyone but because of their size. I would do the same with the boxer. Dogs will always be dogs first so I'm not a risk taker, even when I think there isn't any with others children.
 
#6 ·
Most people are afraid ofZick when am walking him because he always has that mean look that scares people. I always let people know that he is friendly and that they do not have to worry. As for kids, he is always playful and some of them confuse that with aggression and tend to run away and that's when he chases them.
 
#7 ·
Thankyou Lindar51 for your input. If your avatar is your boy he is a real beauty-I love boxer faces. I will be doing puppy classes,basic obedience and perhaps some 'low level' protection training if there is such a thing. I very much like boxer/gsd which is why i've narrowed it down to these two breeds.
 
#11 ·
Aww Thankyou tinadillon, Thats our boy! In all honestly I am totally in love with this breed and if I get another it will more than likely be another boxer. They are just so sweet. I imagine he may get more protective as he gets older and of course some people will be afraid no matter what. Some folk even mistake our boxers as pitfalls, can't imagine why!

I'm sure when your decision is done it will be the right one for your family.
 
#9 · (Edited)
My boxer is very wary of strangers. Normally she's ok to walk past them, unless they are nervous of her, which she picks up on and then she gets nervous of them and might whimper a bit as we walk past them. Very occasionally we will come across someone that she is super nervous of for some reason and she will growl, in which case I just pull her off the sidewalk and make her sit until that person passes. I don't try to stop her growling, as I like to trust her instincts, but I don't want her to lunge out at anyone or bark at them when they haven't done anything obvious to deserve it. She would never bite anyone, but she will bark and sometimes do a quick bluff lunge if she really doesn't like someone (this usually happens when it is dark, the person is a very large man, and has a hood or large hat on). She doesn't let strangers touch her when we are out on a walk, unless they crouch down and let her approach them. Then within 30 seconds she's trying to crawl into their lap. She does not let anyone on or near our property without alerting the neighbourhood that someone is there. She would never hurt anyone, but she can be intimidating to strangers who don't know her. We used to live in the city and I would go running at night. My hubby said that the best thing about her is that when I go running at night with the dog he doesn't worry for one second that anyone would do anything to me. We've had people working on our house/roof this summer, and Aspen would be in the yard and keep a close eye on them from a distance, but won't approach them or let them pet her unless I go outside with her. She really is just a big wuss, and if anyone actually tried to do anything to her I have no doubt she would just run away.

She is also a fantastic family dog. Super good with kids, she is deaf so sometimes kids startle her, but she always reacts by jumping 10 feet in the air, then wagging her tail and licking the child, she has never, ever snapped at a child. We always supervise her around small kids, but she has never given us a reason not to trust her. My sisters have 7 kids between the two of them and they are completely comfortable with Aspen being around their kids. We have a baby on the way in a couple of months and even though my hubby is not a dog/animal person, he has no worries about Aspen with the new baby.

From what I've heard, female boxers tend to be more protective/territorial than males, but obviously there are exceptions to that.
 
#45 ·
Everything you wrote just made me so happy. I really hope we are just as lucky to get our girl and she have that natural protectiveness over our family. We have three kids 6,5,&3 and we have been so cautious choosing true perfect match for our family. Your girl sounds wonderful and congrats on your baby!
 
#12 ·
My female boxer makes it her business to alert us whenever people/dogs/kids walk by the house. She does a "perimeter check" of the backyard every morning and every time we leave the house and come back. I adopted her at 1.5 years old. I think she has grown more protective as time has gone on. This could be a combo of age and attachment to me and my husband. She loves the neighbors once she has met them.
She is my first boxer. I liked the size, protective qualities, and had heard boxers could be integrated into homes with cats so when she came available at the shelter I adopted her. I could not be happier... her house manners are really great...she drools like a faucet but does not make a mess with her water and food bowls, does not scratch the screen doors, and respects boundaries. I do not have children but I can see how boxers could be great with them because of their energy,curiousity, and desire to make a game out of anything.
Some people are definitely wary of her and on occasion she is mistaken for a pitbull. (she does not have a docked tail) When she is on leash she acts more protective than off leash. She can walk by people without issues but if she is on leash and someone starts talking to me I put her in a sit otherwise she can/will bark and lunge. She is very vocal and growls a lot during play i have to gotten used to this but some people definitely get worried. I never tried to break her of this because it does not bother me and i have learned the difference between her play growl and the suspicious one.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Yes "Boxers" are very vocal during play! Most likely a "bully" thing?? Only ones to top them are "Rotties!" Those dogs grumble and vocalize over everything!

Never had one but friends did and they were delightful dogs. We had a friend that went from Dobbies to Rotties and we got a call once because her dog was always carrying on and vocalizing at her???

We asked a few questions and laughed told her no a problem there, "they all do that!"
Never had one personally myself ...they always struck me as boring looking Boxers!

I also never saw the "drooling" thing with Struddell?? But to be fair my wife has told me things she caught Struddell doing that I never saw??

In my mind my baby girl was "perfect." :)
 
#14 ·
My two bark at anyone / everything they see / hear outside. Sometimes I think they bark a little too much :))

When someone is at our door they do know if it is a friend or stranger. With people they recognize it it jumping/ barking and butt wiggling. With people they don't know, it is jumping / barking/ hair raised along their backs and sometimes spit/foam flying out of their mouths. I must say they are a very good deterrent for solicitors!

Mine do not behave very well on leash - mostly when we see other people and they are leash reactive towards other dogs. Most people we encounter do not approach us without asking first. Maggie doesn't like people who have their hoodies up - she will always let out a low growl from quite a distance when she sees someone dressed like that. And she has let out a low growl towards other strangers at times as well. I think dogs have an innate sense of who is good or bad. They also feed off of us - if we invite someone into our home they are perfectly fine. They must feed off our emotions. My two are big lap babies to everyone they know, but I'd like to think if something was really wrong they would act accordingly. We've never had to test that though.

Most times we sit out back but sometimes we sit on our front deck and when people we know walk by they still bark but we tell them to hush (they don't usually listen). When we see strangers walk by I always tell my husband - let them bark and growl with their hair raised - we don't know those people / person - let them think our dogs are guard dogs. Especially since the vacant house down the street was broken in to.

:)
 
#15 ·
Tina, Boxers were bred as guard dogs. Shepherds actually were herding dogs. It sounds like you are fearful, and want a protection dog to some extent. As you raise a puppy they may sense that you are fearful, and want to take over as protector. This could be a disaster.

You talk about barking at the front door. You may get a dog who wants to be in charge of the house, and has not been selected for proper temperament. A dog like that may not even bark. Somebody may open the door, and still be attacked! Many Boxers, and Shepherds, are not big barkers. It wouldn't need to be a criminal, but could be a neighbor or even a child.

Spend the money to have a professional pick out, and train, a protection dog that will fit into your specific situation. If there is a dog bite, you will have to pay as much in damages as you would in finding a stable dog.
 
#16 ·
The barking thing is a "grey point." Struddell luv'd everyone she met?? In retrospect apparently she was correct!

I trust my dogs so if they "actually" feel that "something" is off with a person ...rest assured I trust their instincts!

Every dog pretty much barks at a knock on the front door. But a well trained dog doesn't bark at people walking by on the sidewalk??

A dog that barks at "everything" is not of much value as a guard dog?? A proper guard dog should be able to discern between what is "normal" background noise and what is not!

If my dogs bark inside the house or in the yard ... "something" is up! They lived next door to dogs on both sides that barked "constantly!!" Those dogs still do!!! My dogs never paid them any mind.

If my guys barked "something was different???" It may have been nothing more that a "squirrel" on a powerline??

Not a lot of them out here to my knowledge but if they barked it meant something was different??

If Struddell my Boxer was let outside in the winter ...she'd make a quick dash to the back of the yard go potty and then "boom" bark, bark back at the door within minutes if not seconds!

By contrast my GSD, who if I was in the house will literally lay quietly by my feet within five feet or less of me ...sigh ....

If I let him outside he will stay outside for hours! He won't make a sound "unless" he "actually" hears "something" unusual??? I have to remember to let him in!

I would say that if you have a well trained dog of "either" breed things like that are the "differences" you will see. It came as a surprise to me??

Been eight years with "Rocky" GSD, and the above situation has not changed. :)

On the other hand Rocky is a WL GSD, and his people "issue" was a huge surprise to me ???

No barking, no lunging no, no out of control "craziness!" Company was greeted with a low rumbling growl and a cold hard stare!!!

I will grant that it could have been a "fear" of people reaction?? Nonetheless it told me that "enticing company" into his space was "not" a good idea!!

I'd say the fact that he is safe with company and in public and has not bitten anyone ...says I was right! I still don't encourage any visitors in the home to pet him. He stays in "Place" and I let no one touch him!

My Boxer?? Company was a "great time for all!" Men luv'd her smiling and giggling for all involved at her antics! Wigging and licking faces as she walked from lap to lap! She slept with company and sulked when they left. :(

Women were pretty "cool" to her antics?? Personally I think they were jealous of her slim figure! :)

My GSD?? He is much more like "nice to see you ...when you leaving???" That kinda sums up the difference in the two breeds. A SL GSD I don't know?? If people aren't throwing snide remarks at them on the GSD Board, I have heard them described as Lab like?? I have no idea myself ??I have never met a "people friendly" GSD but I heard of them on the GSD Forum.

Training and management is key with "all" dogs but especially "working dogs!" That is pretty much universal!

With either breed it's game on! I'd say a badly behaved Boxer could drive "you" nutty! A badly behaved GSD ...could get you sued!

A PPD is "serious" business! A fully PPD is either a serious comment in time and money or a half trained "mickey mouse" job with either breed is a "law suit" waiting for a place to happen!

What I say "constantly" on the GSD Board that most likely ticks off Jax08??? Is that "I have never seen a badly behaved Boxer! "Every" Boxer I have ever seen was just like my Struddell." (high praise indeed!)

That includes "Deer Dog" who I took from his owner hands "struggling to rein in his pulling Boxer" and "Tick Tac Toe' he was "claimed to be a puller and had people issues.

They were both fine with me on walks and I used a Slip Lead Leash on both dogs. I only understood TIc Tac Toe had a "serious fear of people issue" when someone I was speaking to asked to pet him.

They started to approach us and TTT pressed in next to me (he had been standing calmly by my side while I spoke) I looked down and his eyes were big as saucers!! Good enough! My hand when out and I said "No he's in training" and we moved on!

He understood "Daddy" had his back! That is the key to properly raising any dog "especially" a working line dog.

They are both great "Breeds" and both very different experiences.
 
#18 · (Edited)
K.O. has some fear issues. If any hinky people are around, K.O. goes into full alert mode and may bark or growl at them. If they get too close, he lets them know by trying to advance towards them and being very vocal. At that point, I may have to turn him and command him to stand down. There are some people around here that fear him and that is exactly how I want it. There are other "dog people" in the neighborhood that understand him and he knows them and they are his friends. K.O. is very picky with his humans. He is also the same way with a new, unknown dog that enters into his radar range. Separately, he is great with the grandkids, very gentle, loving and playful.

94 lbs of guardian Boxer loyalty... right here...



 
#28 ·
Oh ... is that an "over sight" in the clips?? I "assumed" that they explained "all" the details???

I had another one but it went off on Clickers and treats so I ditched it! An over sight on my part so sorry all.

But happy to explain.

Nope not one spot. It can be used anywhere once trained! The dog is free to move about the designated "space" but he is not free to leave it!

I car proofed my dogs the manual way I had the car parked, opened the a door and if they stepped out ... without my say so, back in they go!

Not very "sophisticated" but they got it. Eventually all doors open or all windows down they don't come out until till "I say so!"

It worked out fine but if you "train" "The Place Command" you can do the same thing by saying "Place" in the car.

But to start a large beach towel would most likely be a good choice. That would make it easier for the dog to see where he is suppose to be. They would be allowed to move freely on the towel they just can't step off it.

As it happened I had trained a variation of "The Place Command" I just never realized it until my GSD showed "me" that I had done this???

I had called "Place" ... "On the Lawn" same deal free to move about you just can't leave the yard. :)

http://www.boxerforums.com/1732009-post14.html

"Place" is not the same as a "Stay." Stay means don't move at all and it usually only last for three minuets at the most.

CCG 3 minuet out of sight of owner "Stay." The goal for a properly trained "Place Command" is two hours!

Rocky was pretty easy in the house not liking people an all he "chose to stay in Place in the home. My job was to tell family and friends "No" just leave him alone! :)

I only became aware of this within the last year! But I do what I can to pass it on!

I would imagine it would take sometime to fully train?? Not alot about time lines to my knowledge??

I had hear 15 minuet intervals once?? So that's a guide line and I would break that down to 5 minuet intervals and build to 15 and at 15 start tacking on 10 to get to an hour and then 15 to get to one!

If you want to add treats?? A treat at the intervals would be fine.

You could do multiple towels or carpets and just say place, give it a couple minuets move to the next and say place. Then work up to 5, then 10 then 15, then start stacking on 10 or 15 minuet intervals.

You can kind of see that how long it takes is a big variable! And the dogs not safe till proofed with distractions! That would be long line time!

Out in public Say "Place" put down a towel or a wash cloth! And say "Place" go to the end of the line and wait!

The last part is not entirely necessary but if your shooting for "bomb proof reliability" it is!


Train The ?Place? Command |
 
#29 ·
OK the above is my understanding of the process but ... there's hope! As I say I like to use the KISS concept and what I outlined was not really in keeping with that!

But cheer up all! Because the question was asked I started looking again and since I now have another go to source I went there!!

I think everyone will find this a very clear explanation and it does not sound like it's the long drawn out process I made it seem!

He does use an E-Collar but he explains you don't need to it just makes the process faster
and easier still. I don't use an E-Collar myself but I understand the principles involved.

At any rate it sounds like the process is not as tedious and time consuming as I made it seem!

Take a look. And let me know what you think??? :)

Train The ?Place? Command |
 
#31 ·
Nope. They are similar but different!

For the front yard I could have used Place but I did not know it at the time. But the whole of our front yard is for my guys a giant "Place mat!"

If I say "On The Lawn" they are free to move about the whole of the front yard. If I say "Stay" it means don't move from this spot! But in that case "on the lawn" only worked at home!

Watch the last video I posted I think he explains it pretty well. Use the dog bed but say "Place" instead of go to bed!

Pretty sure we all say go to bed ...doesn't work all that well. Use a leash if he comes off the bed put him back and say "Place!"

It's his bed anyway so screw it keep him there for 30 minuets. Keep an eye on him and again say "Place" and guide him back if he moves!

When it's time release him with "OK."

Do it once a day for a week! The next week take four bath towels put them in the back yard place them 5 feet or so apart.

Guide him to the first one point and say "Place" he should follow your hand and step on the towel. Say good boy and repeat "Place" wait 5 minuets go to the next towel and repeat. Repeat at each towel.

Do that for a week or two if he will stay on the towels for 20 or 30 minuets. Then go to the car use a long line if needed. Open the door leave it open and say "Place." Most likely ...he will stay in the car! :)

Your going to have to keep an eye on him so bring a chair! The long line is used if needed! I don't know if he's a runner??

He will understand that he is free to move about in that "Place/Car" but he can't leave it!

So you can see how if used "go to bed" it won't work! The car is not a bed??

And if you do the towel thing, then when you take him out and about ...you put a towel down and say "Place." :)

It works like "Sit on the Down" I often say with that one it's not important what the owner thinks of it, it's what it does for the dog that matters!

The Place Command is the same deal. Use "Place" you Boxer once properly taught will get it! :)

Is this better??
 
#35 ·
People afraid of Hank? LOL No, he is a chick magnet!

If anything, Hank is still a bit skittish around strangers.

But, he has shown protective instincts a few times, when needed.

Most people that see Hank, want to come up and pet him as he is very handsome. But, Hank does not really like strangers. He kind of backs away. Until he figures them out, then he will want to play with them. Now children, he wants to chase them and lick them!
 
#36 ·
Huh funny enough I'd have to say Struddell was fearless??

She proved that she knew when someone was suppose to be around and when they were not! I did not heed her counsel that night and had stuff stolen!

I kinda considered here "nutty" and "Goofy" when it came to people??But confident and self assured would look the same??

On walks no one was afraid of her! What people saw was a confident well adjusted dog. She liked "everyone" and she was right! :)

I get "skittish" with my GSD! Very handler dependent, if he is on leash and stop and talk to someone he stands calmly by side. If he is off leash and I do the same. He will walk five feet away and lay down and wait for me to move on. I can work with that!

In the home much different! A poorly trained Boxer is (usually) just a major PIA for the owner! A poorly trained WL GSD is law suit waiting to happen!!

Take note of the breath of "Aggression" issue's in this Forum:
Aggression (the good, the bad & the ugly) - German Shepherd Dog Forums

You don't see that here. :)
 
#37 ·
OK I've been PM'ing an experienced WL GSD member and asking them about a family friendly GSD. She did not think "my" recommendation of an American Line GSD was a great idea.

I guest there is also an American "Pet line" I guess it's a thing?? Nothing I've seen?? And a "West German Showline GSD" did get a nod. She said they are still aloof and I gather would require good management skills.

By and large most of the things I talk about all the time are all that are required to be successful with a GSD?? But I don't know what to say about GSD's if you don't want to make a dog "your life" instead of being a "part of it" to many types of GSD's and the negatives still seem to be the same whether they come from haters or a more balanced perspective??

I tried and still it would seem got it wrong? So I'll just stick with not recommending GSD's to most people. The Breed will do just fine with out my approval.

The Boxer thing is a lot easier American or Euro great family pets. Yes management still required but the challenges are much different in nature for the most part.

But as it happens ...what I do best is provide information and let folks make the call! I can still do that two folks on my friends list one does SL and does WL!

So I'll pm the names and "you" can get there perspective directly! Tell them Chip sent you! :)
 
#38 · (Edited)
Chip what a lovely kind thing to do-THANKYOU! :cheers: And just as a side noticed quite a lot of working line gsd here in the UK are czech lines?? Dont know if thats good or bad tho as regards trainability. We have an excellent assured breeder scheme with the UK kennel club where puppies are bred for health temprement as well as looks of course BUT i would like a long coat gsd( or semi) and that is frowned upon in the showring so I will have to look elsewhere. I am leaning more towards the gsd,the look of the gsd is a visual deterrent(ie reputation preceeds them) They have a high trainability factor(my irish setter was a bit bonkers but they are known for it!) and i would like to play ball with my dog and do a lot of off leash walking KNOWING my dog will be obediant and return when called.My IS got that down pretty good,about 90% return for the whistle,but the IS breed is not known for its trainability!.Also I was heavily pregnant when he was a pup so he didnt get the best start 'training' wise. New pup will be different. In fact i am looking forward to some 'me' time with my dog getting out and doing training classes and obedience as well as my walks.It will be 'my' time to bond with my dog :clap2:
 
#39 ·
Ok so i clearly remember saying my guy doesn't bark at people at the door... Well I am now wrong. For the last week or so he would "grumble" as people knocked on the door today we're full out barking! And I'd say if you didn't know my guy just that one or two loud barks may make unwanted strangers think twice!
 
#43 ·
Yeah i think sometimes people are afraid of approaching my boxer Sammy. I do not understand the reason why because he only barks when someone seems nervous and afraid and mostly as a way to communicate and not necessarily aggression. I put him on a leash most of the times when i am walking him so that people do not have to run away so much.
 
#44 ·
Hmm OK not sure where you've been?? But I've managed to put together some links, specifically for this "problem."

Struddell and Gunther were as back as it got with company and of course "Struddell" (Boxer) was the worst! She was pretty much the center of attention at all family gatherings!

As a general rule most of the women were pretty "cool" to her antic's but most of the male visitors luv'd her! So it was pretty useless trying to gain control with company saying "aww it's OK. :)

Take a look here "The Place Command" and "Sit on the Dog" are how you can help him to chill out. :)

http://www.boxerforums.com/training/183298-fearful-anxious-flat-crazy-place-command.html
 
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