great boxer needs home-will deliver

[dlr1957]

Thanks for reply & articles you sent.

I understand the principle of NILF, but I think my dog, Eva, respects my husband & me. She is pretty obedient & isn't allowed on furniture, & sits & waits for permission to eat. I wrote before that I am afraid I may have to re-home her due to having young grandchildren.
one of the 1st times she was around 3 yr old she growled when he picked up a ball she had been playing with. I was very watchful, kept toys away from her, consulted a behaviorist, & have been having child feed her, etc. things were ok for 1 mo. then when 2 boys were being playful & running around with me I think I heard her growl. Am only 98% sure . Sometimes she does guard with me. She is 5 & I don't think she has been around kids much. I try to keep kids calm when they are around her, & put her in another room w/ gate when they are not, but I am not willing to change my entire life & kids life to have Eva. I have been told on this forum that I need to work w/ her, but don't know what I am supposed to do. Can you tell me anything specific to my situation?
Thanks

[Kaiser_Titus]

Originally Posted by totallyhip

That is frustrating. I would keep looking for someone to help you with her. If you really want to keep her. Otherwise I would contact other rescues. Honestly a month isn't that long. It took us quite a while to work thru the issues with a couple of our dogs. The key is consistency and lots of practice.

I can only agree with totallyhip A month isn't a very long time... trust me when I tell you I thought I made a big mistake many times when I first got Titus...never had a puppy before oh boy it's like having a child...and now I can't even imagine my life without him!!! You do have to work with them and be consistent... you got great advise already... let her settle in and I am sure you can all work it out. Good Luck and keep us updated

[Hulk]

I just saw your reply to my resource guarding sticky, sorry I don't post on this forum much anymore--

Here is a good article to get started on children and dogs
Dogs & Kids, information for every parent Dog training blog, Austin tx

It is very easy for a dog without leadership or strong enough leadership to try and gain status with children. I don't mean this to be rude to you but so that you understand, dogs operate on pack dynamics not human emotion or relations...NILF's main premise is to get owners to start to understand the concept, you work--you get rewarded...it is also good impulse control...I work in rescue and have boxer of all temperaments in and out all the time, Start with the basics:
1. Leash her, control all of her time...Food control....no furniture priveledges at all!!
This sounds militant but to a dog it is how they operate in pack, it is more cruel for a dog to live a life of insecurity(the growling is fear more times than not)

I hope some of this helps, again sorry I don't post here much

[totallyhip]

Originally Posted by dlr1957

Thanks for reply & articles you sent.

I am not willing to change my entire life & kids life to have Eva. I have been told on this forum that I need to work w/ her, but don't know what I am supposed to do. Can you tell me anything specific to my situation?
Thanks

I am sorry but people have given you some really good advice and its up to you to follow thru or not. You have already said that you are not willing to change your life to keep this girl in your life, so I would say that its safe to say you've obviously already made up your mind and aren't keeping her and aren't willing to work with her or give her the right time to adjust. I hope she finds a good home.

[dlr1957]

I did not say I was unwilling to change anything or try to have Eva adjust. I have been working most advice ,except I can't crate her because she panics & has broken teeth. will putting her in another room with a gate be ok? I have to do this when kids are here. I also haven't put her on leash in the house. Is it necessary since she is obedient & sits or goes & lays on her bed when told. She is not allowed on furniture, but after we go to bed she sometimes gets on couch if I don't remember to put something in her way.
The reason I am getting discouraged is that I'm not seeing much improvment, she is unpredictable,& only exhibits behavior with dogs & kids, & only occasionally growls, but she looks tense around kids. The dog sites I have read are all against having a resource guarder in a house with small kids.
I'm told not to correct her for growling since it is a warning, but since i began correcting her for growling at dog it has been steadily improving.
I've had dogs all my life, but no experience with this. They were all friendly to everyone.So I'm asking what I'm doing right & wrong and if others with experience with this think she will really adjust & become trustworthy with kids.What I meant is I'm not willing to never let them be boisterous kids (ages 1- & they are over too much to keep her locked up the whole time. None of them would hurt an animal, but they are used to going about their life without having to be cautious around family pets.I should add I wouldn't leave a 1 yr old alone with a dog since I wouldn't leave a 1 yr old alone period.Thanks for all the help.

[cadkids]

I live in northern Indiana also maybe a play date if its not to far would help i have three lunatic boxers that might help her relax although one of mine has her own "protective" streak that has driven me nuts over the years shes 5 too but we have mostly worked thru it is this your first boxer? they are a breed like no other so even if you have always had dogs this can be a whole new experience !!

[MamasGirl]

Hi,
sorry to hear about your dogs guarding issues and boxer's are protective. I have two things to say 1st it is possb. the dog doesnt get enough exercise?? The other thing is I volnt. for northeasternboxerrescue.com please contact Jane Scott @

Northeastern Boxer Rescue
P.O. Box 95
Sunderland, Massachusetts 01375-0095
413-367-9292 Voice / Fax
contact@boxerrescue.com
Please call her!!!!!!! Keep us all posted.
Most of dogs are in foster home's and not caged as you are concerned about that.

If we cant help there is Second Chance Boxers 877-281-3146
NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT HEAR FROM US WITHIN 7 DAYS, PLEASE CALL LEANN AT 207-443-2461 TO VERIFY THAT YOUR INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED)


.

ONLINE SURRENDER FORM

[dlr1957]

Thank you so much for the offer of play date & rescue info. I guess I just pictured it like the pound, except not killing them. I thought there were never enough foster homes available.
For update, I'm praying that Eva may yet adjust. Kids spent the night last night & were here all day today, & no major problem. Since I feel she respects husband & me I'm working on teaching her to respect kids.They feed her, have her sit, shake, speak, etc for treats. I'm teaching her to respect their space, when she gets pushy, licking their face, etc I make her back up & sit, or send her to lay down. She no longer chases them, & didn't seem bothered by loud play. By the time they left, she was sleeping normally & not paying much attention to them. I'm still very cautious, I don't let her get between kids & me so she won't be tempted to guard me & try to keep them from jumping around near her & keep her gated out of their room, so she won't decide any toys are hers. I could tell she was much more relaxed this visit, but am still wondering if I will ever be able to let my guard down. I have the kids too much for all these precautions to be necessary forever.
Also noticed that last wk someone was visiting & on the floor petting her & my beagle came up & she snarled at him, unwilling to share the attention. Today when uncle came over & was petting her & beagle came over she tried half heartedly to tackle him, but no growling. Do you think she is improving enough that she may accept kids as higher members of pack? Her being so old (5) really worries me.
No this isn't my 1st boxer, I grew up with 3 who weren't crazy about strangers, but would never dream of growling at family. As an adult I had one for 14 yrs, but she was the mellowest, most non aggressive boxer I've ever seen, & we did everything you aren't supposed to, we talked baby talk to her & got a king size bed because she took up so much room. I knew nothing about dog training or behavior, have just started learning because of problem with this new one.
Thanks again, I feel much better knowing there is somewhere for her if her behavior doesn't continue to improve.

[MamasGirl]

The work you will have to do will be hard if you want to keep her and love her. However if you continue to do it EVERYDAY the rewards will be great. Its good you get the kids involved to so she does accept them. Dont forget boxers think there kids to and just want to play and jump w/other kids....lol Growling and tackling other dogs should be given a time out of some sort. Maybe a behaviorist isnt the way to go and you could be wasnt $$$$? I found something on boxers that I am going to PM you and hopes it helps.

[dlr1957]

Thanks again for all your support. I made the decision that we have to give Eva up. Yesterday I forgot to pick up her bowl before I let my beagle out. He is 13 & deaf, so I couldn't call him when he went by it & I saw it was a problem. Eva has pounced on him 3 or 4 times before, but this was the worst & it seemed like forever before I could get her off him. Thank God she hasn't bit him, but while it is happening of course I can't tell that he isn't being killed & it was a wake up call that I can't always manage the problem, & if she was killing him there was nothing I could do about it. I have never given up a dog before & it is very painful, but I didn't sign up for this. The people I got her from told me she was good with kids & dogs, otherwise I wouldn't have taken her. In the last several years we have lost our son, my husband went through kidney failure & a transplant & our 14 yr old boxer passed away. I wanted a dog to bring joy into our lives, not stress & heartbreak. I called both rescue # you gave me, but it was Sat. so I'm hoping to hear from them Mon. I have to find a place for her soon. I hope I'm not making her sound vicious, she is far from it, has never bitten anyone, is submissive with people & really the most obedient dog I have ever owned. She just needs a home without small kids & either no animals or possibly one she can play with may work, but she doesn't appreciate my my 13 yr. old beagle.