[DKENNEDY]

I HAVE A 1 1/2 YEAR OLD BOXER NAME ABBEY. EVERYTIME SHE DOES SOMETHING I TELL MY HUSBAND THAT HE PICKED THE CRAZY ONE OUT OF THE LITTER. I THINK WE ARE GOING THREW THE TERRIBLE TWOS. IT STARTED WITH THE FENCE JUMPING. WE HAD NO IDEA SHE WAS DOING IT. WHEN WE COME HOME FROM WORK SHE WOULD ALWAYS BE IN THE FENCE.THE MAN NEXT DOOR INFORMED ME. THEN WE TRIED AN IN GROUND ELECTRIC FENCE. THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK, AND THEN OVER THE FENCE SHE WENT. WE HAD TO KEEP HER INSIDE DURING THE DAY. EVERY DAY I CAME HOME TO FIND TOTAL DISTRUCTION. WE HAD TO PUT HER BACK OUTSIDE ON A SWIVEL STAKE. WE MADE IT LONG ENOUGH SO SHE COULD RUN THE WHOLE YARD BUT JUST SHORT OF THE FENCE. LASTED ABOUT A WEEK. SHE FOUND AWAY TO SLIP OUT OF THE COLLAR. THEN TRIED A HARNESS. PEOPLE SAID NO WAY SHE CAN GET OUT. WAY. LASTED 5 MIN. BACK INSIDE SHE WENT. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I GET A CALL FROM THE CITY OF GROVES. ANIMAL CONTROL IS AT MY HOUSE. THE CITY SAID MY VICIOUS PIT BULL HAS BROKEN THE FRONT WINDOW AND HAS TRIED TO GET THE MAILMAN. I INFORMED THEM THAT SHE WAS NOT A PIT AND THAT SHE WOULD NEVER BITE ANYONE. ABBEY GETS EXCITED WHEN THE MAILMAN COMES. WE HAVE A SLOT IN THE DOOR THAT THE MAIL COME TREW. THATS THE HIGHLIGHT OF HER DAY. SHE MUST HAVE BEEN BOUNCING HER PAWS ON THE WINDOW AND IT BROKE. I THINK SHE WAS AS SURPRISED AS THE MAILMAN. THE POSTAL SERVICE REFUSED TO DELIVER MAIL TO MY HOUSE UNTIL I GOT HER UNDER CONTROL. WE TAPED THE BLINDS TO THE WALL SO SHE CANT EVEN SEE OUT. ARE ALL BOXERS WHACKY? WE LOVE HER AND WOULD NEVER GIVE HER UP, BUT PLEASE TELL ME SHE WILL GROW OUT OF THIS.

PS. DUG A WHOLE IN MY KINGSIZE BED AFTER MAILMAN INCIDENT. STILL LOVE HER

 

[sully]

I would suggest that first you get a crate, and crate train your dog as quickly as possible so she can be safe in there when you are gone. It does sound like she probably has some separation anxiety, the destructive behavior coupled with the desperate need to escape sounds like a panic reaction.  It's also possible shes just bored and needs more exercise.    If she's breaking windows and jumping fences she is a danger to herself (and possibly to others) so I wouldn't take the situation lightly.  Obedience training or at least some basic training on your part would probably go along way as well.

 

[Diesel-and-Kira]

I think I started a thread about the mailman a long time ago. I got into a long talk with my mother about it. because our mailman had to deliver a package right to the door, and refused to hand it to me unless I moved Diesel away from the door. Mind you, he doesn't even bark. he was just sitting there next to me. I was surprised that he was scared of a dog that wasn't moving, or doing anything threatening at all, but my mom reminded me that they deal with mean dogs on a daily basis, and they just assume that every single dog is going to try to attack them eventually.
so whenever you get a chance, ask your mailman if it's ok to introduce your dog to him. That way he's not a strange man to your dog, and he'll know your dog isn't going to try to eat him. Even though we know our dogs are friendly as can be..they do look intimidating to others. Especially when they're in full hyper mode, jumping, bouncing, barking and all that fun stuff.

It's (in my mind) never very safe to leave your dog in the yard alone while you're at work. While it seems great for them to have that freedom all day, there's just too many things they can get into while you're away. So my suggestion, along with tons other here I'm sure..is to crate your pup while you're gone. It provides a safe place to rest, and saves your yard and home from boredom destruction.

The most important thing I can ask / say..is are you walking her often? a tired dog is a happy dog. If they're bored and not stimulated enough they'll start destroying stuff to entertain themselves. a nice long walk is the cure to a lot of bad behaviors.


and the last thing..I hate the 'vicious pit bull' stuff.  My dogs parents got out of their yard once, and the same thing happened. neighbors said 'vicious pitbulls' were loose so animal control shows up with GUNS!! even if you're wrong in saying boxers are pit bulls, do you have to assume their also vicious?! give me a break.

 

[PhoenixsMom]

She sounds like she needs more exercise so she doesn't have any built up energy to lead her to be destructive.
Crate training and some basic obedience probably wouldn't hurt either. Is there anyway you can calmly introduce her to the mailman sometime when you are home?

 

[AshleysMom]

Poor Abbey
I know how you feel..my tightly strung 1st boxer Casey pulled the same trick on me with the mailman. She HATED anyone in uniform. I came home to a note pasted on the front fence saying they would no longer deliver MY mail either due to my "aggressive" dog. I was stunned till I walked in the house, and saw the front screen almost torn off. She was this way ALL her life, and the only advantage was we moved from that home ( just a business move..nothing to do with the mial ) and she only had a small side window next to the door to peek out. I never had to talk to the Schwans guy, the Kirby salesman Ect ever again.
She had a companion boxer with her, who never picked the habit up, thank goodness, but it didn't help. She had full run of the outside, and plenty of exersize. I never figured it out, and no matter how many reprimands she got..she just went ballistic if anyone came to the house..
Sorry my post was of no help, as I never curbed her behavior...I loved her to death, but was scared for outsider...sorry your going through this!!

 

[Barbs2Ks]

You might consider taking Abbey to daycare (if you have a good one close to you).  It is a great way to socialize and also it will wear her out playing with all of the other dogs.  I also agree that a crate will be safer for her while you are away.

Boxers are not really outside dogs and shouldn't be left out long in extreme heat or cold.