i have 2 boxers...joey(female) who is 3 1/2 and casey (male) who just turned 3. Joey is hyper and a little bit nervous where as casey is calm. I have a 21 mo. old son and a baby on the way. when my son was born we paid a professional dog trainer to train the dogs so that they would listen and it worked pretty well. soon after we noticed joey the female becoming a little aggressive toward strangers. She would lunge at strangers who wanted to pet her, nip at the vet and the people at the kennel she'd be staying at, even bit her groomer that she regularly goes to. These events are odd; we have never had a problem at home at all. She is the most loving, cuddly dog who always wants to lay with someone or cuddle up to her brother casey.
I tell you all of this bc today she got up to the table when i walked away and started eating my dinner. I caught her in the act, and because my son was watching i made her get down on the ground (pushed her with my knee, not too hard, just so she was laying) and i scolded her. When the dogs are bad my son and i point with our index finger and say "bad bad doggie". Since he was watching that is what i did. (i otherwise might have tapped her with my hand in her nose, but i don't want my son to think i "hit" the dog and its ok for him to do it) As i was scolding her, she got a crazy look in her eyes and bit my finger pretty hard...the absolute first time she's ever shown agression toward me. then, i grabbed her neck and put her head on the ground (like our trainer taught me) and she jumped up and tried to bite my face! I was furious, called my husband in as i took my son out of the room, and my husband tried to get her downstairs to her crate but she was trying to bite him as well!
After hours in her crate, we brought her back up and she is loving and fine again. However what if she does this to my children? She has always been a little off, but i don't think i can trust her around my children without supervision and i don't know how i will be able to watch 2 kids with 2 dogs at all times. My boxers have a very great life with me being home all day. THey go to the field and run almost everyday and really do have the life of luxury. I don't know what could be causing this aggression but i do know it is getting worse. Should i get rid of her, even though she is afraid of strangers? or should i (gasp) put her down? Or does she deserve another chance? I love her to death but this is the first time I have ever been scared of her. Please help! Thanks!
I tell you all of this bc today she got up to the table when i walked away and started eating my dinner. I caught her in the act, and because my son was watching i made her get down on the ground (pushed her with my knee, not too hard, just so she was laying) and i scolded her. When the dogs are bad my son and i point with our index finger and say "bad bad doggie". Since he was watching that is what i did. (i otherwise might have tapped her with my hand in her nose, but i don't want my son to think i "hit" the dog and its ok for him to do it) As i was scolding her, she got a crazy look in her eyes and bit my finger pretty hard...the absolute first time she's ever shown agression toward me. then, i grabbed her neck and put her head on the ground (like our trainer taught me) and she jumped up and tried to bite my face! I was furious, called my husband in as i took my son out of the room, and my husband tried to get her downstairs to her crate but she was trying to bite him as well!
After hours in her crate, we brought her back up and she is loving and fine again. However what if she does this to my children? She has always been a little off, but i don't think i can trust her around my children without supervision and i don't know how i will be able to watch 2 kids with 2 dogs at all times. My boxers have a very great life with me being home all day. THey go to the field and run almost everyday and really do have the life of luxury. I don't know what could be causing this aggression but i do know it is getting worse. Should i get rid of her, even though she is afraid of strangers? or should i (gasp) put her down? Or does she deserve another chance? I love her to death but this is the first time I have ever been scared of her. Please help! Thanks!