How can I help my antisocial dog?

Question

My husband and I adopted a 4-year-old boxer from his coworkers because they recently had a baby, and the dog was very jealous. When we first got Sadie, she was very sweet. In fact, she is still an angel with us. But as time goes on, we have realized that Sadie is VERY jealous, VERY territorial, and is just not very socialized at all. It seems that those people did not ever have her around other dogs OR children.

Is there any way to socialize the dog at this stage? Some people have suggested that I get one of the training collars, and deliver a small shock via remote every time she is aggressive (when we are walking, usually). Does anyone agree/disagree or have any other suggestions? This is a very large dog, 70 pounds, and though she does not try to bite, she is very loud and menacing. Please help!

Answer 1

Yes, you should be able to socialize this dog at her age. Shock collars do not train dogs - they mask the problem and are great for people too lazy to teach their dogs anything.

If you can find a really good obedience class with trainers who understand dogs (and the important thing here is that they treat dogs as individuals, not those who only know 1 method and use it no matter the dog's temperament), take her to classes. But what I would do is start her off at home.

How is she with kids? Is she actually aggressive? Does she growl to warm them away? Is it because she isn't used to kids and is using it as self-defense? Is she ok with older kids but not with young ones? A good behaviourist might be the best solution for you because they can see the dog in a situation and will be able to read her to determine why she's doing what she's doing, from there you can fix it.

If you're experienced with dogs, you should be able to do it yourselves. Don't leave her alone with any kids, gauge her reactions. With other dogs, you can't take her to a dog park, but you can get her used to walking on leash near other dogs on leash. She'll pick up on your body language - if you tense up, tighten the leash, etc., she'll think there's a reason and it encourages her to act aggressively. You need to keep her close to you but be very calm, talk to her, distract her and give her lots of praise and/or treats for any good behaviour.

If she doesn't like you having visitors, you need to make that into a good experience for her. Let her greet them at the door - they are not to talk to her, pet her or make eye contact with her until after she's done sniffing. They can then pet her if she's willing, maybe offer her treats and she'll learn that new people are a good thing. It's hard to give too much advice without actually seeing how she interacts with other people or dogs.

Answer 2

Boxers are normally very possesive of their owners and allow only recognizable and constant friends get too close. What you could try is getting a muzzle for her, a simple one nothing too fancy, and takign her to a place where there are a lot of peopel. What I do is take dogs, adults and pups, to petsmart or petco or any pet store that allows pets inside. With the muzzle on, she will not pick fights as well as not attack people. What you want to do, don't just go inside, walk around outside on the grass of the parking lots or around the sidewalk first so she gets the scent of many people. Walk her past the automatic doors but don't go in yet. Let her know that doors open and people are inside. Then go inside and walk around. don't let her sniff anything too much but let her walk around and look around. Take your husband or someone that can handle the dog with you. Spend about 10-15 minutes just walking around inside, by something small and make her wait inline just like normal. it will take sometime but she will get used to seeing many people around her at once. When it comes to inside the home, boxers are protective and possesive if their owners. Not necessarily property but definately owners. Stay away from shock collars unless you are positive it is the last resort and you have tried other methods first. I am against giving new owners shock collars because the collar are intimidating to the dogs and give the owner TOO much confidence in a little nick nack that won't be on all the time.

Answer 3

Just take her to a training course. People there understand dogs and can explain to you what the best way is to treat her. She also learns to be around other dogs that way. A well trainded dog is often a happy dog but there's a lot more to training a dog than driving shocks through her body. You don't have to get violent to train a dog. I hate the idea of driving a shock through a dog for doing something she was taught to do by people. It's not her fault the coworkers didn't raise her right. By the way I love the fact that you took her in and that you are trying to find a solution for her behavior rather than just dumping her. Good luck

Answer 4

It is never to late to turn a bad dog into a sweet sweet angel. Spent time with her and show her that she shouldnt be jealous by giving the same amount of time to whatever you are doing and her. Iclude her in some of your every day activities, get her training and then send her to a doggy daycare so se can be with pups every day. Maybe you can also sell her to somebody (no offence) who will devote a lot of time with her. When she barks give her a tap on the rump and she will stop. Some pups arent sociable but this seems serious, if you have to sell her make sure the person who you are selling her to is free, can take her to work, has enough money to fit her to her every need, and has an older child in collage or something just so the dog wont attack. I am sorry if you have to sell your dog. Best of wishes-
Lauren the dog lover.

Answer 5

Hi! Hope this helps. There's a short period in a puppy's development, from very early puppyhood to three or four months of age, when his experiences have a big effect on his entire approach to life. If he has lots of positive encounters with other dogs, all kinds of humans, and new situations during that developmental window, he's far more likely to grow up to be a confident, relaxed, and friendly dog. Trainers call this process socialization. Click the link below for more information. Thank you!

Answer 6

For the territorial problems, I can help you. When she enters a roo that you don't want her to do, look her into her eyes until she avoids yours. But be careful not to avoid hers before as she would think that she has a very large dominating power on you. Then next, try to look for a piece of wood o a barriage pf about 1 feet high. This will pe\revent her from stepping the room. When you start the execise, look into her eyes, and with a menacing look, not not too agressive, tell her "no" into her eyes many times until she understand that. Repeat this exercise daily until you will find that she would never dare repeat this again.

With the electric collar, I fid that a very butal and ugly method. You should try a nice one which she would like.

If you get more problems, reply me on [e-mail]
I think that you should leave her in a closed room for about a week attached by a chain. At first, she may cry but don't be discouraged, she will slowly be used and she will understand what people think of her when she is noisy.

Answer 7

At this age, I would go for a very reputable obedience school. I wouldn't go for a shock collar, might just make her madder and possibly become aggressive towards you. Also, is she spayed? If not, consider that. A lot of times spaying and neutering can calm an animal down, kind of mellow them out. Possitive reinforcement usually works better. When you approach someone she goes nuts in front of, make her sit and pet her and talk to her as that person/dog goes by. If she is calm and relaxes a little, reward her with something she absolutly loves.

Good Luck!

Answer 8

Dogs are pack animals and your family is its pack. you need to make sure that you establish yourself as the leader. you don't need a shock collar or anything with prongs! when you go and take her for a walk make sure that shes walking with you and keep a relatively short leash so she stays next to you. anytime she tries to bark or agress towards another animal or person give her a tug and say no firmly. the key is to catch her before the act this will take her mind of that other dog and on to listening to you. so be aware of her behavior. remember to reward her for behaving appropriatly. dont be hesitant and be consistant. she'll get the picture after a couple weeks.

Answer 9

i adopted a 2 year old female ckcs- yoyo, 5 months ago.
she was an abused dog, untrained & very active. when i bring her to the dog park, she feels intimidated by other dogs. thankfully, despite her inconviniences that she suffered, she's still an adorable dog.

i'll say, give her time, pat her, hug her (physically contact) is very important. she'll warm up to you, & feel more secure in the knowledge that you will love & take care of her. gradually (& that takes time), she'll feel more 'balance'.
when i'm watching tv, read books, i will put one hand on her to make her aware that i'm with her.

getting an electric collar is just trying to control her, not to train her. the most important thing is to make her understand that certain behaviors are not acceptable. the point is not to beat/ punish her.

1st, you will have to accept her as she is
2nd, understand her habits
3rd, have patience & love

my yoyo still jumps on my bed to urine (i don't know why!?) whenever she has a chance, though she usually urine in the tray.
i guess, it could be her history that i am unaware of, hence her constant bad behavior.

and she has many wierd habits (like pooing in the dining room, whenever i go out, or urinating on the sofa if she feels like it). my other pet maltese didnt have all these issues.
yoyo is so hard to train...it took me 3 months just for her to understand : sit!
another 2 months to teach her : paw paw!

but i accept her as she is....many of my friends had initially told me to give her up, since i was the 5th owner this year. all the previous 4 owners are so mad with her, because they sympathized with yoyo (abused by 1st owner), but didnt realized that she is such a handful.
did i mentioned she tried to run away from my house several times in the 1st 2 weeks? once, she went missing for 3 days. i pasted posters all over my neigborhood & knock on every doors of my block. luckily, i have friends who immediately helped me find her. but it really irks my friends when she did it so often....
now, she is more 'normal', tho' she still pees on my bed & blanket ....

to sum up, i find 'touch' is the most effective method. embrace her 'wierdness', & love her as she is. gradually, she wil understand your body language & your commands.

Answer 10

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