obedience problems?

Question

i have a 9 month old boxer. he does not listen to me at all. he pees and poops in the house sometimes (getting better) but sometimes i think its done out of spite. he won't come when i call him and on the leash i can barely control him. he weighs almost 60 lbs. he listens to my husband completely but i get nothing.

Answer 1

Have you tried obedience training?
I have two Boxers and let me tell you that it is just part of the breed to be stubborn and bratty. I love my Boxers to death but sometimes they drive me nuts. My youngest who is 1.5yrs totally ignores me sometimes even though I have established myself as the alpha in the house. My Dobie is perfectly obedient and they have all been trained the same way. Anyhow, you need to try and establish dominance over your boxer and training is the best way to do that. Dogs respond to the person training them as the alpha, but you will have to be on top of his training every day. As for peeing a pooping in the house you need to stop that right away. At 9months he should be completely potty trained. This is what I did...Every two hours I'd take Zoe out to potty on a leash. I would continuously repeat the word "potty" until she peed and then if she hadn't pooped in a while I'd stay out there repeating the word "poop" until she did. When she would pee or poop I'd praise her with a petting and "good potty or good poop". It took some time, but now she will pee or poop on command. Other than training just be aware that Boxers are clowns and only interested in playing. They can be stubborn and bratty at times, but the love they offer is well worth it. Good Luck

Answer 2

A few things -

1) Either you have one of those neadrathal Boxers or your boy needs to go on a diet. A Boxer under a year should not weigh that much.

2) Your potty training issues - Go back to the basics of house training. Take him out every hour or every two hours, as well as after eating or excessive drinking. Praise him for going outside. Petting, playing a game, treats, whatever. Whenever you catch him going inside, take him out immedeatly. Use the crate to your advantage and crate him whenever you feel it will be a couple hours before you're able to let him out again.

3) Boxers are hard-headed that way. And the part that's the worst is they don't learn well with constant repetition. You have to make your boy want to work for you. Make it fun. Make training a game. First give him the command and manually put him the position. Praise and repeat a few times until he has the jist of it, and start a game of some sort and randomly stop, give him the command, and once completed, continue ('fetch' worked the best for me, as when I got the ball back their attention was solely on me so I could issue a command before I threw the ball again). Intergrate it into everyday life. Before he gets anything - a toy, a treat, food - make him complete a command. Don't ever stop doing that. Keep it up until the day you two have to part ways. This will help with training, manners, and will help the Boxer see you as a higher ranking pack member. Enroll him in an obdience course to go along with your training.

4) He sees your husband as the Alpha, that's why he listens to him. You need to make him realize it's either a joint position or at the very least, that you rank above him. The only tip I can give you - always win at tug-a-war. Strange, yes, but I've learned from the dog trainer that teaches the obdience classes I've attended that it's a sign of dominance and never start a game of it if you can't win.

I hope that all made sense. Trying to squeeze this answer in before going to work. Good luck with your pup!

Answer 3

I agree with another poster that this dog needs obedience training. 9 month old dogs are adolescents, and they tend to be rambunctious and boundary-testing; boxers can be particularly difficult at this age because they are so strong and athletic. But unlike most adolescents, dogs love to do what they're told, once they understand what you want them to do. The last point is key--dogs don't use language, and "people manners" don't come naturally to them, so they need to be patiently taught the rules. Look for a class that uses positive methods and that is geared toward pet owners looking for basic behavioral improvements--not people who want to compete in obedience trials. If the person running the class is certified by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, that's a good sign. If there are no classes in your area, order Ian Dunbar's Sirius Puppy Training--it's geared to younger dogs but the training methods work with older ones too. It shows how to deal with a lot of common dog problems--pulling on the leash, jumping up, failing to come when called, and so on.

For the housebreaking issue, crate-train your dog, if you haven't already--it sounds like he's not really clear on the rules. For leash training, you might want to try a Gentle Leader or Halti collar, which make big dogs much easier to control. Carry treats and reward him for choosing to be at your side. And be patient--training takes time! Good luck!

Answer 4

You have to bring this dog to an obediance class. just you and him. He for some reason belives you are less of a leader than your husband and by bringing him to a class yourself it will help you get a handle on him. Dont be worried that you will be the only one there with a misbehaving animal. It is likely that the class you take will be about 70 dollars and it will proabily be the best 70 dollars you will ever spend. IF you can not do a class than here are a few tips for you. Dont leave the dogs food on the ground feed her three times a day for 10 mins. only. Make her sit and wate while you put the food down after 10 mins. pick it up weather she has eaten it all or not. get yourself a pinch collar (prong collar) at a grooming shop ask the person running the shop to show you how this is used if they can not show you buy the collar elsewere you do not want too use his type of corrective collar if you do not know how to use it. This a a good way to get her to be calm enugh to walk on a lead wich brings me to the next step walk the dog every day no exceptions. Possitive play if you can get het to play tug with you or if you can get her to play fetch with you do this daily. Take her places with you if it is not to hot in the car. Do not allow her to sleep in bed with you she must either sleep in a crate or on the floor. Give her attention on your terms if she comes to you tell her to go lay down and than a few mins latter call her to you and give her lots of love. You need to be her leader you need to be strong to make her understand that she is to follow you.

Answer 5

Deeply troubled- Does your husband spend more time with your boxer than you? Usually this is the case. Dogs are more responsive to those who spend time and want to spend time with their pets. So, my answer is that you should spend time with your boxer and take him to obedience classes, usually they have them at places like Pet smart or Pet co. Even your city might offer local obedience classes. This will help you build a bond between you and your boxer. Also, as for the peeing and pooping, it is usually done out of 1 of 2 answers; 1-he isn't let out enough or 2- he doesn't spend enough time with you and he feels rejected.

Answer 6

Your husband is probably either the one that trained him or the hand that feeds him... Try Starting by hand feeding him every once and awhile. Also a collar called a gentle leader is a great tool for the leash walking. it goes around there nose area so you have more control of the dog...

Start here and let us know how it turns out...

Answer 7

I agree that you really need to take such a powerful dog to training classes (on your own!) but the main thing that I would suggest is that, if your husband realises that you have the problem, he should take a back seat for a while. You get to do everything for the dog. Feed, Groom, Train, Exercise....everything.,
He should have been housetrained long ago!

Answer 8

hi your boxer should be getting over the pee and poop in the house soon as long as when you catch him doing it you firmly correct him sounds like the dog chose your husband as the alpha dog of the pack and you are alongside your dog in the pack your dog is young so he is still not sure of himself your job is to coach him along and it sounds like you need to gently start to assert your self with your dog you have to let him know that he cant bully you around and you can be tuffer than him you should be training him pretty hard right now your dog just wants things to do that he feels will please you i have a 110 lb American bulldog and the dog treats me like the alpha male and my wife as a pack member so the dog is very docile around me but very protective of my wife if i was you i would intensify his training let him get plenty of excersize and socialize him around people and other dogs just let him know he has to listen to you and make sure you clearly show him what you want from him and of course be gentle never hit him or scream at him good luck

Answer 9

go to formal obedience lessons..
DONT use a leash and collar - use a HALTI or GENTLE LEADER instead - this is similar to halters used on horses, if they can control a 1000 pound horse, they will help with your dog.

As far as messing in the house goes - thats usually human error in training -eg. did somebody go out with the dog EVERYTIME and offer an INSTANT soft treat reward???

perhaps formal obedience lessons will help you.

Answer 10

Get some of those puppy pads and whenever he goes on one praise him! Or ask him if he needs to go potty and take him outside like every hour or so, so he can learn that potty is done outside not in the house. Also when he does it in the house tell him no and put him outside. Sounds like you need to be more firm with him.