Boxer dog owners -- can you give me a little advice?

[EnterobiusVermicularis]

My terrier has a bit of a feud going with a neighbourhood boxer. When they meet on the lead they bark at each other, and if he gets the chance my dog barks at the boxer through the gate when she walks past.

The problem is that twice recently the boxer has slipped her lead and attacked my little dog while he is on his lead.

I hold no malice towards the boxer. I don't think she is savage, just blustery and over-excited. And I'm fully aware that my dog has done his bit to stir things with her.

But I have gone a long way to improve my dog's behaviour towards her: I bought a 'pet corrector' (an aerosol which hisses). A short sharp exposure to it completely distracts my dog and stops the barking. He will now pass the other dog calmly. And he no longer gets to stand at the gate ever.

He is learning really good habits. But this is completely undermined when the boxer slips her lead and attacks him. He wants to fight back of course, and I have had to resort to holding him over my head until the boxer is caught.

So, a couple of questions for boxer owners:

1. Is it true that the boxer's flat face makes a collar less stable -- should I ask her owners to put a chest harness on her?

1. Am I right in my belief that the boxer is likely not to be really agressive? If they had a change to socialise off the lead in controlled conditions, is it likely they could 'sort things out'? (My terrier is not aggresive to any other females.)

1. If we were to give them a chance to socialise off the lead we would need to muzzle them at first for safety. Are there muzzles that will fit a boxer's unusual face?

I'm really grateful for any replies. I'm working so will not be able to respond immediately.

Woof?

this is tricky, on the whole boxers are generally good with other dogs and sometimes have problems with bigger dogs!
a bit of back ground for you, because of the boxers stature what with the deep chest, many dogs instantly think it is a threatening stance and because of the squashed up face dogs cannot read the expression so find it hard ot interpret what the boxer is trying to communicate.

1. the collar is being slipped because it is too loose.

1. boxers are just boisterous and enjoy ''scrapping'', playful fighting. though cant guarantee wiht all as some are not the norm iykwim.

1. you can get muzzles for boxers htough the owner may not want to just for you iykwim.

i suggest that you walk the dogs togehter in a controlled fashion, perhaps the other dog should be haltied and on a shorter lead, over time the dogs will adjust oteach other.

you need to also consider that are both bitches (i take it yours is female too) are they both neutered? and the other may have a history.

please check out my profile pics as i have boxers!

any other help just ask.

hth

Thanks v much bethoo. No, mine is male and neutered and is usually fine with females. I think he is being a bit moody with her because she walks past 'his' gate without his written permission.

Interesting what you say about dogs misreading boxers. Confirms something I had thought. Even to me her body language looks intimidating, and I suspect she is much less agressive than she looks. We def need to walk together and I will suggest this to the other owner. Trouble is, she is usually walked with two other dogs at the same time, all on lead an frankly a bit too much for the owner to handle.

I'm sure we can sort it out if we work at it.

Your two look lovely -- an dobv. good with cats, which is more than I can say for my little dog!

my boxer gets beaten up by my friends jack russell!!

boxers are strong and the only way i could walk mine was with a halti. perhaps suggest it wiht your neighbour, that way she/he will be able to control their dog and will be able to pull it away if there are signs of aggression.

good luck

Thanks. I'd assumed haltis wouldn't fit a boxer well, so that is helpful knowledge too.

you can also get special ones for boxers which have padding on it as some boxers have shorter more wrinkly noses than others. one of mine wore one whereas the other wore a normal one. a gentl leader is also recommended as similar to halti but more control as can adjust it to how much control you want.

bethoo... i have got an unpadded halti for my boxer and he hates it. he nearly does somersalts int he street trying to get it off. i have never seen these padded ones. are there any web sites i could get one from..