Expert: Jannie Balliett - 2/22/2008

Question
We have a 10 month old female boxer and a 2 yr old male lab.  They have
always been fine together and play very well with each other, however, a few
months ago they began fighting aggressively.  We noticed that it's usually the
boxer that initiates the fight and it's usually over attention from us or
possession of a treat or toy.  However, for the past week or two she will just
attack him out of nowhere.  We have done in home training (basic commands)
and are currently working on leash training but the fighting continues and she
is still aggressive.  Our lab is acting depressed and the boxer isn't backing
down.  She is also jumping our 7 ft fence (which we just built higher) and
roaming our neighbors back yard while we are at work, barking at them and
keeping them locked in their house!! We're frustrated with training (the no
force training didn't work for her) and have moved to a remote shock collar
but level 10 doesn't phase her during a fight!! We don't want to get rid of her
but we don't know what to do!! Any suggestions??

Answer
Amanda, this is a serious problem.

She's 10 months old. I'll ask if she's had a heat yet, which I would imagine she has.

This can cause aggressive behavior. She should be spayed, just like neutering calms a male, spaying calms a female. Now, if she has been spayed, let's move on...

Boxers will never back down in a fight-- ever. It's up to the opponent to back away, or to the death.

The problem with the attention and the toy is a cry for more attention and to be the "special" one between the two. She is also trying to establish she is the "alpha" between her and your male lab. Female Boxers are more aggressive than male Boxers, or many male dogs.

If the training didn't work, and I'm sure it did to some extent, you will need to take matters into your own hands.

Continue with the training and commands that she is now accustomed to, but add new training and methods to it.


If she has to remain in the backyard while you are gone, then, as much as I personally disagree with it and HATE it, she might need to be on a short (not too short- but not long enough for her to choke herself if she tries to jump the fence) chain. A good quality leather (not nylon) collar and a good sized (link size for durability and strength) chain at a decent length might be used for your absent times. Provide plenty (and I do mean plenty) of fresh water and food for the duration.

When you get home, get her, bring her into the house, separate from your lab, and give her attention, love, and play time mono-to-mono. Everyday, faithfully. Then, put her on a leash and introduce the lab into the mix. You have control of her leash, therefore control of the introduction and events that unfold.

Love and play with both. She needs to see it is mutual and sharing, and fun. Try to make her understand there is no competition. My own female Boxer will fight my daughter's male Boxer for a treat or food every time. It's a common problem with some more aggressive Boxers. However, they play perfectly together.

Step 1) On a comfortable chain in your absence unless you have a spare bedroom she can be in with plenty of water and ample food for the duration.

Step 2) Retrieve her as soon as you get home (she will know when you do get home and want your attention then not later which can cause additional problems)

Step 3) Love and play with her mono-to-mono for a set amount of time. Give her a treat, talk to her, reassure her, use a loving, reassuring tone of voice and stay consistent with your words and commands. (and what you call things, etc.)

Step 4) Put a leash on her.

Step 5) Introduce your male lab into the mix of you and her.

Step 6) Play with them both equally, and if she tries to grab your attention away from the lab, love her, but tell her it's okay, he's a "friend." I use the "friend" word whenever my Boxer barks at people or other dogs and animals. "Friends" association should be established with a soft, loving, assuring tone.

Step 7) If she becomes aggressive at any time during this acclimation, punish her verbally by telling her it's "bad" and "no-- bad" and then love her, but pull the leash tighter (shorter and in your control more) and away from him. The combination of the pulling her leash tighter and shorter away from him, and your chastising her verbally, then reassuring her in a loving voice/tone that he is a "friend" and then love on him, petting him, calling him "friend" and "SHOWING" her that he is okay, etc.

Continue this daily. It does take time.

When you believe it has worked after sessions going well and better than the previous, try it without the leash but be on guard of the possibilities of aggression again.

That means you need to be prepared to separate her from him in a moment of aggression and fighting. I've always used a fly swatter to swat her head and butt, legs: front and back, nose, etc. to make her stop, gaining her attention away from him.

I would continue the leash control longer than norm because of the "alpha" syndrome, but the goal here is to teach her she IS NOT the alpha, he IS NOT the alpha-- but YOU ARE the alpha of BOTH OF THEM.