Expert: Jannie Balliett - 4/6/2008

Question
We adopted a female boxer as a companion for our male boxer approximately 15 months ago. At the time of adoption we were told her age was about 2.5 years, and she was in the rescue for attacking her previous families chihuahua. The rescue assurred us she was okay to live with other dogs, as long as they were not female. She has been great up until this past week. She has started attacking our male without provocation. He is 2 years old, playful, with a very sweet disposition. My wife and I do not know what is going on, and I would hate to give up on the dog, but I cannot continue to let her attack our male. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer
Does she have her heat cycles twice a year? Is one due when these attacks occur?

Something to ponder: hormones play a big role in the female toward the male.

Now, setting that aside: There is no telling what has occurred to provoke her aggression: maybe they had an incident that you weren't aware of, hormonal, jealousy, any changes in the family and routine.

Keep them apart unless in your direct supervision. Introduce them together to play, etc. while you are insight supervising.

When she becomes (or shows any) aggressive, use a fly swatter and swat her nose (not hard of course) and her butt/thigh region, reprimanding her in a firm, stern voice. Use the "no" word and "bad girl" (or her name of course) and immediately place her in a "TIME_OUT"...

Time-out can be a room where she is isolated away from family and activities, which in due time, she will associate with her aggression and not like the alone time. Boxers are social and don't like being alone.

It should take about 2 weeks, unless she is exceptionally quick to learn.