Expert: Jannie Balliett - 11/23/2009

Question
My 9 month old boxer (male) has been jumping on my couch lately and when I tell him "off" he starts barking at me. When I try to grab his collar to pull him off,he nips and growls at me. This is something new and I can't seem to get a handle on this. Can you help?

Answer
9 months old is still puppy. Although, a big puppy.

Has anything in your household changed recently? Moved, new family, missing family, new furniture (couch), or  anything at all?

Usually bad behavior stems from insecurity and change.

If nothing has changed, then someone might have played with him, allowing him on the couch. You might not have seen it, but more than likely it happened or is still happening. Do you have children or children visit your house?

If that is not the case (no children around to have played with him on the couch), then possibly his nipping and growling is more play than aggression. It is hard for me to say when I haven't heard or seen it myself to distinguish the normal for him. If you feel it is aggression, then treat it as such. Either way, his behavior needs modification.

Boxers play rough, as momma taught them to be "big, bad Boxers" and he might be playing with you, even though rough and scary, when you pull his collar it signals play and a match between you and him. They are stubborn and he seems to be quite stubborn and playful.

What you will need to do is establish the "alpha" position with him and in your family (which the family is a pack to him).

Buy a loud, obnoxious sounding whistle, and designate the amount of times you will blow it. Say 4 times, not 3, not 5.

Be consistent. It will be a signal of bad behavior and he will learn and associate the sound to his immediate crime.

When he gets on the couch again, blow the whistle the designated times, and leash him immediately. Pull him off the couch by his leash and take him to a designated spot and command him to sit.

If he sits as commanded and looks at you for further instruction, wait a few minutes while verbally reprimanding him in a stern and assertive voice (no yelling or shouting, no lengthy talk- just normal commands that it is a no-no and bad behavior) as the sound of your voice is disappointment in him and alpha assertive.

Then unleash him.

If he returns to the couch, repeat it as often as necessary.

Soon, he will associate the whistle sound to being leashed and removed off the couch, and your disappointment in him with your verbal reprimand and assertiveness.

Let me know how it goes for you.