Expert: Angela Donald - 3/29/2010

Question
Hello Angela

I have a 10 month boxer who I have allowed to rule the house. I have attended a puppy class but they could not help me to control him when his overexcited, hyper or boisterious. Due to feeling embarrassed I stopped going.
Since then I have read various books and watched dog training series to pick up ideas i.e ignorning him when he wants attention, jumping and barking etc. My only concern is the trainer suggested that I may need to rehome due to his strength and high level and maybe too much for me being a single female.
This did upset me but would very much like to keep him and wondered could you suggest how I can became a pack leader to a boxer as I have read they can be very stubbord breed.

Answer
Hi Cilla,

You can be pack leader being a single female. First of all if the dog is not neutered then by all means do that. This will calm him down a great deal. Pack leadership is a psychological way of thinking and acting and a female can do it. One of the best online help classes I have seen are by Cesar Milan at http://www.cesarsway.com/ . Also another program that works very well is called Nothing in Life is Free and you can search for it online. Both of these resources should give you the greatest amount of self help to become the pack leader you desire. Please don't give up and get the idea that the boxer is stubborn out of your head ,with positive training techniques they are very easy to train. Cesar has a collar called the Illusion Collar that works very well on dogs and I love it, works the first time I put it on a boisterous dog. I hope this information will steer you in the right direction. Thank you so much for your question and please give me an update in the months to come.

Angela Donald
Canine Behavior Consultant
http://www.hitowerboxers.com