Expert: Jannie Balliett - 3/21/2010

Question
My husband and I recently added a male boxer to our family. He is about 5 months old and we love him to pieces. This is his first dog and even though I grew up with dogs as a kid, it is the first dog I am responsible for. I have had some struggles and have been really frustrated at times. He bites alot when you are playing with him- almost like he gets so excited he doesn't know how to calm down and forgets all about the toy. He starts to bite at my clothes or anything dangling in front of him. When I take him out he sometimes just runs full speed and jumps into me, then the jumping %26 biting begins. I really am at a lost and do not know how to correct this behavior. Can you suggest anything?

Answer
You recently got him and he is only 5 months old, correct?

When they are still with their mother and liter mates, they are taught by mom to be "big, bad Boxers" and rough and tough. They bite, growl, pounce; everything. They bite and lock up their mouths, box each other, pounce on each other (attack), bite ears, legs, anything. It is their way of playing and were taught that by their mother.

Boxers are rough and tough when young; Boxers are playful and "clownish" until age 2 when they begin to settle down, yet they still remain playful and silly throughout their lives.

Join Boxerworld.com and BoxerForums.com for free and go into the forums to read posts and posts your own questions. They have sections on health, behavior, characteristics; everything imaginable. Other Boxer owners that are savvy, owning more than one Boxer, and had owned Boxers all their lives, and even breeders posts and there to help the newbie.

This is the time to teach him what is acceptable behavior and what is not. We need to tone down his rough play while not breaking his spirit. (And yes, he is getting excited while playing- he means no harm).

Next time he gets too rough, say "ouch" and stop playing, look away, do not look at him= this is withdrawing affection and attention from him. It shows that you will not engage him when he behaviors that way. When he settles, you can retry playing, but if he gets rough again, say "ouch" and look away again and withhold your attention and playing.

He will soon associate the withholding to his biting behavior and soon stop so he can play with you.

When he lunges and jumps on you, turn your back to him and do not look at him. Stand there with your arms crossed and do not look at him. When he settles, you can pet him and show affection. But each time he jumps on you, turn away, (turn around) and stand with your arms crossed. Soon he will associate his jumping with another withholding of attention.

You can offer him as treat when he behaves correctly for good behaviors, and never give a treat when it is unacceptable behavior.