Expert: Jannie Balliett - 6/9/2010

Question
I have a one year old boxer who was just neutered. I waited because he had an undescended testicle. Literally at 11m he went from the sweetest calmest dog to one that exhibits aggression toward other dogs which has not resolved since the surgery.  He was very territorial with a dog trainer's dog (at our 2nd class) and she told me based on that, he should not be around other dogs.  He did not hurt the other dog but it was a female who had something he wanted.  He has been going to doggie daycare since 3 months old and it is like a second home for him.  He has never exhibited this behavior there, but has when at dog parks.  However, i do notice him growling more even when meeting dogs on streets which also never happened before.  I don't want to pull him from daycare because I think he loves it and there hasn't been any problems but the trainer feels it is not safe.  Help!

Answer
He is at the age that he is wanting to be the "alpha male." It is a natural occurrence for his age.

Let's try a "alpha" technique to knock him down from alpha, making YOU the alpha.

Every feeding time, (stop self-feeding during this time) place his food dish on the table. Place cookies or crackers for yourself, on the table directly behind the food dish.

Have him sit in front of you to watch you.

Slowly pick up a cookie or cracker and stand and eat it, not looking at him at all.

Do this, and then when finished, place his food dish down on the floor in front of him and tell him "Okay, eat."

What this is doing is appearing that you are eating out of the food dish first, and when finished eating giving him permission to eat.

In the wild, wolves and pack animals, the alpha always eats first and all he wants, then when finished, if there is anything left over, he gives the pack permission to eat the leftovers.

So, what you are doing is the same, and your Boxer will soon realize that and that you are the alpha.

Now you are ready to continue enforcing your alpha position.

Each and every time he becomes aggressive or has inappropriate behavior, immediately force him down onto his side. Hold him there for a few minutes. This is a submissive position. Alphas make their pack submissive to them this way.

Practice this alpha dominance over him, knocking him down into his place in the pack, and the rest will become easier.

Let me know how this works for you in a few weeks.