Expert: Jannie Balliett - 6/23/2010

Question
QUESTION: Last year in October I got a free female boxer from someone who moved into an apartment and could no longer keep her. She was pregnant. She delivered 7 pure bred healthy pups(vet verified). She came into heat 16 days ago and my neighbor's papered boxer has been having "visits" with her very day for the past 3 days. She was slightly aggressive when we got her, which we learned is possible pregnant boxer behavior. Since the pups left last time she has been fantastic. Playful, loving, the 65lb giant lap dog. 2 days ago after the"visit" and "locking up" with the male, I went out to give them water, when the male came toward me she attacked him, she would not "mind" me. After a break from each other the male returned and again, she was playful and again "locked up" I walked out to let the male out the gate so his owners could take him home, he stopped beside me almost as if to say"thanks" and she attacked him again. I had to literally hit her with the soft end of the broom several times to get her to "unlock" from his head. 1) Is it normal for her to be aggressive towards him after a mating? and  2)I heard that females can get more aggressive after each liter, is this true?
I was going to have her spayed, but she came into heat earlier than last year, and the male is 14 and his owners are wanting a pup from him and my female before he dies. Please give me some advice on this, I am not a breeder and never intended on being. I am starting to feel I should keep a pup from the liter and sell her. She produces fantastic pups, but if she is going to be more aggressive after this liter, I will have to let her go.

ANSWER: First, he is 14? That is extremely old for a Boxer!

The female Boxer is the aggressor of the breed.

It is not true that they become more aggressive after having a litter. They are aggressive when they do have their puppies and will not allow the father to be around them because in the wild with pack animals. males will often kill their young to prevent an alpha challenge in the future.


Although this does not happen in domesticated animals, the female still has the natural instinct and will protect her pups at all cost. She will not allow strangers around them too. And sometimes, even the owners.

But, for her to attack him after a mating could be because she knows he will continue to try again and again, and the female only allows a mating when she is ready. She just mated, and will wait until nature and instinct tells her she is or is not pregnant. If she knows she is pregnant, she probably won't mate again and will continue to be aggressive.

Why are you allowing him to visit her and mate if she recently had a litter and you claimed did not want to be a breeder?

You didn't mention her age either. These things make a difference- age, how long ago was her last litter, and her health.

Please let me know.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: She delivered her last litter Nov.10, 2009. She is 2 1/2. and when I got her she was already pregnant and the previous owners did not tell me. The reason I chose to let her mate again was the fact that my neighbor's dog is old and has a exceptional temperment and is a extremely beautiful dog. My female produced fantastic pups, and was an excellent mother.I was asked by several family and friends if and when I was going to breed her again. She was completely playful and great to the male, until I was around, as if she was jealous. Is that possible? I am just worried about her temperment and wonder if I need to take percautions.

Answer
Females are very jealous. Mine is too. If I give attention to her mate, she comes up and moves him away to get the attention, or even growls at him and chases him off.]

It is normal, but you should try to get it under control.

Use a whistle to modify her behavior.

Each time she does something wrong that you want to change, blow the whistle a couple times, then verbally correct her. Chastise her for it, and she will soon learn that the sound of the whistle means she did something wrong.