Expert: Angela Donald - 9/19/2010

Question
i have a 10 month old boxer female and a 10 month old pug male. my boxer seems to attack him when there is food around she will lay on top of him and pin him down and then go for the neck. we have removed them from eating with each other but even if someone has food and he is around she attacks. what can i do? is it normal

Answer
Hi Tiffany,

No this is not normal in the boxer breed per se but it is a natural instinct in dogs to assert themselves over their counterparts while establishing pack order. The boxer is determined to push the pug below her in the pack order and hense this would mean she eats first, this is what she is telling the pug when she attacks him over food. I doubt the pug is completely innocent either if he were the boxer wouldn't attack him, he would submit to her and no attack would happen. When dogs submit the aggressor usually goes about their business.

It is best not to feed them together and to remove the boxer from the room when anyone has food to break this cycle now while still young.It would also help to never feed them people food or from the table or with each other, etc. Place them in separate rooms while eating.Do not leave food down for them to free feed, feed them in the morning and evening. If at anytime you accidently let the boxer do this again then you must discipline her with a stern NO and remove her from the room, but try not to let this happen any longer. If using treats to train them then train separately to avoid any unwanted behavior and to get the most out of your training sessions.

Thank you for your question.

Angela Donald
Canine Behavior Consultant
Hi-Tower Boxers
http://www.hitowerboxers.com