Expert: Jannie Balliett - 11/1/2011

Question
I have a rescue dog that is likely boxer/lab cross and about 14 months old. He is a very friendly dog that loves to play with almost all other dogs at the dog park without any problems, with one exception. Almost every boxer puppy that we've met between the ages of 6-12months try to play with our dog and it turns in to a severe snarling/snapping match with a lot of teeth. He has never hurt or been hurt in one of these scuffs, but it is definitely aggression beyond the casual dog park rough housing. This has happened about 6 times, 6-12 month old boxer every time (6 different ones, not the same one).
Any thoughts on what might be getting triggered, or how to deal with it? Is this a common thing for young boxers?

Answer
I tend to believe it is Boxer play.

Boxers have a very unique style of playing with each other. They can even stand and "box" one another. Boxers will bite and lock mouths, nip ears, legs, even jowls. Snarling, growling, yapping, barking, all of it.

If you've never owned a Boxer before, or seen Boxers play with other Boxers, you would think it is rough and possibly aggression.

I tend to believe it is Boxer play.

There is no reason for him to play with other breeds and act differently with his own breed. It's Boxers being Boxers.

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Follow-up:

If you feel it is truly aggression, he might be displaying signs of being an alpha.

Dominance is what an alpha displays when correcting another pack member and showing aggression and roughness with another dog.

Get a whistle and blow it every time he becomes aggressive and displays inappropriate behavior that you don't want. Then remove him from the area ( away from the other dog(s) ) and put him by himself in a crate or on a lead away from the others- or remove from the dog park.

Slowing let him back with them but supervise him and keep him leashed until better behaved. You can introduce him to other dogs leashed, but the minute he misbehaves with aggression, blow the whistle and remove him from the area.

Continue the whistle method so he can associate the sound and action with his bad behavior.