Hello everyone. I recently got a beautiful fawn female puppy at 8 1/2 weeks old. She is now about 10 1/2 weeks old. We are having a problem though. She will growl, snarl, and bite whenever she is made to do something she does not want to do, such as if she gets upstairs( she is not allowed upstairs because of the carpets and I have baby gates) and I pick her up to take her back downstairs she will growl all snarled up and bite. Or if she wants to stay outside but its time to go in I will lead her just by putting my finger through her collar and she will get very nasty. I understand boxers are a very vocal breed and 90% of the time when she is growling and barking she is only trying to play, but it has become more than obvious that she means business at these other times. I practice good habits such as always walking through doorways first, no beds, no furniture, and making her sit for her food and things like that. I would appreciate any help on this that you have. I also do not know what is the correct way to discipline this nasty behavior, I don't want to make it worse. I have started basic obdience training on my own till her puppy classes start in about a weeks and a half. I am just at a lose for what to really think about a 10 week old puppy being this dominant already. Thank you in advance for any advice you have.
Boxer females are smart. And without being in your house, it is impossible to give you very details instructions. I have no idea how you talk to her, what activities you do together, or anything of that nature.
She is a puppy. She is not being mean. She is being playful like a puppy would be and also testing you. And it seems like she is winning; for the moment :)
Spend alot of time with her. In fact, play and work with her until she sleeps. She is so young that her energy level will die quickly. Is she getting upstairs because you went up there but won't let her come? If so, stay downstairs as much as possible. She seems to want to be with you and feels you are trying to push her away.
Boxers are clingy. They want to be with their people. Be firm with her and give a firm tone to your voice. But also try not to separate yourself from her if at all possible. Make her feel welcome, accepted and then she will be a bit better about divisions of your home :)
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Christina Ghimenti PawPrint Boxers
Thank you for your advice. I have found the more we play and do basic training the happier she is. The only time I come upstairs is usually when I am getting my kids ready for school in the morning( the bedrooms are upstairs) We spend about 90% of our day together. To be honest I think she is just acting bratty. She wants to be upstairs and is letting me know she is not happy with the fact that I am taking her back downstairs. She will also growl and snarl if she wants to play outside and I have to pick her up to take her inside or if I have picked her up and she wants to get back down. I hope she is just testing to see if this works. Since this behavior does not get her what she wants I hope it will be short lived. I also read a great book, The Dog Listener, I have gotten alot out of this book and I think it is a great philosophy to add to our basic training.
Don't pick her up. LOL--entice her with a cookie and positive reinforcement, but do not pick her up. In dog language, you are forcing your will on her. Boxers hate that :)
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Christina Ghimenti PawPrint Boxers
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