Aggression ?

[unklgriz]

Hey all, I just found your site.

I have, or should I say my neice has, a problem with her male Boxers. Neither have been fixed, Harley is 6 or 7 yrs old and Trigger is almost 3.

Trigger has started to get real aggressive with Harley. To the point that he bit him deep on the shoulder the other day.

They have been together for almost 2yrs and have been best buds since day one. Trigger has always gotten along with other dogs and people just fine.  He has been around them since he was a pup, He was mine before she took him and we had a lab then.

So, I'm just wondering if anybody has run into any type of behavior like this before?


Thanks, Larry

[Bugsys Mom]

What were the circumstances surrounding the attack?  Was there food or something else of high value involved?  Where they playing and it got out of control?  Honestly, not being neutered probably has nothing to do with it.  Expecially if they have been fine together for 2 years.

[ltournat]

I wonder if there could possibly be an underlying health issue with one of them??

[Bruins_Boxer]

There are many reasons for a fight , and without seeing exactly what happened you may never know .

It can be common for dogs of the same sex to get into fights . It usually happend when the younger dog hits maturity(2-3 yrs) and is looking to advance their position in the pack . It could have been over a toy , food or anything.

Again without being there and seeing exactly what happened it is hard to say why it happened.

[unklgriz]

I just emailed my brother about it and he said that he has started to become real dominant in the house. After he was let out to pee the other day he came in and peed on the dining room table leg.

I'll ask him about his health tho, I know that he has had a very sensitive stomach since he was about 6 month old.

[BoxerWB]

As Missi pointed out, maturity is between 2-3 years.  Sounds like the young one is maturing and shifting the dynamics of the relationship.

Do both dogs have any training? Are there strict rules around the house?

[unklgriz]

I'm not sure on the training. The rules are rather slack most of the time.

My neice lost her husband in February and he was the one that usually took them out and ran the dickens out of them. I'm not too sure if she is doing that now that she is alone with 2 kids and a full time job.

I do know that they get to run around the back yard and play as much as possible. Her Dad usually stops by during the day and lets them out also.

[BoxerWB]

If the dogs are determined not to get along, rules won't help.  But sometimes enforcing some basic manners and rules can help things out.

I'd definitely suggest stricter rules around high value items - usually food and attention, but if there is anything else they really value, there should be rules around that as well. 

My two have rules around dinner time (theirs), treats, and while we are cooking in the kitchen.  Looser rules around toys, attention, going in and coming out.  I think those are pretty common areas to look at.

[BoxerPerson]

My thought is that you have 2 males...the younger one is thinking he is the MAN...I have the same problem with my 2 boxer males (altho both are fixed and 1 has a brain tumor)  My younger (2 and a half) one suddenly thinks he is the MAN and occasionally steps into a disagreement with my other male (7 and a half).  I stop any outbreaks between them as soon as one happens...I do not want either one hurt.  Also since my older male has the tumor, I also need to watch for any behavioral changes there...