I have a 3 year old male boxer. He has been castrated (bacause of a dodgy bollock rather than for behaviour reasons). I live on my own and really struggle with him. He is a nightmare to walk, pulling me down the road and I can't have visitors to my house at all because he gets very aggressive, especially with men, and will not leave them alone and often will try to hump their leg if they move form the sofa or will actually snarl and go to bite them. He is never aggressive with me, he is very clingy, won't let me go anywhere in the house without being glued to my knee. He responds very well within 10 minutes to my stepdad, doesn't go for him and listens to him. Unfortunately my stepdad lives in Spain so isn't here a lot. It's now to the point hat I never have people over to my house because hes such a nightmare. I know boxers aren't usually like this, I've had them since I was a child and we've never had problems. I'm only 26 now and he is the first dog I've had myself. I know it's me that's the problem, not him but I am at a loss as to how to sort me/him etc etc out. I really am desperate, he is a lovely dog but is also such a problem!
Maggs

When he was castrated, was it for an undescended testicle?  Was the vet 100% sure there was no retained tissue?

He was castrated over a year ago, he had an odd shaped and slightly enlarged testicle. The vet said he could biopsy it but would ahve to put him under for that and then possibly again if it needed removing. I was never intending to breed him so I decided to save him 2 anaesthetics and have them both removed straight away.

First thing has to be to look for some outside help, if you have an aggressive dog that you can't walk and is dominating your life it's a disaster waiting to happen.

Track down some local dog trainers and have a chat with them to discuss your options, you can't allow things to continue as they are.

Hi - just so you know for future, the aggression towards men sounds like it comes from poor socialisation or under-socialisation, so whenever you get your next boxer (if ever!!), make sure you socialise properly.

If I were you, I'd go to the vet and ask for a referral to a qualified APBC behaviourist, who can come in and assess the situation in person.  I wouldn't just go to any dog trainer or 'the bloke down the road'.  Make sure you get a qualified person in, and for that you need an APBC registered behaviourist - and they only take vet referrals, so get to the vets!

From what you say, it sounds like the problems are:
1.  Pulling you down the road.
2.  Aggression in your house, particularly at male visitors.

Is that right?  You need the behaviourist for the aggression issue, but you could also read an excellent book called 'Mine!  A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs' by Jean Donaldson. This is available from Crosskeys: http://www.crosskeysbooks.com/product_info.php?products_id=451

As for pulling you down the road - have you tried a halti, Gentle Leader or Canny Collar? 

Hi
Thanks for that advice! The men thing is interesting because I actually got Henry when I was with my ex partner. He and I got him together so he was used to a man being around. Having said that, he did show some aggression towards him too, did the humping his leg thing. I wonder if it's down to him seeing himself as pack leader, as it were, he thinks he's the boss and has to protect me?

No, I doubt that it's anything to do with dominance.  IMHO the dominance theories are a load of pants.  Dogs have social hierarchies with other dogs, not with people.  We're a different species.  You're right it could be because he's protecting you, but according to that book I mentioned that's a form of resource guarding cos you, the owner, are a valuable resource, so the dog is guarding you from other people.  Read the book - I think it will help.

Hi - have you had Henry from a pup (eg 8 weeks) or has he had any previous owners ?  How did your ex-partner react to Henry when he showed this behaviour towards him ?

Tara x

Hi,
Can't help with the other stuff but I use a Halti on Bruce, my male Boxer when walking due to his strenght and pulling, and it is brill. You can buy Halti's designed for Boxers with a bit of padding on them to stop their nose getting sore too. Mine was one of the best things I have ever got for him.
Lou

Hi there
I've had Henry from a pup. He came from a reputable breeder, the one we, as a family, have always bought our dogs from.

My ex used to just walk away and leave the room, shutting the door behind him when Henry was aggressive towards him

Hmmmm... I think that is your problem with the aggression !  What your ex was saying was 'ok, your the boss and you have chased me out of your domain'  -  this has inadvertently re-inforced the aggressive behaviour and would explain why he is aggressive to men and not women :(

I know people say that there is no dominant behaviour towards humans from dogs but after 20 years of dog ownership I'm afraid I have witnessed that this is the case.  And by your ex reacting in this way he has basiclaly shown the dog that he is the dominant party - watch a pack of wolves, the dominant male chases a subservient male off his territory - this is what Henry has been allowed to do ! Also, when a dog wants to exert their authority they will 'hump' the subservient member - this happens in both female and male dogs, it's their way of re-inforcing their status in the pack and they will do this to humans, you are a member of their pack.

I'm afraid that you must now seek help from an experienced behaviourist to help you out of this particular situation - the pulling on the lead can be sorted either by the use of haltis or by consistent working with him, when he pulls stop and walk backwards and keep doing this until he learns that pulling is not accepted (again a bahaviourist will also help you with this) but the aggression has been allowed from an early age and this is a more indepth problem.

We can all attempt to give you help on this matter and recommend books but my personal view on this is that it can now lead into a very dangerous situation and you really must seek expert help - books can give you basic guidance but a behaviourist will work specifically to 'your' dog and not via a 'text book' dog.

Take Henry to the Vets and explain the problem and get them to refer you to a good behaviourist (this way you can claim off your insurance).

Tara x

That's fantastic, thanks. The aggression really is a problem. I just don't see it when it's just he and I, only when anyone else comes into the house. Makes any new relationship with a man difficult I can tell you and also whe nI think about the prospect of having kids, that fills me with dread. I could never trust him with a child and this is so frustration because I know how boxers usually love kids and how good they are with them. I will make a vets appointment next week, I hope I can claim on his insurance since I am very broke at the moment due to having to pay all bills on my own after having slpit them with partner for ages. Thanks for your help.
Maggs

No problem - really hope you can help Henry over this, boxers are gorgeous dogs and they love children so much, our little man absolutley adores our kids (and anybody elses LOL) I suppose that's because they always stay kids themselves :D

Keep in touch and let us know how you and Henry get on, Tara x

I know this isnt the answer to all your problems, but cant you buy a cage, then at least you can have people around, then he can get used to sharing you without actually biting them or humping anyone, plus it will unglue him from your  knee.

Not sure if this is really a wise suggestion - a crate does have it's place (especially when training a puppy etc) but to actually put a dog with 'serious' issues into a crate will, IMHO, increase his aggression.  He will see you using the crate as a form of punishment which really is not wise.