I have a one year old (12/01/04) bullboxer, OSCAR. His mom is APBT and his dad is the boxer. Oscar is so beautiful and I love him deeply and dearly. He is my pet and I had him neutered @ 6 months. I got him @ 6 weeks so I am sure he has never been mistreated. My question concerns his timid personality. He is very shy and acts pretty squirel-ly in new situations. Now I understand why they say the quiet puppy in the corner may not be the easiest puppy to bring home. Every night when my husband comes home, OSCAR acts like it is the first time he has ever met him and they practically have to become acquainted all over again. (He loves my son, who infrequently comes home from college and acts like he is his long-lost boy. (my husband and son are tall, big guys and look just alike) We also have an alpha-dog Ak Bash, RUCA, and a brilliant rescued lab/border collie, MOLLY. He is very submissive to our alpha dog. He adores MOLLY.
My daughter's American bulldog, IKE, is dog-aggressive, and since their introduction and subsequent 'scuffle' (all IKE'S doing) Oscar has been growling and posturing at any and every dog except his two girls (mentioned above), my son's border collie, EDDIE, and my other daughter's white german sheperd, IRIS. I took him to obedience school to train and socialize him. He hated every second of it and acted freaked -out at each and every class (8 in total). IRIS and IKE were both in the class. We had to keep IKE away from the others at first but IKE got better and my sweet OSCAR didn't. He wouldn't even warm-up to the 'dog-whispering' instructor.
My question is - is this the breed personality; Oscar's personality; or due to the fact that he is still a baby-so to speak? Everything said in the breed description fits him to a tee....so I thought someone might have an answer and perhaps a suggestion or two to help me help him. I want him to be an ambassador for the breed.... but at this point everyone asks if they are all this "squirel-ly"                        
                                                                                                                                           Thank-you,
                                                                                                                                           OSCAR's mom,
                                                                                                                                           Gina Meyer

  

Hi Gina,
First off all, Oscar is not a breed but a cross breed! Therefore any breed description will either be for the APBT or Boxer.
6 weeks is pretty early to take a puppy home and your description of his behaviour makes me wonder how much socialisation he has had!?
You mention the `quiet puppy in the corner`, so he was showing this kind of behaviour while he was still with his litter mates? If so it could be inherited, what do you know about his parents temperament?

It might be an idea to get advise from a professional behaviourist!

you dont have to mistreat a dog for it to behave badly if taken from the mother too soon it can result in bad behavour because the mother disciplines her pups to a certain degree. The earlier they go the more trauma it is for the pup cause i can garuantee most pups arnt completely weaned by 6 weeks they are usually still getting one top up a day they need to be slowely cut back and not just cut off dry and that can lead to probs as well.
i would have your boy in behavour and training classes

Hi Gina

6 wks is early, but not THAT early (7 wks is advised).  The pup should still have had some time to socialise with other pups in the litter, so I don't think I would be blaming the age you brought him back for that (although, along with other factors, this could have played a part).

I'm also not sure what good it is to find out what the reason is - he's the way that he is, and we have to work with how he is now.  It could be nature or nurture, or both, but focus on fixing things, not finding the reasons.

What methods did the trainer use in the class you went to?  "Dog whispering" is not really a very well respected method!  You need to find a trainer who understands learning theory.  My advice would be to find a clicker trainer in your area.  Clicker training uses only positive reinforcement (treats and toys) and no aversive methods. 

I'm assuming you live in the US?  Whereabouts?  If you have a look here you will find a list of trainers which use positive reinforcement: www.apdt.com   And if you look here, you will find a list of clicker trainers in the US:  <a class='url' href='http://www.clickerteachers.net/'>http://www.clickerteachers.net/</a>

I think the answer for you is to continue to go to classes but to work at a distance away from the other dogs that Oscar feels comfortable at.  Don't move any closer to them until he is fully relaxed at that distance, then work slightly closer.  It might take many weeks or months, but eventually he should be able to work close to them without freaking out.

hi onetwothree!
Thank-you for your empathetic response. I went to the web site you provided and contacted a clicker-trainer in the Tulsa area. The first trainer was at Petsmart ("Dog-whisperer" was just a joke). She gave us clickers, but I think we needed a more intensive program with someone who has further training. The trainer was great and I am sure she would be able to do more in a semi-private setting. She really liked Oscar and invited us back to repeat the class @ no charge in 2 weeks. I'm not worried about the cost, I just want to help Oscar be a happier, well-adjusted dog.
The idea of working at a distance and reducing that distance over time sound feasible. I hope to report back with a glowing report. Thank-you very much.

Hi Gina
As we are owners of mixed Bully's you might want to join this brilliant site to help with any problems
www.themolosserforum.co.uk
Good Luck with oscar
Simmone and Lola