My boxer is from the rspca I am his 5th home. He is just over 12 months old and has settled very well. We believe he was beaten and messed around with at some point in his life as he is very very wary of people. He also has a few other niggles witch are getting better he just needs time.

First off he is very very wary of people. Someone across the street only has to look at him and he cowers down, of hides behind me. They don't even have to say anything to him. He is not nasty, he never barks, or growls of whines he just watches and shakes.

So I have been socialising him as much as possible and he is getting a bit better. He looks so much better too, he is now keeping weight on as he doesn't fret any more and he loves his home, his family, my cats.

He has been attacked at least 3 times by another dog, each time breaking the skin, twice before I had him, once while I had him. I was walking past a house and 2 dog's jumped out and attacked him while he was on his lead. He sat down and howled while they tried to rip him apart. I was powerless to do anything these dogs where huge!.

So he is also wary of other dogs, and reacts the same way as he does with people, if a dog so much as looks at him he ties to hide.

With people and dogs he knows he is quite confident.

Recall has been the biggest problem, as it would appear at some point he was beaten when he came back to his owner. He will not come back for food, toys nothing and hates being called. So recall has to be a whistle or another noise while avoiding eye contact with him.

He does want to come back , but if he sees me standing there calling him, he freezes starts t shake and creeps towards me but then runs like wild animal. Again all lack of confidence. So as a result he doesn't get much off lead play, only in confined areas where there are no other dogs.

I have been taking him up to the farm where I keep my horse and he loves it, anything new he is really confident about, it is just things that are linked with the past that makes him worry if that makes sense.

One of the things I have noticed is that he is calmer wearing a harness, and has better recall then if he isn't wearing one. I can only assume it is because I introduced the harness to him and while wearing a harness he has never had a bad experience. He is a different dog while not wearing his harness.

We have had a behaviourist in, although not directly for his problems. However she felt I was handling things well and did not feel I needed to change anything. Just not to rush things and to avoid confrontations at all costs because he falls to pieces.  He has been vet checked he has nothing wrong with him. He just is a very sensitive, shy boy.

However I was wondering, will he ever grow more confident and move on from his bad experience, or do you think he will always be this way?

I have just started ttouch with my two dogs as the both have fear problems. It has already started to make a difference. They both wear body wraps which gives them much more confidence. The harness will act in a similar way to a body wrap. It may be worth a look at

http://www.ttouchtteam.co.uk/

Also with the recall how about taking up a less threatening posistion ie crouching down with your back to him as he approuches. It is probably that he has been hit for a recall (as you say he was beaten) and perhaps a less threatening position wouldn't have been used to recall him.

sounds like you are doing a great job.  Ttouch works on the priciple of just making the dog more comfortable in itself.

good luck
Anna

p.s hows puepa? is she doing well in her new home?

The poor baby. What a dreadful time he's had in his short life. If you lie on your back in the submissive position when you call him, he won't feel threatened. You could also do this at home sometimes, on the sitting room carpet perhaps. It will give him confidence to feel that he in in a situation where he is in control.
Keep up the good work and let us know how he is progressing.

sounds like you are doing a fantastic job. only advice ive got is do not rush it, which is what other people have said anyway. good luck

Hi wolfwoman,

What a sad story.  I do rescue work with Boxers and sadly, this is all too common.

To answer your question, yes, he will get better.  He is only young yet and you have a great opportunity to help this dog build his confidence.  Aside from being abused, you say he's on his 5th placement.  Just the simple act of not rehoming him, giving him a scheduled/structured life will help leaps and bounds.  A dog is simply unable to gain confidence when moved from owner to owner.  Once he realizes that you are his permanent home, he will come out of his shell a bit.

Someone mentioned lying on your back during recall...what a great idea!!  You can also try crouching down as low as you can go (if you don't want to lay down outside) when you call him to you.  It will make you less threatening.

You are doing everything right in taking it slow and having patience with him.   Good luck!!

What is it with Boxers,poor babies.I have found that they are right up there when it comes to getting attacked by other dogs :( They are so bouncy and friendly(which could be a trigger to other dogs?) and sweet,how anyone could possibly harm a boxer,(or any dog for that matter,i just have a soft spot for boxers) is just beyond comprehension

>Someone mentioned lying on your back during recall...what a great idea!!  <

I agree,very good idea! :) If you dont want to lie on your back you could try other submissive positions.

I can only echo what the others have said,be patient and i'm sure with time he will settle down and learn to trust other people and dogs.You have to be ever so vigilant though and make sure he never gets attacked or bullied by another dog.Make sure and make every meeting very controlled at first. I know this is easier said than done,but if he starts to progress and then has another negative incident with other dogs then this will put you both back to square one again.

When dogs great each other for the first time, they will give of lots of little  signals(calming signals), to tell each other they are friend not foe..  a turn of the head, no eye contact,licking of lips, all these will tell each other they mean no harm.  they trouble with Boxers is because of their build, confidence and general persona....... other dogs dont read them very well,  it is a bit like , you walking down a dark alley , a little old lady passes you by, you are ok , she means no harm..........but the next person you meet is a 6ft  shaven headed, tattooed  male, with muscles to spare (no offence to anyone that fits the bill)   , you may feel a little nervous, you are not sure if he is friendly or not, so you do 1 of 2 things  , brave it out and flex the few muscles you have, or you dive in first, throw the first punch, and hope you have got him on the run.  and I feel this is one of the reasons Boxers are picked on so much, the other dogs are just weary of them so "get the first punch in".........it can also be because they are so boisterous in play, they think nothing of bowling another dog over, and pounding them with their paws, they are also very vocal.   I have to say though , this should not be tolarated by the owner of the Boxer, if the other dog  and owner is ok with it then fine,  but I never allow mine to bowl over other dogs, unless they are up for the play......... I met a lady the other day, she had 1JR and a collie pup, Oh she said as she let the pup run up to my 2 , are`nt they friendly , as you have them on a lead,  YES I said they are , but they are big boisterous dogs, and can do a lot of damage to smaller dogs....... so i only allow them off when I know they can play and not hurt!  she gave me such a baffled look.   Dont put him in a situation where he is going to be the brunt of other dogs  bullying,  Boxers will only take so much , one day he will turn round and stand up for himself(he is still only young yet) my boy was about 5 when he had had enough (a friends young dog kept flexing his muscles with him, and one day he stopped taking it) to this day if we see her, I have to put him on the lead , he does not forgive and forget..........and you dont want him to become a fighter, because a Boxer is good at the job once he starts ....... and know one wants that.

Poor dog:(.  It sounds like you are doing all you can for him.  He will get better and he is still young.  Patience time and lots of love are what is needed and it sounds like hes got a great home now :)