Training an Adult Dog?

brown and white Boxer I have a 3 year old male Boxer. When I'm home he is fine unless someone comes over he doesn't approve of then he tries to attack them. I think he's trying to protect me. I've noticed if I'm not home and my dad's here and someone new comes over he's totally fine as long as I'm not here.

Also he barks to go outside, but if nobody's home he will even if he doesn't have to force himself to pee and it's getting to the point he will pee on my couch, my bed, anywhere. It's gross! The upholstery cleaners my best friends! :( Can anyone offer any advice please? He's really a great dog, he just has those couple things I have to figure out, but look at that face. I love this doggy!

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merlene smith
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June 23, 20152 found this helpful

What a handsome dog. I am a boxer lover too. I provide foster care for boxers that are rescued from shelters until they find their permanent home. The behavior you are describing is because your dog is the pack leader. He is protecting you because he doesn't senses you are in charge. Also the wetting, I believe, is him marking "his territory" There are ways to correct this, and they basically teach the dog "YOU" are the pack leader. It's very important to remove couch, bed etc. privileges for awhile. Then he is only allowed up on furniture if and when you "invite" him. He should be trained to "wait" at the door coming in and out of the house and you go first and he follows.

When feeding he should wait and eat only when you tell him. Ideally it should be after you have eaten. These are all things that happen in a dog pack in nature. The alpha tells the other dogs when they can do certain behaviors. There is a web site NILIF "Nothing in Life is Free" that explains in more detail these principles. I and other members of our rescue group have used them with good success with Boxers. Boxers are such smart dogs it doesn't take them long to figure this out. Wishing you good luck.

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Abigail A.

June 23, 20150 found this helpful

I second Merlene's advice. When the dog is in the leadership position you will get all sorts of unwanted behaviors. Large breed dogs such as Boxers, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and Mastiffs must be taught that you are in charge, not them.

Waiting to eat, walking the correct way (beside you, not in front or pulling at the leash), waiting to be invited onto furniture or into rooms, and other things are all a normal part of the training.

For more pack leader training, see also Cesar Millan's (Dog Whisperer's) pack leader training techniques.

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