trustgodalways
New member
Talk me off a ledge here, people.
I have a 1.5yo spayed female boxer and we’ve had her since she was 8 weeks old. We got her during the you-know-what so for almost the first year of her life, she only really interacted with me and my fiancé, and I worked from home so she was with me 24/7.
Now she is so uneasy about strangers and it manifests as aggressive behavior. She will bark and lunge at strangers to the point of foaming at the mouth, nearly choking herself out.
If I hand off the leash and leave at the vet or groomer, she’s fine with them. If I’m in the same room, she’s uncontrollable. Shes never bitten anyone but has gotten close 3 times.
We’ve worked with 2 balanced trainers, have tried private and group classes, but nothing had helped.
We try mostly positive-only techniques and don’t use an e-collar on her (because I’m pretty sure that would only heighten her anxiety) but I’m at my wits end. I love her to death but I want to be able to let other people watch her or have her meet new people, but we can’t trust her and her focus can’t be redirected once she sees a stranger.
Please, advice and reassurance are welcome. I’m just disheartened at the idea that my dog is unfriendly. It’s my biggest fear and the ONE thing I swore to avoid, yet it’s exactly what’s happened.
ETA: I appreciate all the comments and advice! Thank you all for the detailed suggestions; my girl is my world so I want her to be as happy and well-adjusted as possible.
I have a 1.5yo spayed female boxer and we’ve had her since she was 8 weeks old. We got her during the you-know-what so for almost the first year of her life, she only really interacted with me and my fiancé, and I worked from home so she was with me 24/7.
Now she is so uneasy about strangers and it manifests as aggressive behavior. She will bark and lunge at strangers to the point of foaming at the mouth, nearly choking herself out.
If I hand off the leash and leave at the vet or groomer, she’s fine with them. If I’m in the same room, she’s uncontrollable. Shes never bitten anyone but has gotten close 3 times.
We’ve worked with 2 balanced trainers, have tried private and group classes, but nothing had helped.
We try mostly positive-only techniques and don’t use an e-collar on her (because I’m pretty sure that would only heighten her anxiety) but I’m at my wits end. I love her to death but I want to be able to let other people watch her or have her meet new people, but we can’t trust her and her focus can’t be redirected once she sees a stranger.
Please, advice and reassurance are welcome. I’m just disheartened at the idea that my dog is unfriendly. It’s my biggest fear and the ONE thing I swore to avoid, yet it’s exactly what’s happened.
ETA: I appreciate all the comments and advice! Thank you all for the detailed suggestions; my girl is my world so I want her to be as happy and well-adjusted as possible.