Vocal Boxer/Mastiff Mix !!

[MacsMommy]

Seems Mack is showing his true colors.

We got Mack June 29th 2006
The Transition went remarkably smooth. He listens to most commands, except when Outside and off leash. He is a bit stubborn. I think it is a breed trait.

The barking though has gotten worse, and he nips as well. Seems to me if he doesnt get his way, for example. Yesterday my BF and I were on the couch wathcing tv, while I was cooking supper and Mack wanted to play rough with my BF whom just got home from work. He started barking insanely and the started nipping at his hand. So he told him no. and of course that didnt help.

Mack is a great Dog other than the nipping and barking, he has even nipped at my daughters, if they tell him to stop barking he will run at them and nip at them as if to tell them no i wont. Such personality.
I cant leave him alone on the lead while in the garden in full view of me without non stop barking the whole time, and I dont even know the proper command to use to teach him to stop.

Can someone please give me some suggestions as to what to do.

[Giselle]

It seems like you and your family are punishing Mack only halfway. When you verbally reprimand him, do you ever dole out consequences? If not, Mack knows that if he persists enough, he'll get what he wants. In the same sense, even negative reinforcement is positive reinforcement in this situation. Mack wants your BF and so nips and barks at him. BF says No and I would imagine probably started swatting Mack or some similar action. That, in itself, is positive reinforcement for Mack to continue nipping/barking.

Instead of arbitrarily rewarding Mack's behavior, do NOT give any reinforcement whatsoever when he is doing an undesirable behavior.

For nipping, you have two methods:

1. When puppies were young, they learned bite inhibition through each other. Whenever a littermate bit too rough, the pupppy would yelp. The rule was simple: play nice or leave. You can mimic this by yelping "OUCH!" loudly every time Mack bites and if he backs off or sits, praise and treat. And, if desired, you can shove a chew toy in his mouth.

2. Give absolutely no reinforcement when Mack nips. When he nips, stand as still as a tree with your arms crossed. You should even look the other way because staring a dog in the eyes is exciting to them. When he backs off or sits down, praise and treat.

For the barking, ignore it altogether. No reinforcement = no purpose to continue the behavior. Keep in mind, there will be what is known as the "extinction burst". Because Mack has been so successful with his barking, he will continue doing it. Thus, when you try to ignore his barking, he might possibly increase his barking because he thinks you'll give in. Just keep ignoring him and he will stop. Good luck!

ETA: I also wanted to add that now would be an excellent time to start Nothing in Life is Free (NILIF). With this training method, the pack hierarchy is established as you being the alpha and Mack the subservient member. This will help you IMMENSELY as you try to control his behavior:
http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm
http://www.greyhoundlist.org/nothing_is_free.htm

[MacsMommy]

I completely get it, like the light bulb just went on in my head !
You are right, and I will try it !

As far as the Bf wacking him , we dont believe in it, but I can understand your assumtion. Its more like we say no mack or be quiet, But I can see giving him any attention is rewarding him for this behavior because he is getting our attention, much like with a child.


Thank You so much !

[MacsMommy]

Mack is responding very well to this lack of response from us, when he is barking.

The very first time we tryed all three of us turned away from him crossed our arms and said nothing, he persisted for a minute or two, then began to wimper,and whine. He has this kinda growl whine he does, that sounds like oh oh oh ! Its too funny, so we have to laugh, but he stops after awhile and lays down.

We are also commanding him to sit before we pet him, or take him outside.
He is responding well to that, all though is still very much new at this way of life.


So again Thank You So Much For Your Suggestions and the link, it has helped already so much !

[Giselle]

*Applauds* Congrats! It sounds like Mack is improving immensely. I'm sure if you persist, his bad behaviors will disappear completely. Keep up the good work!

[MacsMommy]

Well, Its been awhile and Mack is improving so much.

Even outside. He still wants to have some freedom, which we give to him ,but he knows when we want him to go in.

[Bronx'sBower]

I am glad to hear your Mack is doing well...I wish I could say the same for the boxer-shepard mix we adopted a few months ago. I read your post because ours too is very vocal-he barks at everything, literally. We can't mow the grass, rake, sweep, mop, vaccumm without him barking. My fiance is a smoker and everytime he lights up Bower barks crazy at him-he knows it isn't good, why can't my fiance' figure it out ? Bower also barks at me when he's hungry, thirsty or wanting to play and it's nice that he can tell me when he needs something but when he gets into trouble he likes talking back. So I have read this book called "The Latchkey Dog" and I will be alpha but at this time it seems as if fiance' is alpha. Bower really listens to Tom well but Tom works 12 hour days and isn't home much so Bower gets loud quite often with me. Usually during the day he is fine with me, always wants to cuddle and be by my side BUT when company comes over he acts up something serious. So I often though he was trying to compete for my attention and when I give him total attention he calms down some but not totally. I want to take him to obedience training but don't think I can until I can ensure he won't bark furiously at someone or nip at them. The one thing I don't understand is he LOVES other dogs AND cats but acts like he doesn't like some people. I get scared of his nipping and don't know what to do when he does it. For example the other day I was messing around at him and he jumped up and got my face-he didn't bite down and it didn't leave any marks nor did it hurt. I said "ouch!" and immediately he layed down and hid his face like he was ashamed or apologizing. If he nips like that when he's playing, how can I be sure he won't bite as an adult dog? I love him so much and am willing to do whatever it takes to stop these bad habits-I need to gain control but everything the books tell me to do doesn't work, he just barks back at me. I have tried ignoring, turning my back and even my vet has shown me some restraint methods when he gets crazy mean but its like putting a bandaid on a severed arm it seems.
Anyhow, good luck to you and Mack and in the meantime I think I will reread my latchkey dog book because I am determined to be the Alpha gosh darn it