Vocal Boxer/Mastiff Mix !!

[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

[Bronx'sBower]

I forgot to ask something about Mack. I noticed he is a boxer mastiff mix and I wonder how old he is and how much he weighs. When we got Bower they said he would be a big dog but we thought he was boxer and lab mix and didn't expect him to get too large. Well he is now 7 months and is definately boxer-shepard mix-at three months he weighed 20ish lbs and at six months he weighed 55lbs. It'll be interesting to see if he holds true as a boxer and grows for a couple years instead of just one. I also wanted to note that I think Mack is a gorgeous boy!

[IloveMyDogs900]

When he barks try not to give him want he wants! Inless it is food! Or take it to the vet when dogs bark and people that means they can't see check him out. GOOD LUCK

[MacsMommy]

I forgot to ask something about Mack. I noticed he is a boxer mastiff mix and I wonder how old he is and how much he weighs. When we got Bower they said he would be a big dog but we thought he was boxer and lab mix and didn't expect him to get too large. Well he is now 7 months and is definately boxer-shepard mix-at three months he weighed 20ish lbs and at six months he weighed 55lbs. It'll be interesting to see if he holds true as a boxer and grows for a couple years instead of just one. I also wanted to note that I think Mack is a gorgeous boy!

Mack is 1 1/2 yrsa old, weighing in at a good 85lbs and growing. He also loves to cuddle, he is truely an overgrown lapdog. He talks back as well especially when I tell him to lay on the floor at night and not on the bed, because he is much to big to sleep with us, he does this OH OH OH whine almost like scooby doo, its funny, although he does lay down when told, he just doesnt like it. lol

He still barks when someone comes in the driveway, but I want it that way, that bark is alot different then his I want something bark, which we tend to ignore unless he wants to go outside to go to the bathroom, he doesnt need to bark for food or water, because we make sure he gets his two cups of food in the morning and at night,Its also hilarious to see him drink from a water bottle, like if I take him for a ride or something Ill buy him a bottle of water and pour it into his mouth and he drinks it like he has been doing that all his life. He also gets his playtime outside to run around like a crazy dog.

I think Im the alpha of our pack, because he listens to me better than my BF or his daughter or Gram. Although they dont enforce the rules like I do. They also dont spend as much time with him as I do. Also , I read somewhere that actually getting down on the floor to his level and rolling around with your dog shows them they can trust you, like your actually part of the Pack, you know what I mean, I rub heads with him, and rub his belly and rub his chest with my head. He cleans me and rubs his head on my belly or into my legs.
I THINK that plays a big part in why he listens to me better then the others, I enjoy our quality time together.

Honestly you should try this with Bower's braking habits. I learned it from someone on here. Ignore him, turn your head away from him, and cross your arms. He will persist for a bit but after awhile he will realize that he isnt going to get his way that way. If you yell at him or tell him to stop or even if you are getting stressed out about it he will pick up on that and play on it, much like a child. He will respond to neg or pos attention and fiend for both. So stop giving him any attention to the barking. Just simply walk away if you have to or simply just trun your head so you cant see him. That worked for Mack. He still barks sometimes, but he is still a puppy, so he can get stubborn, I think it comes with the breed as well. You just have to show your dominance. Also I noticed with Mack , when he barks for attention, now that we have been looking away from him not saying a word, he simply stops barking and lays down, when he does that is when I get to his level and rub his head and tell him good boy.

Hope this helps,
sorry I was long winded today. lol

[MacsMommy]

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.

BE Persistant, and consistant !!!
he is still a baby, he has those puppy tendancies, when puppies play together they bite and nip and bark at each other. Thats what he is doing with you because you are now part of his pack.
I dont knwo what your yard looks like, or how much time you have in your day, but my suggestion, is take time everyday to let him out with you, get him a toy that he can bite or nip and bark at. Show him that that is the time and the place for that. I think if you give him that , he will stop doing it inappropriately, Like give him limits and boundaries all at the same time your giving him what he needs and wants, to be a puppy.
Mack does that sometimes with me, like the second week we had him, woke up in the morning and licked my face off , the I took him for his morning walk, we got back in the house and he got frisky, he jumped on my and bit my boob, yes I said it. I pushed him off me and walked away from him.
Then he found me and licked my hand, as if to say sorry.


I hope this helps !