Barking at dogs and people: why does she do it, how to stop it?

When out on walks with my Boxer she barks at EVERYONE and EVERYTHING!
She's extremely soft and loves people to make a fuss of her, she licks and slobbers all over them! But when we're out she lunges at them and barks excessively, she nearly pulls me over. She also does the same with all other dogs, but if one comes close enough to her, she just boxes them (as they do) but playfully, and only growls if the other dog starts to, I'm sure she only wants to play, being a typical Boxer and also just a baby.

But what I would like to know is if theres any useful tips on how to distract her or stop her from doing this, as she's very strong and hard to control when jumping everywhere??!
And also why is she doing this when actually she's very friendly?

Hiya Lulu,

Im not sure why your boxer is barking at people and dogs, was she socialised from an early age with both dogs and people?

My dog shadow always pulls my arm off when she sees another dog cos she wants to go play, but i she starts to pull, I turn in a different direction, or start walking backwards, it does work, she's learnt that if she pulls that she doesnt get to go where she wants. I've also taught shadow "enough", which means stop barking. shadow has a habit of barking at people walking past my window, now I didnt want her to stop doing this completely, you know incase someone was ever trying to break in, etc. So I have taught her to stop barking when I say enough. It also works if shes playing to rough, or barking at OH. Basically when she used to go over to the window and bark, I would quietly go over to her and sit with her, with my arms around her, I would make soothing noises, like sssshhhhhh, and when she was quite I'd say "enough" and give her a treat. Gradually I built it up so thjat I didnt need to go over to her, when she was barking, and then stopped I'd say "enough", and reward. She has now learnt that when I say "enough" it means stop barking and be quiet.

I hope that has helped somewhat, Im sure your boxer is just being a puppy, and being playful with other dogs, but you could try some of the stuff above, it may help, it may not.

Thanks alot.
I'll definaltely try the 'enough' idea, when she barks at people when they walk past too (I've seen that on "It's me or the dog"). I do try and turn around aswell, but she's so strong I don't have much choice sometimes but to go where she goes when she pulls my arm out of my socket. Unfortunatley I haven't had her from a tiny pup, otherwise I would have socialised her more with other dogs, and apparantley she hardly went out with her old owners, so I think it might all be very new to her, a combination of that and the fact she still is only a baby I suppose!
Ta

No probs. I know how frustrating it can be when they take off at full speed, dragging you along helpless behind them!

Hopefully as she grows older, some of the playfullness will go, but I dont know much about boxers, so maybe it wont?!

Fingers crossed for you.

Would she carry a ball or anything like that? Harvey went through a faze and occasionally will do it now of barking at people who didn't have dogs with them It was as if to say "what are you doing here without a dog" I found it embarrassing as like you said he's friendly enough but barking at people tends to give the opposite impression He's more or less grown out of it now and loves his ball so is transfixed on this when we are out.

my dog went through a phase of barking at anything and everything when out walking. He was about 4 to 5 months old, extremely well socialised, but we decided it was anything he was unsure of made him bark. He was usually off the lead when it happened, must admit he is hardly ever on the lead apart from road walking. He grew out of it, just try not to react in an excited way, easy to say i know when your arm is being yanked off. We have found he takes his cue from us and as nothing much bothers us, he is now the same.

As for boxers becoming less playful as they get older, mine lived to be 13 and was always up for a laugh. and silly as they come. still miss him 10 years later.