Socialisation Classes

Since Stars run of bad health and all her bad trips to the vet, she has developed a fear of strangers. She thinks everyone will hurt her. No problems at all with people she knows. It is in the breed standard that boxers are wary with strangers.

We have been working with her daily trying to meet new people and let them give her treats. Its working slowly.

I was taking her to dog classes to try and help her but dont know if they are doing any good. We are out of the house for 3 hours, 1 hour there, 1 hour class, then another hour home. At the class the same trainer will come over and give her a treat and pat her about 4 times in the hour.
Star now knows the trainer and is OK about her. That is as far as it is going.

Should I continue with classes or just keep taking her out and about as this seems to be working better, meeting more people and busy places. Sorry its so long

Carole it must be a Boxer thing, in the last few days instead of running up to people we meet she now stands and growls under her breath at them.

Im glad Im not alone. I put it down to all the bad experiences at the vet.

Is Saffy ok with people you know? Star seems a bit more relaxed if the stranger knows her name and says "hi Star" or something along those lines, she likes to be fed by strangers, just does not want them to touch her

You know what it is like with a boxer, people chase you along the road to see the boxer.

Saffys brill with people we know, up to Saturday she would go up to anyone and roll over expecting rubs. But since Saturday every stranger we meet she growls at. (its only a low growl) . But if I tell the person to still approach her and put their hand out she sniffs and then wags her tail and is their friend.

Star likes a sniff of their hands, no more than that.

Thing is if they ignore her she usually rolls onto her back to be tickled

It is specifically her head, I think that she does not like strangers touching it. Might be that when she is at the vet we have to muzzle her and hold her tight around her head. She might think that they are going to do that to her and hurt her.

I don't have any probs yet - oh except that every stranger Sonny sees he wants to jump all over them and give them kisses. He gets so upset if people don't speak to him when we are out for walk - and like you said carole as soon as they see a boxer they come running to pet him. Just wish he would calm down.

Sam

It sounds as though she is socializing more with people when you take her out and about than she is at classes. Does she meet many dogs when you are out with her as that is an important aspect of 'socialization classes'?

Most dogs dislike being patted on the head as this can be perceived as quite threatening and Star's experiences at the vet has probably reinforced this to the extent that she has become very head-shy. Always ask people to stroke her under the chin, on the chest, or on the shoulders.

Some dogs just don't care to be touched by strangers at all. That is fine (if it is not a show/trial dog!). Just tell anyone that approaches that, while she would not dream of biting, you would prefer that they did not touch her unless she initiates contact.

However, I would keep on with asking people to offer her a treat. Hannah was very shy when we got her, but the treat offering eventually fixed the problem. Now I have that rarity - a Boxer that accepts strangers calmly and without wanting to leap all over them.

Insisting that a dog should put up with unwanted attention can be counterproductive. (I know that you would not do this, but some people have the misguided impression that their dog must be made to endure everyone making a fuss of it).

Thanks Shadowboxer

Star meets plenty of dogs when we are out and about, she sees them every day. She plays with most dogs. Funny thing is she is not so keen on dogs that run up to her at 100 miles an hour. Exactly the same thing she did to other dogs 6 months ago.

We have been working with treats and Stars body language to see if she wants to be touched. Also have been asking people not to touch her head.

We seem to be doing everything you suggest, so hopefully in the future she might be like Hannah nice and calm when meeting people.

mmmmmmm...... calm ......... if only.......

One day, Sam