There are certain breeds of dogs that tend to be more aggressive than others. We all have heard stories of pit bulls, chow-chows, and boxers that show aggressive behavior, growling, snarling, and even biting people and other animals. Signs of hostility in a dog include bared teeth, flattened ears, erect tail, stiff legs, and bristling back hair; the dog may growl or bark.

If you see these behaviors, you should keep your arms at your sides and slowly back away, while firmly saying "No." Why do certain breeds tend to be aggressive? Let’s look at Boxers as one breed that can behave aggressively under certain circumstances.

Why do Boxers tend to be Aggressive?

Sometimes, Boxers are aggressive just because it is part of the breed’s specific instinctual behavior. It is not learned, but inbred over time.

Boxers also tend to become aggressive when they have not been socialized adequately as puppies. A lack of exposure to "the world," including other animals and people causes boxers to fear the unknown. They show aggression toward other animals and people because they are unsure and afraid.

Boxers are strong-willed dogs; they have minds of their own and they don’t hesitate to act on their own. Boxers need confident owners who can take charge of the animal, train properly, and maintain control at all times. Be aware that sometimes aggression can be caused by thyroid problems.

Always have your dog checked by a vet when it shows aggression to rule out medical problems.

Understanding Your Boxer

Many Boxers have protective instincts toward their owners when strangers are near. They need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal, non-threatening behavior of family members, friends, and neighbors. Then they are able to recognize the differences when someone acts threatening.

Without extensive socialization from an early age, they are suspicious of everyone, which can lead to biting, snarling, growling, and aggressiveness or are so fearful of being harmed that they become aggressive in their own defense.

Many Boxers are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs, especially those of the same sex. Some have strong instincts to chase and kill cats and other animals. If anything goes wrong in the breeding, socializing, training, or care of this breed, it is capable of injuring or killing other animals.

If a Boxer puppy is removed from its mother before seven weeks of age, it will not learn canine social signals such as bite inhibition, which are taught by the mother dog and siblings during this time. The puppy will be "mouthy" and nip, resist being handled, and act aggressively and fearfully toward other animals.

Conversely, if a puppy lives with its mother or siblings for more than 12 weeks, his position in the "pecking order" may be so ingrained that he will always act dominant (if he was at the top) or submissive (if he was at the bottom) toward people or other dogs.

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