Do adult boerboels have difficulties socializing with other dogs?

[Leah]

At about 1.5yrs old we started to have problems with Mabel socializing with unfamiliar dogs.  This coincided with putting her on a medication to correct her incontinence (Proin).  The med is notorious for causing anxiety and we assumed her social issues were being caused by the medication.  With dogs she knows, whether big or small, she is great.  But when at the bark park she can go from playful to aggressive with various dogs, especially intense energy dogs.  

Sadly, we cannot go to the bark park with her any longer.  As we meet other boerboel owners, we have heard they have had socialization problems as well.  I am wondering if anyone else is having socialization problems with their boerboels?  Is this common to the breed?  She was spayed after her first heat.

With people and children she could not be more wonderful.  We try to do introductions to other dogs properly (ie no face to face, walking them together, ect) but if anything her tolerance of other dogs is getting worse.  Maybe my fear that she will snap at the dog is contributing to the problem as well???

Your thoughts and insights to the breed are very appreciated.

Leah

[Daniel Audet]

Lisa Tiro said:

" I want Axel to listen because he wants to please me not because he has to or else. "

There is some stuff  that I think you have been sold on by someone. Dogs do things for 2 reasons. They either want something or want to avoid something. If your dog likes eating squirrels better than the cheese you have in your pockets, all the cheese in the world isn't going to stop him from chasing that squirrel. If you want to keep it all positive...find something he likes better than that squirrel. 

Having said that I use eCollars in a soft manner compared to most. (Modern Way) I also dont use them in isolation of other tools.  I certainly use, food, tugs, prongs or whatever works on a particular dog. It is usually a combination of approaches. Out of all the famous trainers, I like Bart Bellon the best. He just seems the most honest. 

A big part of my new website will be to dismiss the nonsense that many people are dispensing, in hopes of making a sale. 

I think you will find the forum truthful but very blunt at times. A lot of the members will be from an old site that I use to run.  

--Dan

[Lisa Tiro]

Hi Daniel,

I was watching some of your videos on your new site today with the e-collar and combining treats with it. Both my bb's had/have great recall with me every time. However, my son who is 30 years old doesn't work with him as much as I do and he isn't as responsive to him. He wants to start putting the collar on him but it is because he has no patience in working with him. He wants the quick fix as it worked the first training with Bella. He gets frustrated very easily where I don't. It's not that I don't want to use it, I just want it all to be positive. btw Norman Epstein who is a part of this forum as well has one of David's dogs too and he was the first bb trained in Sch Obed in the U.S. He uses food. He has You Tube videos under Normandavidepstein if you're interested in checking him out.

[Daniel Audet]

I've spoken to Norman on several occasions. He has very good knowledge. 

eCollars and easily frustrated people don't mix. Agreed. 

My own approach is a mix of everything. I just don't want to stick to any artificial rule books. Dogs are individuals. Dog training is not about following a recipe book. It is about problem solving. 

--Dan

[Lisa Tiro]

I agree as well. What would your approach be with Axel when he is supposed to be heeling during training and he wants to be "fresh" and bite my clothes or my leg etc. I try to redirect his attention to the treats and sometimes it works but sometimes he is too riled up. Do you think that I should put the collar on him and when he does that undesirable behavior give a correction?