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Question

At the age of 2, my male Boxer has developed a taste for fighting other dogs. He's adorable at home but changes the moment we get him outside. Apart from having him de-sexed, is there anything we can do?
— Ashleigh

Answer

I get the feeling your Boxer is one confused canine right now. One half of him not only loves you but also listens to and obeys you. The other half is the one ruled by his hormones — testosterone is telling him to get tough and take on any dog that dares to even so much as look at you.

The fact is that you can tell him "No" as many times as you like, however, I can guarantee that his hormones are yelling louder. He just won't listen unless you can block out that testosterone. The simplest and safest solution is to have him de-sexed.

If this really isn't an option, then speak to your vet about a long lasting hormonal implant that can tone down his bad behaviour for up to 12 months. It works by blocking the body's ability to produce testosterone; but it's only temporary.

At the end of this time, unless you've made significant progress in training him to be calm and controlled, he could easily return to his old habits. So make the most of this lull to bring him back his loving ways!