Good advice, Tx.
Interesting, if it was being off leash (many aggressive dogs are worse ON leash than off, as is my own) caused it, the 'no structure' thing, odd that the other dog they have did not develop aggression, too.
I'm assuming, since they have TWO dogs,
that they treat the two dogs the same way. Like, if Fluffy is off leash, so is Binky. Odd that it did not hit both dogs...both being in an 'unstructured' environment, which is sooooooooo commonly done by most dog owners, is allow dogs off leash to roam about freely.
It'd make sense as the 'cause' of Binky's aggression, if it applied to most dogs, but, most dogs, even if running free around their human, do not develop aggression.
But yeah, THAT might be 'what the human did wrong' and it just only impacted their ONE dog, but not their other dog...
........for "some reason".
I'm leary of the "let them duke it out" to "establish pecking order". I hope that works out okay, it *might*.
It certainly wouldn't with Buddy. shiver. YOu could send in 100 'dominant' dogs, to "put Buddy in his place" and Buddy would still be Buddy the gangsta, even after 100 dominant dogs "put him in his place". It's not like that with agressive dogs. Might work for 'normal' dogs, but IF IF IF this boxer does have the dog-aggressive brain, fighting will only make him worse, only strengthen his belief he DOES need to fight with all comers.
Lol, see Dodge? Ppl who work with dog-aggressive dogs, DO have different ideas on what causes it, and what might help, that is why your pals will need to self-educate, so they can sort out, what ideas they like, what ideas work for their particular dog. I've changed my mind on a few things along the way. I'm still learning, tweaking things, adding in new ideas all the time to try to help my gangsta.
(sorry, i don't know these dogs name, lets call the aggressive dog Binky for now)
When Buddy does that aggressive, very unfriendly "oh yeah?" greeting, he does not appear to be interested in 'establishing pecking order', which implies at some point, if allowed to argue around, Buddy would then sort it out, and then get along....but instead, Buddy seems interested in causing a fight/argument. But, maybe Binky is not going to be dog-aggressive.
It implies, that IF an aggressive dog and another dog get to have at it, they will settle the dispute, "once and for all" or something, which probably won't happen. ---- IF the dog IS truly an aggressive dog, i mean.
That WOULD work GREAT with two NORMAL brained dogs, yes it probably would, the 2 normal brained dogs would argue around, and make their decision, everyone falls into their places, life goes on, and would be at peace from then on.
But, Tx, it doesn't work that way with aggressive dogs. They are not 'normal'. Sort of like dog autism or something---Some rules and patterns won't apply. (well, i mean IF this dog IS dog-aggressive)
and Once the dog HAS had it's first full on fight, it gets harder to rehab them, imo. the dog has a new level of ...something.
and whatever word (?)belongs there, the new level of it ---it's not good.
On the one occasion that i can recall a full out scarey fight happening iwth Buddy, (cuz back then, i foolishly thought the two dogs WOULD "just work it out", "establish a pecking order" cuz i was used to normal brained dogs..........well, it was bloody fight, actual blood drawn, very frightening and very hard to break up to save the dogs) well, AFTER THAT, Buddy, who had made some progress had regression, and was all shook up for a long time afterwards......... acted FAR FAR FAR worse for some time afterwards,
it was a real set back in our progress,
and it took me a lot longer to re-establish his trust in me, that "When you are with me, you do not get into fights. Buddy, your lifetime of being a gangsta is over. You are with me, you are safe." kinda thing.
Maybe not the msg you send to 'normal' dogs, but, it works for Buddy.
He's calmer, he no longer 'expects' to fight the way he used to.
I think Buddy truly has come to realize, "if mom is here, i can not escalate and get into a fight, i'm going to leave here in one piece, no blood, not ever again, my fighting days are over, now i can only get a scary bark out once in a while.". (sorry for anthropomorphising there hee hee.)
Buddy is finally becoming accustomed to NOT fighting, NOT reacting now. Nope, he's not cured. But he's better, and easier to manage.
But that might work, too, just letting Binky duke it out with every new dog that he doesn't like. *Could* work for Binky....
but I don't do that with Buddy, for Buddy, who actually IS dog aggressive, that would be chaos. shiver. But maybe for Binky, since we don't with 100% certainty that Binky is dog-aggressive (although it sounds like it) maybe that will not lead to further escalation,
and further notion in Binky's head that it IS up to him to take on other dogs. I've mostly removed that idea from Buddy, he knows he does not get to react/fight, we are going to leave IF he loses it = we leave. It's our routine, Buddy counts on it now. but, each dog is different.
Maybe in the future, i'll consider letting Buddy have at it, "to work it out", but i can't picture doing that mistake again, so for now, i'm all about preventing fights.
And maybe what does work to help Buddy become a calmer, mellower dog, won't necessarily apply to Binky. All dogs are unique.
Re: "maybe he's becoming aggressive cuz his body is changing now", Most All dogs bodies change as they mature, yet most do not turn dog-aggressive. It's 'something else' going on for Binky...
my guess is,
that Binky was displaying earlier signs of dog aggression, probably for months, and either it was not noticed/ignored/wrote off as bad day or blamed on "Wow, that dog Fido really set off our Binky, wonder what is wrong with Fido?" kinda thing, but, i'd bet, there have been signs for a while. Or even seen as rough playtime.
Or, perhaps, for past month or two, or from age 9 months to 1 year, for whatever reason, maybe Binky wasn't much around New dogs very often or for that short period of time, or maybe not close enough to argue with New dogs during those 3 months.. But, i'd bet Binky had earlier signs, just a guess. Or, lol, maybe Binky is a half-miler slacker, lol. Sort of "behind"--- IS A JOKE. =D
RE: toys. IF Binky is dog-aggressive, toys are probably always going to be 'an issue'. Until you are further along in the aggression management, i'd skip the toys altogether.
Neutral toys would work for 'normal' brained dogs, but, if Binky is who i think he is, even neutral toys will be a trigger.
Certainly, over time, they can try to work on those things, when they are more adept at spotting the early signs that Binky is about to lose it....
but, for now, i think, reducing minutes spent in gangsta mindset is good goal for now. And toys do set off most dog-aggressive dogs.
Other things you might notice will set Binky off are:
~doorways (this includes gates, any opening of any kind) Try your best to not let Binky and any new dog be at a gate or doorway at same time. You'll see what i mean.
~narrow hallways--triggers some fights.
~toys
~Many aggressive dogs are worse on-leash than off leash.
~Petsmart
~Any place super exciting to the dog, he's more likely to blow a fuse.
~Occasionally,not always, but sometimes, treats can set up stress for dogs like Buddy, not always, but, it can be dicey once in a while..Especially, if like both dogs get a bone to chew. Not the lil treats put into their mouths, but something that takes a while, Binky will start to get a 'tude about it all, esp if New dog is there.
~Other dogs approaching Binky's owners might set him off, too.
~groups of dogs
~running dogs,
~ excited dogs can set off some dog-aggressive dogs into reacting.
~dog parks
~doggie schools or doggie sports or doggie gatherings of any kind, might be more than Binky can handle, at least before any work is done with Binky on his issues...
but, like Tx said, THERE IS MUCH HOPE for this dog to become well controlled!!!
BEST OF LUCK!