Quote: hannah davis

ok, so we will start working on calm/quiet before exiting the crate. then practice some sort of door behavior. i could go on for days about how bad the boxer is and how he is a bad influence on the lab, but what would the point be? im just going to stick to my guns and make some "house rules".
1. dogs calm/quiet before exiting crate. no exceptions. (ok well, except house on fire.)
2. dogs crate with visitors (until showing calm, etc.)
3. marker train every day.
4. no more run of the house.
and more, but thats all i can think of right now.

Run of the house? No no. Dogs earn "run of the house." And when you have two (or more), then it's more so.

QUOTE:
i dont know if there is any hope for him. we have to crate him all day because he is destructive when left alone. and he howls when we leave (like DISTURBING howls/sounds like a 13 year old boy!). he doesn't ride in the car well, along with many, many other issues. i honestly should have worked with him before getting the other dog. END

The dog needs one-on-one, definitely not with an "I don't know if there's hope" thought in mind. First thing is that this dog, like all dogs, need to be left in the crate TIRED and ready to nap most of the day when you go to work. If that means that the owners take turns getting up an hour earlier for the power walk, that's what it means.

Nothing you describe about him sounds un-doable to me.

How old is he and how long have you had each one?

What did you do when the howling started?

You mentioned the BF's rowdy dog-greetings when he comes home. I agree that this is helping to create the door challenge.

About #3 above: That would mean short upbeat sessions rather than one long one. Also, if you could describe how you loaded the marker and taught "sit" (or anything), that would be great. I know that you're planning to get the DVD (and yes! You will LOVE it!) but you working with the clicker now, so maybe we can help you refine the steps.

You can do this. I agree with you about getting the second dog too soon, but there you go, it's done. I'm not sure what you mean about "bad influence," but if the dogs are better when they are separated more, then I would separate them more.

What kind and amount of structured exercise do they get every day? I cannot begin to tell you how much this affects behavior, tractability, and even pack structure (as you march along with one on each side, being the pack leader with every step).

so... its been a while, but school started and i'm looking for a new job! my leerburg catalog came today, and i think we're going to place an order!

i think we need to start at the beginning, and redo our whole training.
i was also looking at the establishing pack structure dvd, and maybe we need that one too. do you think it will help us learn the right human behavior? the catalog said you should establish leadership before you train. i understand the need for it but don't really know how to get it.

the worst part is structured exercise is limited right now, today it is 1 below with a wind chill added onto it. it has been so cold (and i know it's not just central maine, its all over the country), we just try to take the boxer out to do his business and run around for a minute and bring him back in. even with a fleece coat he shivers and its sad. we tried to get in a routine of walking them every day after work or at night for at least 20 minutes in addition to me taking them out and playing with them in the backyard for 15 minutes 2 or 3 times a day. we did really good with the walking!

my bf doesn't understand any of what i understand about training and thinks they are fine to be locked up all day, he's like a "9-5" dog person. he has the ability to walk them at the same time, whereas i struggle to walk them anywhere together, let alone scoop their poop too, and control them from other dogs.

tools we have: dog whistle, e-collar, choke chain, prong collar, step in harnesses, easy walk harness, any length of leash you can find (traffic to 14'), clicker, treat bag, biodegradable poop bags

what kind of structured exercise do you recommend. i am not sure if i mentioned this, the boxer cannot run due to luxating patella.