[WorriedMom]

Hello! It's been a while since I've posted, but that's because Jackson has been doing so well for me! However, in the past month, I've had a few new issues I have not been able to resolve and need some help. This is a long post, but I just want to be clear so I can get the best advice possible. Jackson is my first dog so I want to make sure I'm doing it right and he's a well-adjusted dog when he reaches 1.5 to 2.

He's now 9months... close to 100lbs. WHO KNEW HE'D GET THIS BIG! Unfortunately, he's a boxer mix (with german shepherd), lots of energy, and I'm a tiny 105 lb female. He is definitely submissive to me, listens well (minus his puppy distractions), and even listens off leash for the most part unless there is something crazy going on. However, he is easily excited by other dogs, scared by loud sudden noises once in a while (rarely), and pulls on leash. Another dog barked at hime the other day and he nearly made me faceplant on the side-walk. In comparison to his strength, I'm no match for him.
For this reason, I'm having trouble. His leash walking has improved and he normally walks besides me, but in these instances where he gets excited, I'm left out to dry. I currently for the past month have been using a prong collar.. and I HATE IT. It works like a charm, but I hate putting it on, I feel cruel using it, but I haven't seen any other solutions when I got petco/petsmart that can keep me, a 105 lb woman, from stopping a 100lb dog with that much energy.

I am really looking for any other solution besides using a chain around his neck. Any input is welcome. I'm willing to purchase something online or try anything.

Secondly, recently, Jackson has been much more alert, seems to be much more affectionate towards me, and in turn, he seems like he's becoming a little protective of me. He runs around the house barking anytime he hears ANY noise that might be someone at the door. The other day I was fake fighting a friend and let out an "ouch" and jackson came over and started barking at him. He seemed like he was warning him to stop, although I did not see any signs of aggression. (usually his hair stands up--he has that ridgeback mane across his back--when he's scared, nervous, or anything unusual). He also seemed to give a little warning but putting his mouth over my friends hand. My friend said it was the same level at which he does when he's playing with toys and such... not hard at all... he never closes his mouth but it did seem unusual. He's never shown any signs of aggression, friendly with ALL dogs, and ALL people, even new people that come into the home, he greets once they are inside as long as I'm there. I'm still concerned about this behavior, and since he's my first dog, I would appreciate any EXACT instructions on how to curb this type of overprotective behavior to something more appropriate before he gets too old. These are the first signs of this that he has show, I think it's coming with his age and that he's becoming very attached to me.

On the note of being very attached.... anytime I go anywhere, he follows me around. If I leave a room, or if i close a door, he scratches the door and freaks out. If he thinks im going to the car, hears the keys, he sits in front of the door and blocks it.If he's on a leash with someone else and I walk out of sight he starts whining and barking bloody murder. I crate jackson when I'm not home, and since he turned 7 months i stopped crating him at night (he's been great... only chewed up 2 things since then.... which I would say is not so bad). I got him 2 dog beds which he knows as his "spots" and he just goes straight to them when he knows its bedtime. But, I dont' crate him when I'm not there. I tried leaving the house for 5 minutes then 10 minutes, etc.. but even after 30 seconds he sits and scratches at the door. And he's a big boy so he can defintely do some damage. One day I left him out for 3 hours and he got into the trash and chewed up a briefcase and all the papers. What is a good solution here? I want to be able to keep him out when I leave, curb this anxiety he has when I leave. Should I keep crating him? He has recently started pawing at the crate, barking, whining, anything and everything when I leave. He somehow gets to anything within half a foot to hte crate and chews it up through the crate in his nervous-ness.

This is all new behavior. I'm not sure why it started or what to do about it. ANy help is appreciated. He has been great so far.
Good things: He listens well, drops it, listens well to other people as well (but not as well as he listens to me), i can let him off leash at a park near my house and he does well with any person or dog that comes into the area, he come's with me when I say "let's go!" --but I'm pretty sure this is because he's too scared to not be with me...sometimes I Have a difficult time getting him back on leash if he sitll has a lot of energy... friendly with anyone that comes in the house, appropriate energy level and I do a pretty good job of letting him release most of it, waits for his food until I say get it, etc. He's a great dog... just needs a little work! This might be due to mistakes I made as having him as my first dog, but I do hope they are correctable.

Thanks!