It's not really a big deal to let your dog sleep with you if you don't have training issues with your dog... but if you have a dog that is challenging you for the alpha position then letting him/her sleep with you is not a good idea. By letting your boxer sleep with you, he/she sees his/herself as your equal. The leader is always supposed to have the higher sleeping position (it goes back to the wolf pack). Honestly, with most boxers I don't think it would be a problem to let them sleep with you... unless they grow to be big babies and kick you out of the bed. It is much better though to not allow them on the bed until they are trained and know that you are the top dog and they are subordinate to you. If you let them view you as their equal from the start, training will be much tougher. I say this from experience... A great book for you to read as a new boxer owner is Leader of the Pack. Excellent read!!
I allowed Otis (my now 3 yr old boxer who weighs 107 pounds) on our bed at around 3 months of age. We crate trained him from 8 weeks until that time. We ended up having to re-train him to not get on the bed b/c he got so big that we did not have enough room and my husband and I ended up getting just a few hours of sleep a nite from having to move him around on the bed. Also, once we started allowing Otis on the bed he peed on the bed 3 times (and this was in the middle of the day... it was as if he was showing his dominance and truly marking the bed as his territory). Once I showed Otis who was boss by forcing him to sleep in his crate again, he was a much better dog for me.
We now have Sadie who is 6 months old and 52 pounds. We have never allowed Sadie on the bed. We were tempted, yes, but since we trained Otis to not be allowed on the bed we couldn't very well allow Sadie. I kept Sadie in her crate at nite until she was about 3 months old. Yes, she cried and barked non-stop for a while after about a week she got used to it. It helped to have the crate close to me so she knew I was there. We expect a lot from these little guys. They've just been taken from their mama and littermates and we expect them to sleep straight through the nite. That's a lot for a little guy to take in... so you just need to be patient and wear some ear plugs at first. If you truly want the dog to sleep with you, that's one thing... but if you are just doing it so he doesn't cry then he has already proven that he is the top dog because he got his way.
Now, both Otis and Sadie sleep on their pillows, which are right beside my bed. Occasionally, I will sleep on the floor with them but I do not allow them on the bed. Otis has been a challenge every step of the way so I have always had to make him work for everything to show that I am the alpha.
As far as the days go... I crate trained Otis during the day until he was 2 yrs old. He can now roam free and doesn't mess up anything. I'm going to do the same thing with Sadie. Just make sure they have a kong and never crate them with their collar. The collar can get caught on the crate and they can strangle themselves. Also, give 'em a treat when you say crate. I had trouble with Otis... he would hide under the bed and not want to go in but with Sadie I say crate and have her cookie ready... and she goes right in. Also, I keep the radio on for them during the day.
Good luck!! Boxers are a lot of work to train but the most lovable and rewarding dogs I've ever had!!
I allowed Otis (my now 3 yr old boxer who weighs 107 pounds) on our bed at around 3 months of age. We crate trained him from 8 weeks until that time. We ended up having to re-train him to not get on the bed b/c he got so big that we did not have enough room and my husband and I ended up getting just a few hours of sleep a nite from having to move him around on the bed. Also, once we started allowing Otis on the bed he peed on the bed 3 times (and this was in the middle of the day... it was as if he was showing his dominance and truly marking the bed as his territory). Once I showed Otis who was boss by forcing him to sleep in his crate again, he was a much better dog for me.
We now have Sadie who is 6 months old and 52 pounds. We have never allowed Sadie on the bed. We were tempted, yes, but since we trained Otis to not be allowed on the bed we couldn't very well allow Sadie. I kept Sadie in her crate at nite until she was about 3 months old. Yes, she cried and barked non-stop for a while after about a week she got used to it. It helped to have the crate close to me so she knew I was there. We expect a lot from these little guys. They've just been taken from their mama and littermates and we expect them to sleep straight through the nite. That's a lot for a little guy to take in... so you just need to be patient and wear some ear plugs at first. If you truly want the dog to sleep with you, that's one thing... but if you are just doing it so he doesn't cry then he has already proven that he is the top dog because he got his way.
Now, both Otis and Sadie sleep on their pillows, which are right beside my bed. Occasionally, I will sleep on the floor with them but I do not allow them on the bed. Otis has been a challenge every step of the way so I have always had to make him work for everything to show that I am the alpha.
As far as the days go... I crate trained Otis during the day until he was 2 yrs old. He can now roam free and doesn't mess up anything. I'm going to do the same thing with Sadie. Just make sure they have a kong and never crate them with their collar. The collar can get caught on the crate and they can strangle themselves. Also, give 'em a treat when you say crate. I had trouble with Otis... he would hide under the bed and not want to go in but with Sadie I say crate and have her cookie ready... and she goes right in. Also, I keep the radio on for them during the day.
Good luck!! Boxers are a lot of work to train but the most lovable and rewarding dogs I've ever had!!
