Bed time???

[CHATOS_MOM]

I agree that some boxers need firmer discipline than others, as long as you keep your composure and do not use violence as a form of punishment! Removing them from the situation will work if it is done immediately, calmly, and FIRMLY. We keep our dogs out of our bedroom at bedtime with baby gates, the crate did not work for us either as or dogs would also fling poop with their feet and cry. Besides, I didnt want them to associate the crate with punishment, so at night we "baby gate" them in our hallway where they are safe, they have room to continue to run and play, they have big comfortable beds, they can come to our bedroom door and say "hi", and when the lights go out they can still see us, hear us, and watch over us! The gates also keep them out of trouble within the rest of the house, as our older boy likes to counter surf and trash dig at night. I know a lot of people will not agree with me, but we have never, ever allowed our dogs to sleep in bed with us. It is a respect issue, and we have very strong willed, imposing (yes, boxers can be very imposing) dogs. 8 months old is still pretty young, but definitely not too young to start laying down some serious rules. Very soon you will have a adolescent dog challenging you at every rule you may have imposed upon him, and things are different when they weigh 65-90 lbs. I KNOW the bed issue might rumple some feathers, but so what, we are all happy, my dogs know their place in this family, and we dont have issues at bedtime. AND, my dogs get to tire themselves playing together in the safety of their own area under our watchful eye even when us people are too tired to go run outside at 9 at night, and then lay in their own beds with all the toys and whatever else they want to drag to their beds!

 

[dukie's mom]

It is certainly not a requirement to let your dog sleep with you! Chato's mom sounds like she has a good solution for her situation. What makes this work is that you have 2 dogs that can be out in the hall together.
We used to crate our dogs at night and things worked fine. I had a female I didn't trust loose in the house. After she died, we came to realize our peaceful boy would do fine, but we had to teach him to sleep in his dog bed at night. He was 5 yrs, so over that puppy stage. We put the bed in the corner, told him to lier down and gave him treats. He'd still sneak up on our bed, so we put his leash on, and loosely looped it over the window handle. He stayed there and finally learned to sleep there.

Well along comes Chloe...SHe learned to sleep in the dog bed from Dukie, altho they will occasioanlly sneak up in our bed. It's interesting..they will rotate, one in our bed and one in the dog bed. Duke sometimes prefers to sleep in his kennel, especially if Chloe is rowdy at bedtime. We always give treats at bedtime and say go to bed..it kind of sets the stage for bedtime.

What you might try is to establish a bedtime ritual for your pyup so he knows its bedtime. Have you taken him to obedience training? That would help too.

Chloe gets the crazys at night too..if I need to physically control her, I grab onto her collar and pet and talk to her to calm her.