First of all, I’d like to say that I’ve been reading the various threads on this forum with great interest and I'm really impressed by the time and effort some of you put into informing and guiding owners who are feeling a bit lost.
I’ve already learnt so much thanks to you, so thank you!
Anyway, back to the point:
I’ve read a few topics on this, but opinions seem to vary so much that it's starting to worry me. I’m about to adopt a White Swiss Shepherd; he’ll be with us at the end of December if all goes well.
I’ve got a question about bedtime, which is clearly a big debate!
Is it really essential for a dog's well-being to be kept out of the bedroom? I was planning on having the puppy in my room, in a designated spot. While looking through breeders' websites, I’ve noticed some advise against this, mainly for the dog's sake.
I’m expecting some chewing and a few accidents, so I’m fairly prepared and not particularly worried about it happening, but if it’s genuinely bad for the dog, that concerns me a bit more...
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Translated from French
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I’m the same (some things are temporarily off-limits) – no one’s allowed to walk through when I’m mopping the floors...
It’s a case of "get outside", "shoo", or "wait".
Whether it’s with family or at a friend’s house (where the rules are different), or even in a restaurant, Oxane tried it on once when she was a puppy by climbing onto the bench seat. As soon as she saw me frown and look at the floor, she sheepishly slid back down 😞.
Mind you, there’s nothing to stop you using a specific word or hand signal during training to let them know when they *are* allowed on the bed or the sofa...
Volka, my first Lab, used to ask by resting her chin on the bed and waiting for an invitation...
Oxane is more of a "move over, I’m coming through!" type. Once she’s up, she settles at the foot of the bed. I had a bit of a hard time with her at the start; when she was little, she was quite aggressive. She’d growl and curl her lips when told to get off the bed. One snap of her teeth meant back to training exercises for a few days to correct that reaction (Oxane used to be a biter).
She was a handful right from the beginning, from the time she was two months old...
All my girls obey "on your bed" or "in your basket". If I give the command, there’s no room for negotiation or hesitation! ;-)
It’s the same in the car with "hop in" – it’s an automatic response now, just like an emergency stop.
Haha Lorna, your description of the affectionate Boxer who has to be everywhere so they don’t get forgotten is spot on!
Ours doesn't leave bruises, but I do get a few scratches on my feet when we're on the floor playing with her.
She also treads on our toes without even realising it—she's a proper klutz! 😂
Anyway, an update on another Boxer (nearly 2 years old) who is allowed on the sofa and is a total whirlwind when guests come over. She literally leaps at them—it happens so fast when they’re sitting down—she just pounces and that’s nearly 4 and a half stone right in the face! It’s bordering on dangerous, and that’s just considering her weight and how bouncy and energetic she is!
That’s exactly why I banned my girl from going upstairs or on the sofa right from the start.
A big puppy with a Boxer’s temperament... if you let them have the run of the place, they are just EVERYWHERE, all the time LOL (and by everywhere I mean “all over the place” – licking your face one second, bum in the air perched on your shoulder the next, whipping your ear with a slobbery rope toy the second after that, etc.)
It’s a bit of a no-brainer really, when your dog has that much energy.
Because if you ever want to be able to have someone sit on the sofa without the dog jumping on them within five seconds, you’ve got no choice :-)
To begin with, my dog’s displays of affection actually used to hurt ^^
I’m serious... I ended up with quite a collection of bruises and scratches during those first few months.
Letting that kind of powerhouse climb all over everything (and everyone) is just not an option.
Mine don't have specific sleeping spots; they just crash wherever they fancy. The floor, the sofa, the bed, an armchair... One of my two usually sleeps on the bed, except in the summer when he prefers the cold tiles. The other generally sleeps on the floor, either in the bedroom or the lounge.
Personally, I don't see any issue with that, as long as you don't have a dog that guards their sleeping area (i.e. they don't growl to stop you coming near).
The only potential downside to letting them pick their own spot—essentially giving them free rein—is that you miss out on a chance to work on certain rules and impulse control. I don't think there's anything wrong with the sleeping arrangements themselves, but I do think it’s a good idea to get your dog used to following certain boundaries—even arbitrary ones set by the owner—regarding how they use the space in the house.
It comes in handy in all sorts of situations; for instance, when you're visiting friends and you don't want the dog jumping on their sofa, even if they’re allowed on yours at home. If they're used to sleeping wherever they like and haven't been taught to respect boundaries ("NO, you're not allowed in that room" or "stay away from that"), they're going to be very confused when you're on holiday at Gran's and suddenly they aren't allowed to touch a thing!
I'll admit I've been a bit slack with my two on this front. We’re very laid-back at home and they aren't really used to many restrictions. So, when we're away and we suddenly expect them to follow a load of rules that seem completely arbitrary to them, they find it quite a struggle! ^^'
I've started to course-correct a bit lately. They still sleep wherever they want, but to balance it out, I'm teaching them to respect certain house rules regarding space. At the moment, we’re doing a lot of work on "virtual boundaries"—basically teaching them to respect a temporary no-go zone (like the bathroom while I'm cleaning) without needing a physical barrier like a door. I reckon these little exercises are a great way to make up for the fact that they have so much freedom otherwise :)
Same here—I'm a dog mum who lets her pups choose where they sleep (we've got a cot mattress in our bedroom at the foot of the bed). Oxane, my Lab, is the first out of the four dogs I've had that I've let climb right up on the sofa.
The puppy is like my little shadow, following me into every room except the loo ^^
If they want to hop in the shower (and I've got the time), I'll share it with them—it's good fun and helps them get used to the water. It’s the same with the pool; I let them jump in.
All my girls are allowed on our bed, on the throw at the foot of the bed, for a snooze whether we're there or not. But if I tell them to get down, they listen straight away.
Bit of an off-topic one...
It's the same when we’re eating; I let them lie at my feet or sit nearby (no begging allowed, though!), and I’ll give them a bit from my plate whenever I feel like it.
Whether they have their dinner before us, while we’re eating, or even after, it doesn't really matter. They know their food is coming ^^
Just like sharing a bit of fruit with me, or finishing off the bottom of a yoghurt pot...
With my first dog, a Yugoslavian Shepherd, I followed so many rules—from books, the trainer, family, and friends.
Looking back, I regret not forming the same kind of bond I had with my second dog, a Lab called Volka. We had such a special connection and a different kind of love—a really strong bond.
It was the same approach and training for my third, a Golden Retriever. And now with my fourth, Oxane the Lab—even though she was a bit aggressive at first—she’s actually very sensitive and quite nervous. I’ve stuck with it and I’m so happy with how she’s coming along; her progress is really turning her into a proper Lab.
Right then, ours has her bed just across from our room with the door closed, and she naps on her throw in the lounge during the day.
I’m with @Lorna regarding how sensitive White Swiss Shepherds are; I’d worry that it might make things a real struggle when we’re out. It’s definitely a risk.
Anyway, everyone has their own take on training and bonding with their dog... but without getting into a massive debate about hierarchy or boundaries and such... I’d just say that if you’re poorly or they’re poorly, that level of closeness isn’t always ideal – though I suppose it depends on the symptoms, doesn’t it? I let my girl roll around wherever she likes outdoors, so it’d be nice if she didn't then roll around in my sheets! 🥳
When it comes to space, the bedroom is the master's den, and the dog bed is the pup's sanctuary. I like the idea of giving everyone their own private spot to rest. I think it makes for a much better balance without stopping you from having a brilliant bond... mainly because we don’t spend all day in the bedroom or in bed, so it's perfectly fine for just sleeping. And if we’re fancying a group nap, well, we just have a snooze together in the lounge.
