Here's an example, when I had him for about a week or so...

 

Yes, its different. If you followed all the rules the so called experts expect you to follow you'd never have any fun with your dog. Titus is being affectionate. Unless you see undesirable behavior I wouldnt worry about it. My one dog Daphne comes over to me all the time and puts her paw on my leg and likes to get up on her hind legs and put both paws on my shoulders. She's being a big affectionate baby.

 

Natalie; I don't think those rules apply to Boxers!! lol. Boxers are notorious for being love-bugs and cuddlers. That 'expert' doesn't know what they're talking about, hahahaha!! :tease: :lol:

 

mine always leans on me, lays on me etc. i never thought it was a dominance thing i just thought he just wanted to be close to me. i do not think i have ever met a boxer that did not want to be touching their master!! In fact I do not think i have ever seen one that is not a lap dog. I would not worry to much

 

I have to agree, titus is just being a baby, and touchiing you is a safety net for him, a reassurance you're there. Some experts just aren't :evil:

 

My Allie is always touching, leaning on me. She will come up, lay her head in my lap and look up with those big pretty eyes of hers just begging for some loving. She is the most submissive dog I've ever had. All I have to do is snap my fingers and point and she will comply. I don't think that theory fits 100% of the time at all. Remember it's jsut theory

 

Yeah, I definitely wouldn't be following those rules! Like Irmaitla said, you'd never have any fun with your dog!! As long as we are at home (and not in the public eye - meaning doggie friends....*gasp*) Tango is the most affectionate dog I've ever had. Always hugging, cuddling, paws on you.

 

Monty sat on our feet or put a paw on them the first few days we had him, and it was usually when he was too scared to go meet other dogs. That didn't last very long.

I think he still does that sometimes but it is more of a 'I'm too lazy to move off you' or 'I feel snuggly' thing.

Titus is soooo cute! And he's just a tiny bit older than Monty!

 

I have heard that before. It can be considered "rude" behavior. Bear is always wanting to touch us. He is constantly putting his paw on our leg... I consider what he is doing rude because he will be rough and kinda scratch. He is trying to force my attention. They are all bad about stepping on feet but I think its just because they aren't watching where they are going. :roll:

I do think some of the forced attention can be wrong, but most of the touching is just them being loving. So I would say that its not totally accurate, but maybe a tiny bit.

 

I was surprised when I read this, but feel better now. He is very, very affectionate, giving me hugs, hand shakes and kisses all day. Comes cuddling with me in bed and everything. I mean he follows me around all day, even when he's tired he will lay down next to me, follow me and lay down next to me. Sometimes I feel bad for him, but I have to take care of stuff, no one else will do it :roll: Now the only thing where the touchy thing bothers me is when I try to walk in the apartment he blocks my way all the time and walking in between my legs, but then again, while doing so he looks back at me, like where we're going now mama :lol: I don't think that would be anything dominant or is it?

Thanks everyone for your input and thanks Montys_mom your pup is very cute too.

 

Boxers love to touch and lean on their owners. Imo if you don't mind and they listen fairly well otherwise let them do it. As long as they know off and to go when you have had enough of th petting etc that is all well and good. Like someone said if you followed all the suggestions from some trainers you'd never have any fun with dog.

 

I love him being so affectionate and touchy all the time, fits right to my personality :up: That's why I have so many babies, because I need lot's of lovin' :hrtbounce:

 

I don't think this applies to all breeds. the boxer ( ive read ) is a very affectionate breed in general and im seeing it first hand. Gypsy is attached to me at the hip when we're home alone and when dh is home with me, she's with one or the other if not both of us. she climbs up and lays in my lap or leans on my legs or lays on my feet, she's really bad about climbing in bed with me and laying on my legs ( like in between my calves ) and laying on her back. :lol:

but i think being so young, its just a comfort thing for titus at this point. that's what i think it is with gypsy too. she's so young, she just wants to be near me as im her 'person' and is comforted being able to 'touch' me either by laying on me or lean or whatever she decides to do. i wouldn't stree over it until he's an adult and shows bad signs of it such as staring you down or an aggressive stance while standing on your foot or on your lap.

 

Awww Gypsy is so cute and the pic with your baby is just adorable ; I think it's good to know this in the future and also with other dogs, but many times he doesn't even know he's standing on my foot :lol: I agree with you they are very affectionate. Didn't know that a breed really has so many different characteristics.

 

oh definately. like, we were looking at mastiff's, just to read up on them out of curiousity last night, and they aren't a particularly affectionate breed, are more bred for guarding and protection. different breeds are bred for different traits. the boxer just happens to be the lovey dovey type. hehe.

 

Well I am glad I got the right one then, because I read the characteristics after I put the deposit down :slap: :lol:

 

Actually now where I think about it. Boxers are a lot like cats. He rubs his body on my like a cat does and they jump on their toys too like a cat and all the "boxing" hand moves they make too.

 

I tend to disagree, allowing a puppy to do one thing they might not understand yet and allowing an adult dog is apples and oranges.....While this may seem militant you can still cuddle and snuggle your dogs, I do all the time...I don't allow them to stand over me, lay their bodies over me, or steal my space, walk ahead of me on walks or they wait for me to go through the door...It is isn't until you have a behaivor problem or a dog that won't listen that you will accept true leadership...the article is right about dog language and people take it out of context...I think Kelli(Bingas mom) mentioned pushiness, which boxers can be and overlooked but when they won't sit when we ask or they door dart or start showing behavior problems this is why...If you have laid no foundation your boxer will not respect your authority...For me, it is important to have well-behaved dogs especially when I have an intact male...My dogs get the same amount of love an affection and we have a ton of fun, we play games, we snuggle, it is always constant bonding with them, however I think that bond grows when they respect their leader...I never you use negative reinforcement, I don't spank them but I can give them the look or the snap and they now I will follow through bc the foundation rules have been consistent and enforced...The article as a part is only one aspect of leadership but seen on a whole spectrum their is so much more involved in leadership...I think many people can describe leadership but they aren't sure why it should be done, or the premise....

 

I allow Oscar to lean on me, lay on me, cuddle up to me, stand against me... The one thing I do not allow is him putting his paw on my foot when we stop walking and I make him sit. The reason I don't allow this is because he uses it as this "I don't need to look at you because I can feel if you start walking" I use it as an exercise that he has to pay more attention to me.

But in so many ways I have to agree with Hulk's mom. There has to be the point where you are the leader. Oscar waits for me to go through doorways first, he waits for me to step off the curb first, and he always has to walk beside me - never in front. He also is not allowed to steal my spot either. If I get up and walk to the kitchen, and he goes in my spot, I push him off the couch if he doesn't move when I come back.

I have to say, I think the boxer is a super cuddly breed. Every boxer I meet wants to crawl into your lap and cuddle. You'll figure out your dog yourself and learn when he's using things to his advantage, and when he's really just wanting to love you. There can be the boundary there that cuddles are welcome, but not dominance, or pushiness. They must respect you at all times... Oscar's motto is "Mom gives and inch, I take TEN miles!" :lol:

 

she's really bad about climbing in bed with me and laying on my legs ( like in between my calves ) and laying on her back. :lol:

but i think being so young, its just a comfort thing for titus at this point.

Hahaha... nope, Felix is 2 and a half and still does this sometimes! It's either on my legs or right next to my chest, sometimes with his head laying on my chest. I usually don't mind, but i end up pushing him off me so I can get better sleep. It may still be security for him though since he is afraid of shadows and lights from things like the computer and my cell phone in a dark room. :|

My dogs don't do this, but I find it extremely annoying and pushy when dogs try to lift your hand with their head to pet them. I refuse to give in to their demands.

 

Thanks for your input Hulk and Oscarmommy. He does try to always lay on my side on my pillow, but I always push him away and let him know it's mine. I only let him on the couch when I allow it, because he randomly just started sitting on the couch and looking at me weird. I let him know right away where his bed is :lol: Why the hell did I buy this comfy beds for him then? :slap: He is very affectionate tho and very polite too. After I trained him to stay and wait till he eats, he's been really good, sometimes I get annoyed tho, because now he won't touch the food until I tell him three times. Dunno why he started this... and I always make him sit and stay inside, I go out the door and let him wait there until I tell him when he can come out. Ever since I did that with him, he started being so cute "polite" that he even waits for me to tell him to go on every steps we take. Now I live on the 3rd floor, can be annoying sometimes, but it's good he wait's till I tell him. So I guess I got the whole package then.. well behaved, polite and affectionate :lol: now if the bf could be like that too I'd be in heaven :lol: :ROTFLMAO:

 

I think it sounds like you have a good balance...I couldn't agree with Oscar's mommy more, you know you dog and where your leadership needs impovement or not....It truley is a balance of both worlds...I think what seperates good dog owners from dog owners is the quest...The quest for knowledge, for training, for trial and error...it is those who try nothing that worry me....It really sounds like he is going to be quite the gentleman someday, as a puppy he far exceeds what my monsters were like when they were young!! :lol: :clap2:

 

I haven't heard that the touching is a dominance thing (unless they are jumping up on you) but the paw on the foot is sometimes a nervous, or submissive gesture. They are touching you (such as the first pic when you only had him a week) for comfort and confidence. Other times such as when sleeping etc, it is an affectionate gesture. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

I think it varies. sometimes even a same breed of dog can grow differently.

 

i think Cesar Millan said something like what you quoted on the first post. i tried doing what cesar does to my manny (11 weeks) like when he goes on the carpet etc i would snap and point to his bed....manny started barking at me, like a kid talking back to his parents...something to worry about?