Kathy has some good suggestions.

I've got 4 dogs and suppertime or bully-stick time would be impossible without crates. My dogs all can get along (mostly) but I separate the 3 males when I am not home or asleep just in case.

Your boxer should not have to "endure" your puppy. I do not force my adults to "endure" my pup. The adults get puppy-free time and the puppy gets adult-free time where he is the only dog loose and during this time he learns house manners and how to be calm in the house. (otherwise he just wants to play with the other dogs - not what I want him to learn).

In the evenings, enforce quiet time by crating the pup by throwing some treats in and closing the door. Give him a really great chew treat. The Boxer should get a chew treat too. Praise for quiet resting. I keep a baggie with kibble in it on top of the crate. If the pup is laying quietly I will SLOWLY and nonchalantly go over to the crate and toss 2-3 kibbles in, and say softly "goooood crate". If the dog jumps up and thinks you will let him out just stand there till he is quiet then give him the treat and walk away. Also get a crate for the boxer so the pup can learn how to lay on his bed and calmly be in the house without being distracted by the other dog.

Eventually being calm in the evenings will be second nature to the puppy and they can both be out without you being the doggy cop. My pup is now 17 months and is getting very good (though he still bugs my one dog to play after a while so we are still working on it).

I keep my crates in the living area of the house so the dogs do not feel isolated. They always have a chew toy or kong in there.

The crate is only punishment if you make it.

 Quote: Stephanie St Julian

Phoenix my 2year old has recently earned no crate in the past month or so. ... Personally I would not even consider non crating tell 2 and with my 1 year old puppy I most likly wont consider tell 3 or 4. ....

Yes, I'd guess that this might be pretty typical. Some dogs need their crate forever, which I think is no problem, and many other dogs are probably between two and four when they earn no-crate.

(I have even had one who wanted her crate on occasion all her life, such as when there were many people in the house, and I never got rid of her open-door crate.)

 Quote: kathy west

.... I brought this up in one of my posts and was told not to worry what dog I want out and who is in the crate, basically thats my decision not theirs, I was putting too much emphasis on "Oh i feel bad for them, their crying, its mean" (kinda like you are feeling) but then you have to think your alternative is your young dog is going to continue to act like he is, I know Ed says the dogs need to learn to be calm in the house- I neglected that when mine were younger and now I've got a mess on my hands with them and am having to try to fix all my mistakes now-not any fun Just make it no big deal, throw some treats in the crate, throw some more in there when hes being quiet and a good boy, and invest in some ear plugs until he learns to behave. I dont think he will see it as punishment and it will definitely reinforce your leadership

Good post.

To what connoe replied and I forgot to say.
My 2 year old has crate that we took the door off completly.

metal life stages kennel that my pit puppy that died last year broke the?door. so we just removed the door and put her bed in there.

she will always have that kennel as long as she lives.

Well the big crate is back. I took it down in the first place because our house is too small.

I was amazed how well Quincy reaclimated to it. I think it took the indecision out of the equation. I made a bigger deal of this.

My boxer and I thank you.

 Quote: Michelle Berdusco

Well the big crate is back. I took it down in the first place because our house is too small.

Good job!

Think of it as beautiful modern sculpture.