Dog sleeping in bedroom (in crate) - thoughts?

[Gorran]

For the last three nights, when we try and put Daisy to sleep (in her crate in the dining room) she has whined and barked like you wouldn't believe. We have not gone into her until she's quiet-ish, have let her out in case she needs the loo, crated her again and it all starts again. The thing is, we're in a semi and I get so worried about our neighbour. We have explained we've got a puppy, and we're training her and apologised in advance for any noise etc. but still...

So, my husband has suggested putting her to bed in our room in her travel crate - wwyd? My concern is that she'll then start creating when we crate her when we go out. At the moment she's given a stuffed and frozen Kong and I make sure I exercise her/walk her before we go out. Touch wood, she's fine being left when we're not in - she just hates it when we're at home.

[daisydotandgertie]

She's playing you.

She wants company, and wooing is getting it, eventually.

Either take her upstairs and go for the easy life - move her slowly inch by inch out of your room and eventually downstairs as the weeks progress or leave her where she is and ignore the noise.

Whatever it is, decide what's best for you and your home and stick to it.

She will likely need a pee during the night, you can either give her somewhere to wee inside, or set an alarm and take her out. Both methods work, you must do what's right for you.

[Gorran]

Thank you. As I thought, really.

What time would you be putting her to bed? She sleeps most of the evening from around 8pm and then we put her in her crate around 11.30pm/midnight. She sleeps through until around 6am/6.30. Doesn't wake for a wee.

It's hard to know what to do.

[BlackCatsAndPurpleDogs]

I have azlways had mine in my bedroom in their crates.
Why wouldn't you? They like being with you, as they are pack animals and you are leader of that pack.
Put her out for last wee before you go to bed, then take her up with you and throw a small treat in and do this every night, will become a routine,she will be fine.

[HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen]

Gorran, where do you want her to sleep? If it is downstairs than introducing the wonderessnous of your bedroom may not be a good idea

[HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen]

We leave the radio on low for HullyGully through the night, she stopped whining then.

[daisydotandgertie]

OK - so it's just a bit of a paddy - and linked to your other thread, I think she might be hungry. Certainly a full tummy will help her settle.

The timings are roughly what I'd do - I can't see any reason to change them. Sleeping through is brilliant at that age.

Why not give her one more chance to settle downstairs tonight - pop a big cuddly toy into the crate, make sure she is cosy and see how it goes.

If it doesn't go well, move her upstairs and and relax a little more.

[HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen]

ooooh Daisy minor highjack.

I'm still stuck with Beta for pup as it doesn't leave her with the runs. In terms of what is available locally, and doesn't have crap in it, suggestions have been, Supadog (was surprised there), Alpha (although this appears to be for working dogs) and Burns. Have you heard anything bad about any of these?

(Sorry Gorran )

[Gorran]

Thank you all. Right, I did wonder if it might be hunger - I gave her a larger dinner tonight, around 65g instead of the usual 30g or so that we give her for dinner. She's also had some more kibble since (training) so will give her the usual couple of biscuits at bedtime and hope she's more full. Daisydotandgertie - will try again tonight and see how she does, will find an old soft toy and try that. We're doing everything else 'right' - her crate is lovely and cosy, plenty of blankets, nice cushion etc. and is covered so she feels secure.

From your other reply - she never poos 20 mins after food, she only tends to go twice a day - once as soon as she wakes, and then another during the day. Should she be going more?

I do seem to be worrying too much and not enjoying it more. I love having her, she's a dream in every other way, she's got the nicest temperament and has settled in wonderfully.

[HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen]

The worrying is normal, she is a baby .

[Gorran]

Honeydragon - good to to hear I'm not some neurotic madwoman!

[daisydotandgertie]

Well - the less that goes in, the less will come out! Dogs are all different, and I know that if she wants to poo, she will. See what happens with an increase in food.

Don't worry so much. You won't break her .

Honey - what have you tried so far? Supadog doesn't list ingredients, so I wouldn't touch it. Alpha looks OK but not tip top. Burns is good. Do you have a Pets at Home near you?

[daisydotandgertie]

Actually, scrap that. Alpha doesn't look OK at all. I only looked at Sporting Puppy - the rest are awful.

Beta would be better!

[anchovies]

Just a thought but we have swapped to three meals now so flower gets at bit more in an evening, she gets about 70g at 6am 1pm and 8pm in time for a last poo before bed. She usually has a bit of a mad turn in the garden after her food and a play before bed so she is tired for 11ish. Like Daisy she goes right through to the morning then.

[HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen]

Yes but our nearest PAH doesnt stock Wainwrights despite being its own brand .

The ingredients in Supa dog were basically the same as Beta but less sugar IIRC.

I think I'll try Burns and order WW from PAH. I find it ironic that the better the food so far the worse her reaction, despite introducing gradually

Thanks Daisy - the problem with looking in the Pet Shop is to focus more on what they sell a lot of rather than what's in it.

Ha ha, she's just dropped her food bowl at my feet for breakfast - she most know I'm typing the food word!

[daisydotandgertie]

A bright puppy then!

I order all dog food online - it's far easier and usually delivery is free. Given you are encountering problems with changing, why don't you ring the companies you are considering and ask for some decent size samples to see what happens? They are all usually very helpful indeed.

I don't know what your budget is, but Lily's Kitchen food is very good, I also like Barking Heads very much. CSJ is another good food - their premium range. Barking Heads is worth a sample or two, for sure.

[HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen]

That's brilliant! Thank you.

[Lizcat]

A lot of the behaviourist now recommend that your puppy is in the crate in your room initially. Then once the puppy has learnt to self settle you gradually move them over several nights a little at a time to where you want them to be. Mobile mop spent a week in our room, then two nights on the landing, two nights on the turn in the stairs, two nights at the bottom of the stairs and then into the kitchen. Worked really well.

[HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen]

I have to admit our success probably largely came from the very sensible fosterer who kept cuddly toys and baby blankets in the crate. When we picked up Hully Puppy she came to us with a Pudsey bear and a fleecy blanket that smelled of her litter mates

[Puppypanic]

How are you doing Gorran! Nice to have someone else doing everything at the same time.

The howling must be hideous and very hard if you have neighbours to consider as of course most of us have. Hope daisy settles soon.

I feel completely frazzled at the moment, pup is such hard work with children too. I'm too old for all this! Keep thinking it will get easier....

[TraceyWasALoner]

We have our pup in her crate in the far corner of our room. It does make things easier for nighttime but be prepared to carry puppy up and down the stairs until she figures out how to negotiate them. Lucy is 5 months old and has figured out how to go up, but not down (and she's getting heavy)...it's a little challenging carrying her down (we have a big, scary, winding staircase) at 5:30 in the morning when I'm still bleary-eyed and shuffling in my slippers .

[SobaSoma]

My new dog isn't a pup but a five year-old rescue JRT with no history as he was brought in as a stray. I've had him for one and half weeks and am a new dog owner and was nearly in tears last night as I realised what a huge responsibility having a dog is! He was in a crate downstairs at night initially and when I was out at work (6 hours total with me poppiing home at lunch-time to let him out and give him lots of attention).

He's bonded with me so strongly now that he just barks and barks if I crate him when I go out (I know, the neighbours told me and I live in a terrace so barking dogs are a big no no!). So now he sleeps in HIS bed on my bedroom floor and knows he needs to be invited up onto my bed if I so wish it. I don't think I do actually, but we'll see....I've stopped crating him when I go to work too, just shut him in downstairs. Seems to work, I know because I web-cammed him and no barking!

I leave lots of nice things in the crate, stuffed kong etc and he does seem to go in there of his own accord. He's still peeeing a bit inside (was only neutered a month ago) so hope that will stop as otherwise he's a very obedient little doggie. Where do you want your pup to sleep eventually Gorran? I love having him next to me, someone pointed out rightly that dogs are pack animals and if they know their place will do exactly what they're told but love to sleep with their pack. But I can make my own decisions without having to consider a partner because I'm single and DD has always wanted him to sleep with us. Sorry this isn't puppy-related but hope it might help for the future. Good luck.

[Puppypanic]

Soba, it is a massive responsibility isn't it? I feel quite overwhelmed at times and then when he's asleep next to me I think ah it's not so hard and certainly does have its rewards.

Mmmm whaddya know, it's raining again .

Sorry for random weather check!

[Gorran]

Hello PP! Yes, it's all quite overwhelming at times! I just settle down into it and then something else comes along to throw me off kilter!

I really do want Daisy to sleep downstairs, ideally. Though tbqh, I'm not sure why. Eventually (once she's past wrecking the house stage) I'd like to remove the stairgate and for her to sleep in her bed either in the sitting or dining room - and I presume we'll be rid of the crate by then? I'm thinking 2/3 years down the line. But I have no real issue with her sleeping in our bedroom (particuarly if it allows us more sleep, but that's another thread!) but not on our bed. I worry about there being 'pack' issues - and she'll be a big dog - choc labrador - so not practical to sleep on our bed really.

It's not easy this dog-owning lark. But then I keep telling myself 'nothing worth it was ever easy' - my new mantra!!!!