success!

So we tried not locking Axel in his crate last night when we went to bed. We got him to lie on the floor and we left his crate open. He first did jump on the bed but a quick "off!" And he was down on the floor.

I was nervous... I was thinking that because he had free roam that he wouldn't settle and sleep as it was all new to him. Or that he would have to go piddles during the night or that he would be jumping up on the bed constantly. I really thought he wouldn't last an houe before we would lock him up in his crate just so we could sleep.

But he surprised us! He slept for a bit then moved to a different spot at midnight and slept again then moved at 2 and slept again. And didn't hear anything from him again. Woke up and he was in his crate lol.

Hubby was up getting ready in the bathroom and the closet and he just lied in his crate and watched him until was asked to come out. We were both shocked it was a success lol. We were surprised he actually choose to go back in his crate. I thought for sure he would sleep on the super fluffy rug at the end of the bed

Oh, also thankful he didn't wake us up at the crack of dawn

 

Great! He's growing up.

 

Good job Axel. They like the freedom and being able to investigate new spots but their crates offer so much security and comfort.

 

Sweet boy x

 

Fantastic
Once we took Harley out of her crate (at 4 months old) at night she would often lie in until 10am and later!

 

So glad it worked and you all had a good night sleep. I think they begin to like to move around, stretch out, and find their own spot, especially when the weather gets warm. When Homer refused to go in his bed I first thought that he wanted to be with us but he'd be on the sofa, on the spare bed, the hall landing, the hard wooden floor, or on top of us ( not so comfy for all involved) at the moment his favourite spot is behind the curtain.

 

What made you decide to try not closing him in? This is a completely judgement-free query, I'm just a new puppy owner who's curious!

 

Because he's getting too big for his crate we got a size bigger than what was suggested for a lab when we got the crate thinking it would last for ever but apparently not! Haha. Also he's just all around maturing so we felt it was time to try

 

Well done Axel, what a good lad

 

Well second night, Axel did well again. Except he came and woke me up with ear kisses at 630am that's ok, not like I wanted to sleep in on a Sunday morning... Lol!