Usually we keep Lacey up until we go to bed. At that time she goes in her kennel in the kitchen. I'm wondering if maybe we should get her on a bedtime schedule. I can see she's winding down for the night. She sometimes falls asleep at our feet while we watch tv, sometimes she's all wound up, like right now. One of my concerns is....days I work she is in that kennel 8 hours (I only work 2 or 3 days a week) so today she was in there all day, and I hate to put her in again until it is absolutely necessary. Tomorrow I am home and she'll only go in the kennel when she wants to (the gate is always open) or when I run out for an errand What are you thoughts and ideas on this? Should she have a set bedtime? Some sort of schedule?
Our puppy 8 months goes to bed - her crate - when we go to bed. Before then she sleeps in the sitting room either on the floor or in her bed that stays there. Often she is reluctant to get up when we start moving around preparing for bed but once on the move she is happy to go in her crate which is in the kitchen. I think it is nice having her around us in the evenings - awake or asleep and part of the joy of having dogs. It is her routine. She has settled in the sitting room earlier and earlier as she has got older after an early evening walk. I have been specifically training this to happen so we all get to have some relaxation time together in the evenings. I suppose it's whatever works for you.
When you say a "kennel", do you mean a crate? If so, then 8 hours in one go is far too long for any dog do be crated, even for a couple of days a week. Not only in terms of emotional development, but it can also cause physical problems being confined for so long. I would urge you to look at options with using a pen, or giving her access to a safe room, and having a dog walker come in during the day to take her out on those days you work. As for your question, I would encourage you to spend as much time as possible bonding with your dog, and that includes her chilling out and sleeping around you. Dogs are sociable and normally like to sleep near their families. I don't really see any value in giving her a set bedtime.
Our dog just lolls about on the floor/on his bed in the living room until we go to bed - he sleeps or snoozes or he interacts with us as he chooses. When we signal it's bed time (say "right.." or "is the dog hungies?" ) he will stand up and try to "herd" OH into the kitchen - it's supper time straight before bed! In summary - he doesn't have a separate bed time, but can sleep when he likes.
I'm the same as @Atemas in that my pup has always hung out in the lounge with me until I go to bed, since when she was tiny. She sleeps most of the time (now, at 10 months) and will wake for a game of tug or have a bit of a chew then go back to sleep, snuggled on the sofawith me mostly. Then bed when I go to bed.
Thanks for you replies. Once I finished writing my post Lacey was fast asleep at my feet while we relaxed in front of the tv. I'm glad I asked, She's part of our family and I love having her around. When she is older and 100% potty trained she'll have a bed right next to ours and we will not use the kennel any more. Snow bunny, yes I do mean a crate when I say kennel. My son comes over mid day to let her out and gives her a break on the days my husband can't leave his job. I still feel bad that most of my work day she's in there. She's only 3 1/2 months old....still a baby.
Can't you set up a pen instead? A crate really is far too small for a puppy to be confined to for most of the day.
We wondered the same with our pup, should we be putting him to bed when he fell asleep in the living room with us? It was always around the same time, we would stay up for an hour or so later, then toiet him and put him in his crate for bed. Without really trying that became his bedtime routine so we just kept with it. He now sleeps in our bedroom and if one of us is staying up too late for him he'll take himself in the bedroom and go to bed by himself! Whatever works best for you is fine, totally understand you wanting to be with your pup as much as possible
