So Harley has a baby pen that she sleeps in at night. It is 4 sides but isn't closed on top. Harley really is such a sweet pup that she has never tried to climb out, jump out or push it over and now, at 20odd kgs, she really could. It has a little door where she goes in for bed time and out again. if she wants to come out she will push lightly at the door. But mostly she is a grunter and a sigher. That is how you know she wants out. We don't use her pen for anything other than bedtime anymore, when she was a young pup it was a saving grace to just get a break from her, or contain the energy for a bit. Conundrum is that a few nights ago we thought Harley may have a upset stomach. She was restless when we put her away for bedtime so we took her out and let her lay on the bed while DH rubbed her stomach. Turns out she was fine but she slept on the bed all night. The following night we fell asleep with her on the bed and she also slept the night through. Last night she was restless in her pen when she was put to bed and at about 3am we had grunter and sighing so I got up to let her out and she didn't want to go wee, she lay down on her blanket next to the bed and went to sleep. At 3am, so did I. At 5am she woke me for a wee and after she came back she climbed on the bed with us for her morning sleep and cuddle. I fear this may become the new norm. Do you guys think it will be an issue? At this point we are 98% potty trained in the house but her sleeping in the crate has really helped. Have you got to a point where your dogs don't sleep in their crates anymore? Thanks
Hi there,nice things can quickly become the norm! Sounds like both human and dog parties are enjoying the new sleeping arrangements! Is it an issue for you? Are you wanting her to sleep in her pen? If so ,then I'd say break the cycle now and get her back into her pen ...you might have a bit of complaint but you will need to stay unmoved if you don't want her I. Your room. I can't properly remember ( I wish I'd made more notes) but think we decrated Dexter at bedtime at around 7/8 months,he was still contained by a baby gate.His crate was there with the door open and he chose to sleep in it....he didn't make it to our bed until he was 18 months.......and there he has remained! X
Unless you don't want her sleeping on your bed I don't think there'll be an issue. She'll either not wee during the night or will wake you up to go out. When Obi was about 12 months old he had X-rays one day and that night he wanted to sleep on our bed. I guess he was disturbed by it and wanted to be nearer to his humans. So we let him and most nights since he's slept on our bed (he's now 5). Sometimes he still sleeps on his own bed (which is in our room).
Ive let Rolo sleep out of his crate the last 3 nights after he was sick, and he hasnt weed or cryed to go out. It seems to be working and I cant wait for the weekend to see if he sleeps in longer haha..
My pups are all out of their crates by six months old, Mollie was out of hers at 16 weeks. Tatze still has hers, just at night - she cries if we don't shut the door!
Saba loves his crate at night. At about 22:30, he'll toddle off to bed, and grunt at us until the door is latched shut! At the risk of sounding like a meany, I really don't want him in our bedroom. One snoring, grunting, windy bed-fellow is plenty for me!
Quinn slept with us starting super early (12 weeks maybe)...if she had to go in the middle of the night, she woke us the same as in her crate. She slept longer in the mornings and never had an accident at night.
Oban was not crated at all but I did let him out of the gated kitchen for nights when he was 5.5 months. The change in him was remarkable, how he calmed down during the day. His first night loose in the house I prepared to sleep lightly and listen for sounds of mischief but he curled up on the mat on the floor beside my side of the bed and stayed there all night. ON future nights he moved to a bed on the floor at the foot of our bed and slept there from then on. I did still gate him in the kitchen in the daytime when I had to go out or get something done without wondering what he was up to.
