Dog getting family up in the night

Crates replicate a den for the dog and if used properly dogs take to them very well. My Staffie would not be happy if his crate was removed. He frequently takes himself off for a bit of peace and quiet and if I can't find him he'll be laying on his back legs in the air in his crate.

But that’s because you have trained him to do that ...how did anyone ever manage before this crating idea came about I ve never ever heard of it till the last few years Your dog has been trained to love it the dog in this story obviously doesn’t love it and the owner is in tears of tiredness so what’s the easiest resolution, forget the crate and let the dog be part of the family Dogs s are family members they need to feel secure just because your dog loves to be on his own in an indoor kennel doesn’t mean all dogs will like that I m sure not one size fits all
What’s wrong with a dog bed being it’s den why does it need to be shut in ...I d cry if someone put me in a cage
We spent lots of care in trying to sget wild animals kept out of cages in zoos etc because of fear, boredom, isolation and then approve them on a smaller scale for houses, makes no sense to me

My staffie is 12 and was crated trained as a puppy by his previous owners, they had a young child and staffie puppies are very boisterous in fact he still is. So he was crated trained 12 years ago. I had a Boxer back in the '80's he was 13 when he died and was crate trained as a pup too. So crates have been around a lot longer than you think.
Actually the OP said the dog was quite happy in the crate until she had a phantom pregnancy. Whether the two are related or coincidence we don't know.One size doesn't fit all which is why 2 of my Pugs sleep on my bed. My Staffie does have a memory foam dog bed he just prefers the crate. So you're anti crate, you're not alone but that doesn't mean your way is the only way. I've offered suggestions it's up to the owner to decide what they want to do.

My friend with a new dog (about 18 months old) initially was determined it sleep downstairs. Eventually they gave in, and it sleeps outside their bedroom door on a small landing, in a bed.

It is happy as it knows they are very near. and they all sleep well now.The poor dog is really upset.

All my dogs have slept with me so no separation anxiety and a beautiful loving bond.

Take the poor beast to the vet, but I will lay odds the vet says this is separation anxiety.

Honestly, the cheapest and quickest solution is to squeeze a cheap dog bed into their bedroom and let the poor canine sleep there.

Good advice from Anja. Poodle crosses are bright and those crossed with cocker or cavalier spaniels can, in my experience, be a bit highly strung, prone to separation anxiety.
The owner needs to take the dog to the vet, get a health check and proper advice on the best way of helping her dog.

Flexible I was always around dogs from early I never ever knew anyone who shut their dogs in cages, never ever
I m not saying your wrong if it fits for you and your dog that’s great, but I don’t think many dogs in my day and age were shut into cages but then we didn’t have cockapoos and labradoodles or teacup dogs, we just had dogs, often mixed up dogs but without Alice in wonderland names and they were part of the family and slept with part of the family either on the bed or in a basket or old cushion on the floor and in many families they still do
This dog is crying because it’s unhappy and it’s making the owner unhappy so it needs to be sorted for everyone’s sake

She's unhappy-most likely separation anxiety.
Our dog had this-she barked non stop if I went out. We saw a behavioural specialist at Vet's & it only took one session to cure her. Just a very simple case of going into a room & locking her out. When she whined we gently called out to her to reassure her. Cured her completely in about 20 mins.
However we did have her basket in our bedroom at night once she was past having to go out for a wee at night. We had a dog flap do she could get out. DH was working in USA a lot & I liked the security of having her close by to be fair.
Just give her loads of love & let her sleep where she can sense you are close.

It sounds like separation anxiety until the bit where she stays with you. As she is OK there then it's not separation. It is anxiety. As said before, look at the location of the crate with you and compare with home. Is the floor carpeted? Non carpeted can be cold and echo. Is the room lit /dark. Warm/cold. Noise from fridge/clock etc. Once there is no difference then it could be habit. If she gets anxious then it is rewarded with attention. Your daughter going to her, telling her to be quiet etc. Although people are against crates they are used for comfort and safety. The guidedogs use crates as the dog is taught this is your bed/place of safety. Also it stops destruction. But if the dog is in it for punishment or long periods of owner absence then it becomes a negative place. If the dog is put in there as convenience as the home is cramped/busy the dog begins to get frustrated and hate the crate in that location. Lots to consider. Best of luck

That's the point Kernowlock about crates, that dogs need to be crate trained, so their crate becomes a safe haven. If the crate is used to isolate the dog or to punish the dog, the dog will become anxious. I had a foster who'd broken out of 3 crates, chewed skirting boards etc anything she could get into. The dog had been left for 8 hours during the day, let out briefly in the evening, unless the owner was going out again in which case it was crated from about 7pm - 7 am.

Within two nights, the dog was sleeping through in her crate. She went in happily during the day if she wanted to sleep or rest. She needed a proper life, with regular routines and once they were in place she was a lovely calm responsive dog

My old rescue came aged 18 months or so, he was never crated. We had fosters and puppies as he got older. They were crate trained and he decided these crates were a Good Thing and would take himself off into one to avoid the rest of the dogs. It was very helpful when he became infirm, we could leave him happily with the crate door closed if we had to go out. This meant he could be quiet and also he couldn't fall on the wooden floors without me there to help him up.

I understand your comments BlueBelle, but I do believe crates can be used positively.

Like humans, animals can have physical problems leading to other issues and behaviour being one of them.Were it me would pay a visit to the vet to discuss the animals behaviour and mention what you are feeding the animal which may ?not be giving your pet the right nutrients and can affect their behaviour.A supplement, veterinary prescribed/ recommended / change of diet , may be all that is necessary.

No, but we happily used play-pens for our toddlers, didn't we? But I do agree, I would never expect a dog to stay in a crate or cage, except when it was necessary while travelling.

Like most things, keeping a dog has got more complicated.
Years ago the dog would probably have been passed on to someone else if it had annoying behaviour, or shut outside, or sent to "live on a farm".

We had this when we were away with out dog, ended up coming home early! I posted on a dog forum and someone asked why we didn't let the dog sleep in our room. I thought this was a terrible idea, BUT we did try it eventually and it works like magic. She stopped getting up at dawn (or earlier) and is much more relaxed. I wish we had tried it earlier.

I am the owner of a near perfect wee dog who was abandoned as a pup and has always been a bit anxious when I go out. I think putting a bed outside your Dds room where pooch can see her might help. It might decide to sleep somewhere else in the house but if it's house-trained that shouldn't be a problem. I personally don't like a dog sleeping on my bed but I don't mind them on the bedroom floor. I have to say I have had dogs for more than thirty years and never owned a crate and never would. They seem to be popular but to my mind what kind of message does that give to a wee dog who I assume is one of the family? I wish your Dd luck and hope she gets some sleep soon

Glad it's not just me with anti-crate ideas Bluebelle

Try a scarf/something with your daughter’s scent this might help ?

My daughter’s cocker spaniel sleeps in crate at her house & mine very settled & loves her bed

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Quickdraw??I can’t see the point in having a dog presumably as a companion and part of the family and then putting it in a cage and even worse shutting the cage door like a circus animal for what, 8 hours at night and possibly more hours if used daytime
Grandetante I thought playpens were a safe playing area usually with parent busy nearby I didn’t realise you put the babies in them at night and shut the door on your way to bed ?

I’m not a fan of crates, our dogs have always slept in our room. I’m not knocking anyone that is just my opinion ?
our previous retriever had phantom pregnancy’s and always wanted to hide under our bed with a collection of toys as her “baby’s” we did have her spayed to stop it but the timing had to be right because the vet said you can trap them in that cycle if you do it while they are still going through a phase of phantom.

She’s clearly anxious and just wants to be with her pack, have they tried just letting her roam and see where she naturally settles at night? Our current retriever sleeps on the floor by dads side of the bed with her top half underneath. From a tiny pup she has always done this and settled straight away, they just want to be with their pack after all. ?

When i had a dog she would create merry hell at night if she was left downstairs.This caused no end of problems between DH and me.My solution was to let her upstairs with us, his to leave her, she will get use to it. Guess who won!!! She slept on the foot of the bed everynight until she passed away. As she grew older i would carry her up the stairs as she could no longer manage it herself.How i miss that little furry body at the back of my knees at night or across my feet even nowafter 5years of her passing away.

BlueBelle there were times when I was sorely tempted by your play pen idea

Love it Sodapop ...me too ???