Novice dog owner needs advice with one issue please

[Earlybird]

Hello. We adopted a 2 year old dog earlier this week. His previous owner, sadly, contracted a fast-moving type of cancer and died at the end of August. For the last 2.5 months, little Simon has been living with a pet sitter who was a friend of the owner.

Simon has been lovely so far, and seems to have adjusted to life with our family very well and we have adjusted to him. There is only one issue: he cries, barks, whines and scratches at intervals through the night. How can I start to break him of this habit?

Fwiw, I suspect (though don't know for sure) that he slept with his previous owner. Much as I adore him, I am not a person who wishes to sleep with a dog.

Any advice much appreciated.

It's very early days for you yet. I would imagine that whatever routine you set for him, he will settle into eventually as long as it is consistent.

Where do you have him at night? I was just thinking that if he's been used to being with someone and he is shut away, he might be feeling lonely and scared. Is he used to a crate? If he was mine and I didn't want him sleeping with me (says she who sleeps with younger dog occasionally even under the duvet ) I would try putting him in a crate near to me so he knew I was there but couldn't get on the bed.

Our elder dog has always slept in a crate on the landing (I know, blatant dog favouritism ) and is very happy there. Unlike our younger dog I've never had him on the furniture as his under-tail can leave something to be desired. He seems to accept the arrangement, including the blatantly unfair house rules, very happily. I think routine is the key.

Thanks for your response.

The pet sitter advised us to crate him at night so he would feel secure in a confined space, and then to cover the crate door with a towel so he could not look out and see me moving around. I have done that.

The crate is placed on the landing just outside my bedroom so he can hear me breath and move in bed at night (presumably) - as the sitter advised. I had hoped that this would reassure him, and that he would not feel lonely and isolated. In fact, I wonder if it is having the opposite effect - perhaps being able to hear me causes him to whine to be with me.

Because the crate is just outside my bedroom, the barking/growling/whining is loud and quite disruptive to my sleep. Should I move him to another room farther away?

So far, I have ignored his night noises but wonder if I should reassure him? Scold him? Do something else?

Yes, it is early days and I hope he will adjust to the new regime. I just wonder if there is anything I can do to help him understand what is expected of him. He really is a brilliant little fellow - with this one issue.

Hi there, you must be a saint to put up with that all night right outside the bedroom door! You have been doing the right thing by ignoring the behaviour. For the sake of your sanity you should consider moving the crate to a room that is further away. If you are consistent and put him his crate at the same time, and let him out at the same time every day, you should find that he settles into your routine. Going to the cage when he makes a lot of noise is rewarding him, he's crying to get your attention and if you give him any attention for it he will continue to do it. Try giving him a chew when you put him to bed, (I like the hi-life dental hide chews) one that will last a while, it will give him something to do if he becomes bored or frustrated in the night. Once he is in the crate, ignore him completely and if possible put him in a "no traffic" room, so he cant see/hear you. What breed is he? some breeds tend to be more vocal than others!

hickery - thanks for your thoughts and suggestions.

He is a peekapoo (pekinese and poodle mix). He is a very sociable little dog - follows me or dd everywhere, so I suppose he is simply protesting when he is put in the crate and forced to be on his own.

Interesting that you say 'ignore' as I wondered if scolding him might let him know I expect him to be quiet/settle down, but I take your point about it actually being a way it engages me/gives him attention. I have been ignoring him completely, so have unwittingly been doing the right thing.

I want to be kind (of course) as this is a completely new situation for him - but unless he calms down soon, I may have to move his crate to the kitchen, or some other room where I can shut a door. I can deal with a few nights of disrupted sleep, but can't have it go on indefinitely!

Any other advice would be much appreciated.

I'd agree about ignoring, if you scold the only purpose is to make you feel better - you're reinforcing with attention. I think earplugs and ignoring for a few nights and go from there if it doesn't improve. I think if he is sociable, though, that moving him away from you will make it worse - but that's only my opinion and someone else may know better!