6 month old puppy suddenly crying and barking during the night

[mckenzie]

Nothing has changed in his routine, food etc but we've had a few nights recently where he cries then barks during the night. I've come down to him on two occasions because as its unusual I'm concerned there is a genuine problem but he just acts as he normally would, smiley face and waggly tail etc. I don't interact with him and just offer the garden in case he has an upset tum but he just sits in the garden until I let him back in.

He recently got a new bigger crate so I'm confident there is no issue there.
Any ideas please?
Is he just testing us perhaps?
I can't see any problem with his teeth or ears etc.

TIA

Could it be the lighter mornings? Mine genuinely believes it's morning before it is for a little while at the start of summer

We've had this occasionally - I think it's when foxes come into the garden and wake him up

Thanks for the replies.
Definitely not lighter mornings as it was 12.45am this morning! Plus the crate is covered.
it goes on for too long I think to be foxes basildonbond plus I wonder would he even be able to sense them with cover over crate and curtains pulled.
Sorry for being negative about your replies

Perhaps he isn't warm enough or doesn't feel as safe in a larger crate?

I don't think so twenty ten as it had started in the smaller crate last week and we hoped it was just because the crate was too small, hence the slightly larger one.

Is the sleeping in the crate a puppy thing or do some dogs stay in the crate at nighttime for ever?

I started by leaving the crate door open at about a year old/when I trusted him not to chew anything. Then kept the crate for about 4 months and then did away with it altogether but moved his bed out of it first so he didn't suddenly not have one. I have no kids or anything that he needs his own space from.

He may still be able to hear foxes and be trying to defend the house by barking? Could you set up a camera to see what triggers it?

If you trust him I'd try going crate free and see if that helps .