We have a nearly-12-week old Border Terrier pup. He is great. He has learnt so much in the 3 weeks he has lived with us, and is brilliant company. He's even good around the cat (who is still deciding whether or not she is going to allow him to be her friend).
He has slept in his crate downstairs since night 1. He has a small hot water bottle, an item of my clothing and the radio on low.
We took turns to sleep on the sofa next to him for the first 4 nights. Then went upstairs but set an alarm to let him out to toilet for the next 4 nights. Then he was sleeping through 10.30-6.30 without a peep. We thought we'd cracked it. Amazing.
3 nights ago, out of the blue, he started howling in his crate and DID NOT STOP for 4 hours. If it was just a whine, I would have left him, but he was barking and rattling the crate with his teeth and jumping up trying to break through the top of it. I was worried he was going to hurt himself, and/or wake the neighbours. We did a boring, lights off trip to the garden, but he didn't need the toilet. Eventually I gave in and slept on the sofa with him as he was so distressed by that point, I didn't think he'd be able to wind himself down to sleep. Of course as soon as I was next to him he slept like a log ðŸ˜
Since then I've tried sleeping next to his crate, taking his bed out of the crate and sleeping next to that...but he just won't settle unless he's on the sofa with me. He barks and barks and whines and rattles the crate for HOURS, even if I'm next to him. Have I massively fucked up? What's the best plan to get him back in his crate? I NEED A PLAN. PLEASE HELP ME FORMULATE A PLAN.
He can't sleep upstairs with us because of allergies (plus the cat needs some space).
In desperation last night I bought a donut bed and some pet soothing spray. I feel like I have a newborn again -- panic buying things with good reviews in the hope they're a miracle cure!!! 🤪