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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Im still on the sofa!

45 replies

cheeseisthebest · 25/10/2021 23:10

Pup is 22 weeks old this week. We've had him since 10 weeks. He's a shih tzu and he's not been left alone for more than a few minutes.
He did sleep happily in his crate or out his crate but gradually I seem to be on the sofa with him on the floor by me more and more and I miss my bed!
It's not an option for him to be I'm our bedroom but I am wondering about him going in my sons room? He's 10 but v sensible and reckons he would love it.
Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 26/10/2021 13:17

@PollyRoullson

Is he ok if you sleep next to the crate?
Not for long!
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Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 26/10/2021 13:18

@PaddingtonStareBare

I have a 10month old and right from day one he was introduced to crates and barriers in the form of baby gates, some dogs don't take crates and that's fine they aren't a necessity. Before this pup I had a dog wit seperation anxiety and it was a fucking nightmare, even with having another dog he did not give a shiny shit, he wanted ME and it was bloody draining if I went out, he did over £4000 worth of damage in his life time and looking back I can see him having 24/7 access to me was not good, I also never taught him to be comfortable for short peiords alone when he was a pup. He got better as he got older but the early years were HELL. Sleeping on the sofa each night isn't going to help your back or him long term. Our pup started off in our room in a 'soft crate' he never once free roamed upstairs, think of it as a moses basket for babies! I brought it down in the morning and would actively go in there himself during the day and sleep, he too followed me everywhere but I did introduce periods of me nipping out the front door then I would just come back in again. I only did the crate in our bedroom until he reliably slept through the night and during the day he had all his naps in his crate downstairs (which is an adult size crate) or he was popped into the kitchen with a tasty stuffed kong. Sounds daft but he soon got used to me also doing the vanishing act quite quickly, when I was in the living room or working in my office, I'd just get up and walk up and go out the front door, count to 5 then come back in, he also goes into the kitchen when we have our dinner for his dinner and he will stay in there for a few moments, especially in the early days. He huffed and whinged a bit but was given a 'Right here, you can wait another minute.' and that settled him.

I highly recommend Zak George's YouTube videos and Pandemic Puppy Podcast with Sarah Stremming or Routine making with puppies. There are some excellent straight forward no nonsense but kind resources out there that will help you both. :)

Thank you that is helpful.
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tizwozliz · 26/10/2021 13:21

Watching with interest. We've resorted to having pup in the room to catch up on sleep but it's not really what I want long term.

Pup will sleep alone in the day in any number of places, doesn't follow us from room to room, happy being downstairs while I take a shower, has been left alone for short periods (20mins) but sleeping alone the whole night just doesn't happen. 10 pm - 3 am is the best we ever got

TheOriginalMrsMoss · 26/10/2021 14:48

Would a heartbeat puppy soft toy help to transition to sleeping independently?

I had one of these;

www.treatyourdog.co.uk/products/snuggle-puppy-soft-cream-dog

You can get cheaper ones on Amazon too.

It has a heartbeat and you can add a warmer. My dog absolutely loved it as a small puppy and we had no problems getting her to sleep at night right from when we got her at 8 weeks. Perhaps it would help alongside a blanket that smelled of you?

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 26/10/2021 15:15

Thank you, I've tried both those things!

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PaddingtonStareBare · 26/10/2021 16:12

oh gosh no, I wouldn't have left mine for hours at that age. it was a pain in the arse but he came everywhere with us in the early days.
Once he was napping independently at during the day, I made sure I was in another room but a key thing is they wake or go to sleep knowing you are in another room.
What happens if he was to be asleep behind a kitchen gate? Amazon basics do a good one which is reasonable. Could that be a possibilty for you? You can sleep on the couch for a few more nights whilst he gets used to it, but be prepared for a disturbed night but he'll adapt slowly.
After a week or two I'd head up to bed part way through the night. You need your sleep! And ultimately he will adapt.
Have a look at Julie Naismiths FB group for SA in puppies, it's a great resource too :-)

Fluffyteal272 · 26/10/2021 17:03

I dont see the issue with him sleeping with your DS. Got to be worth a try!

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 26/10/2021 20:45

Thank you we are still debating it!

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santabetterwashhishands · 26/10/2021 21:00

No way would I be on the sofa and I love my dogs but they get put to bed and soon got used to it 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 26/10/2021 21:30

@santabetterwashhishands

No way would I be on the sofa and I love my dogs but they get put to bed and soon got used to it 🤷‍♀️
I've tried that, many many times. If I could just put him to bed and leave him I would! He just barks for hours until someone goes to him.
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Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 26/10/2021 21:30

And if I lived alone I would ignore but it affects everyone else. Kids can't sleep and they have school etc.

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MushMonster · 26/10/2021 21:34

I had my puppy with me when I was 6! Though, in my house we used to sleep with the doors open or ajar and my grandma was just by me, in case the dog wanted to go out or any issues.
He slept all night, no issues. Never stirred, and we both loved it!
I would do it.

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 26/10/2021 21:35

I'm right next door if there was an issue!

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MakeMeCleanTheHouse · 26/10/2021 21:42

@cheeseisthebest my previous dog slept with DD from about 7/8 yrs. She loved it

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 26/10/2021 21:43

Thank you. My son is really keen and tidying his bedroom ready!
Not right now obviously!!

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JustAnotherDayWorkingAtHome · 28/10/2021 17:16

My puppy wouldn't settle at night on his own downstairs and we tried everything, he does now sleep in my room but he does also sleep in my daughters room (she is a bit older than your DC) and he is absolutely fine with that. He is currently going through a stage of barking early in the morning and on the occassions he has been in with my DD I just go and get him if he starts barking and bring him in with me, I guess you would have to go back on the sofa with him if anything like that happened but at least you would get most of the night in your bed, I would give it a go.

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 28/10/2021 22:15

He's been in our bedroom past 2 nights!!

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Qwertyyui · 28/10/2021 23:20

We had pup in our room until she was about 9 months old then moved her to the kitchen as she was affecting my sleep in her crate. She now independently sleeps in the kitchen with no crate happily. She is a proper velcro dog and now understand bed means being alone but it took building her confidence up before she could be alone. We left the gate open the other day as thought she could sleep with us as a treat but nope she stopped in the kitchen. Tried to give her free reign of the living room but she ended up being awake all night climbing on my work desk and then slept on her bed over the sofa any way. Little weirdo.

My mate was the opposite and refused pup in her room. Her pup now sleeps in the bed under the quilt with them.

liveforsummer · 29/10/2021 04:48

Dd7 was our dogs choice to sleep with when she was a pup from as soon as she could jump on the bed. She just took herself off when she felt it was bed time. DD loved it. She now sleeps on my bed (but usually so does dd)

LordoftheDanceSaidHe · 29/10/2021 08:48

I'd stick pup in with 10 year old if it worked. My dog slept in with me as a kid.

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