Crying in crate at night

[ChiChiGabor]

My 3 year old has started crying in her crate at night, I suspect initially as she was cold (we haven’t lit the log burner for about a month now), so I’ve moved her crate to a warmer part of the house and I’m ordering her a new bed as the old is quite worn.

Ive also stopped crating her during the day if I pop out. I wfh but go out for school run etc, she’s fine being left home alone (I have a bark alert set up).

But how do I re-crate train her? At the moment she will cry/bark randomly at night and we ignore it. I’ve never let her out when she’s cried so we’re not reinforcing it. As a pup she was always happy in her crate.

Do I need to make it a nice place for 10 minute time outs during the day?

We have another older dog who sleeps on my bed (and has done for over a decade, that won’t change!) and I suspect she wants to sleep on my bed too which is why she’s barking but DH won’t allow it (especially as she likes to sleep in between our pillows).

Surely you have a door somewhere downstairs for fire regs?
if it’s an issue of warmth/ loneliness put the crate in your bedroom? Some people manage to teach their dogs to sleep on a dog bed in their room but I’ve no idea how that’s done! Personally my preference would be to have the dog sleep downstairs by shutting a door or putting a dog gate up. Even a large crate is a small space to spend all night in

BungleandGeorge · Today 00:03
Surely you have a door somewhere downstairs for fire regs?
if it’s an issue of warmth/ loneliness put the crate in your bedroom? Some people manage to teach their dogs to sleep on a dog bed in their room but I’ve no idea how that’s done! Personally my preference would be to have the dog sleep downstairs by shutting a door or putting a dog gate up. Even a large crate is a small space to spend all night “

Our terrier slept happily on the sofa in our room for 15 years. We were advised a crate when we brought her home. She hated it and cried. One night was enough for us so at around 14 weeks she came up with us. Two or three nights telling her no to the bed and she got the idea very quickly and slept soundly on the sofa. Didn’t jump on the bed until she was invited.

I can't actually believe some of the grief you're getting over using a crate. If introduced properly (which it sounds like yours was) crates are brilliant - I love my dog but being together 24/7 isn't healthy and promotes separation anxiety when he has to be left. Having a safe space means can leave your dog without worrying about them getting into something and potentially harming themselves (my rescue initially had a taste for cables 😬) I think what you've suggested is the way forward - move the crate somewhere warmer make sure it's got plenty of blankets to cosy into and reintroduce the crate for short 5 min bursts in the day as a positive thing (with a kong or chew). I've actually tried leaving my dog loose downstairs when I went out for 30 mins and he whined and paces the whole time, when I leave him in his crate he sleeps and looks relaxed (I have a camera).

Crates are cages. I have owned dogs for 30 years and would never use one. Your dog is trapped, alone, communicating distress and unable to do anything. It sounds awful. It is cruel and you can change this situation instantly.

Don't understand the obsession with crates these days. Yes they have their uses for short periods during day time to leave alone safely but it's really unnatural and uncomfortable for a dog to be confined in a small space for such a long period all night. Our dog has never been allowed upstairs, only on sofa as a treat when allowed. At night she shuffles between two or or three different sleeping spots. Usually back in the warmest spot by the morning. What's wrong with just letting her sleep downstairs in a normal bed? And the fact that your other dog is allowed on the bed with you while she's stuck in a cage all night. No wonder she is miserable! Surely this is a joke.

You let one dog sleep on your bed, but keep the other in a cage. That's your problem. The one in a CAGE is lonely. Dogs are pack animals.

I would never use a crate and agree with this.

Except it's not.

It's caged a dog crying at night.

Agree. So depressing to hear people on here pretending that dogs love crates.

Are you 12?

Because your messages are really immature...

People are trying to tell you that what you are doing (the crate) is having a negative impact on your poor dog so you need to find alternatives.