1 year old has stopped sleeping

[Cockapoonozzzz]

I have an almost 1 year old cockapoo (i know they are devils spawn on this forum), who is geverally am absolute dote, but has a few issues im working through with him such as jumping on people and overexcitement with visitors.

My biggest problem however, that needs a quick resolution asap is around sleep. He was never one for going into his crate during the day, but was always happy to go in at night and would sleep there until we woke him up the next day. The crate has always been kept in the utility room off the kitchen. However, something changed in him last week and he spent 2 nights howling in the crate, he even peed in it, he has been toilet trained for months. It got so bad, he was clearly upset, that I couldn't keep him in there so have been letting him sleep in our kitchen since.

However, when he sleeps in the kitchen, he has a lot of space and he seems to be roaming around, and a big patio door looking out into the garden. He wakes several times a night now, sometimes to go the toilet, but often barking at nothing/something in the garden. He is keeping me awake a lot, and is waking the kids too.

I tried him on a new mattress bed in the utility tonight, I gave him lots of time and treats on it all day and going to bed. But as soon as I closed the door, he howled.

I dont particularly want him back in the crate, but i would like him to sleep in the utility, and more importantly not wake us up during the night. Any suggestions? Im wrecked and at my wits end.

Sounds like he might be feeling exposed and over stimulated. He’s getting up and wandering because he can.
The garden will look and sound very different at night. Are the patios covered with blinds or curtains? No doubt he’s seeing a cat, wildlife or even his reflection.
I wouldn’t try to associate the bed with treats or he might expect that at night. Maybe try a favourite cuddly or even something with your scent on it.
Age wise might be hitting adolescence. Often there’s behaviour regression such as poor recall again or other new or returning behaviours.
Everything is new now even his bed. Hopefully he will get used to the new arrangement. Gradually reduce interaction and be firm he should settle.

My last 2 dogs were crate trained,both border collie, one is 11, and one is 2. At the same age they both started barking at night. Our vet said we could either tough it out, apologies to the neighbours,or let them sleep in the bedroom. This was the option we went for..

With the 11 year old,we had another dog, she was originally ok in the conservatory. The 2 year old was by the bed at first in a tiny crate, then moved to the hall. Vet (been with the practice 27 years) said even one is young to sleep alone. The previous dog,PTS 3 years ago was fine in the living room till we lost the other dog, then he sat by the front door and cried night and day. Cue, another dog and his bed in the bedroom

@Nannyfannybanny Yes despite my “advice” ours both sleep in our bedroom usually on our bed.

Can he not sleep in the living room or on a bed in your bedroom? Why does he need to be locked away downstairs on his own?

This.

Dogs are pack animals and need company I know it works for some people but I couldn’t imagine leaving my little dog downstairs on his own.

Move his bed up to your bedroom he’s lonely.

It sounds like something may have scared him in the crate recently, which can suddenly change how dogs feel about a space they were previously fine with. You could try slowly rebuilding positive associations with the utility room again — feeding him there, giving treats, and spending calm time in that area before bedtime. Some people also use a baby gate instead of closing the door so the dog doesn’t feel fully shut in while still limiting roaming.

Interesting idea with the baby gate, Ill give that a try. I think youre right, something has spooked him in the crate, he looks pretty terrified going in to rescue some treats or a toy if I put one in there.

No, he absolutely cant be upstairs. My husband really didn't want a dog and conceded for me and the kids, but really wont want him up in our room. Its not worth my marriage.

What about outside your room with a babygate? Dogs like company and don’t generally like being shut away themselves for long periods - while many cope as puppies, it’s not what they want or enjoy long term.

Well, pretty much everyone has said dogs need company. We've always had 2 ,used to be 3. Ours have been flap trained for about 25 years,they have an area of garden fenced off for themselves about 50 foot long,so we can go out if we want to, and they will be fine. I'm afraid both partners have to be equally on board with having a dog,as.you have found.
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I get up and leave for the gym at 5.30. If I had to walk passed him, id wake him, he'd wake the kids. Him sleeping upstairs really isn't an option for us.

Ive lived with dogs for about 30 of my 40 odd years and have never known one who needed to sleep upstairs.

Ill try this, thanks

What other breeds have you had?

Cockapoos are a mixture of two breeds both known for separation anxiety - I understand it’s hard and you don’t want him upstairs but the reality is that you may not have a choice if he can’t settle elsewhere.

Terriers, labs, maltipoos.

Upstairs isn't am option for us, so ill have to keep trying something else. Not sure what. Im too tired to think straight.

Maybe one of you needs to go back to sleeping downstairs with him to reassure him and then slowly move back to your own bed, at bit like training a puppy again.

Yes, I did this last week when it all started, but might have to do it a bit more

We had this exact same issue with our working cocker at the same age. I’m sorry to say that we tried absolutely everything for weeks - and now he sleeps in our bedroom. Under the bed and occasionally hops onto the end of the bed if he gets cold. I wasn’t keen on the idea but now I love it as he’s learnt to be so chill in the morning and it’s nice to have a cuddle with him. The only downside is I have to vacuum a lot more frequently upstairs!

We weren’t sure what caused the issue, but have put it down to him getting spooked by something randomly and associating his crate with the Bad Thing.

We tried him outside of the crate to roam free but he would bark as he just wanted to be with us. He wouldn’t tolerate his crate in our bedroom or any other room. We tried all sorts of calming plug ins/sprays and supplements. DH slept downstairs with him for ages as we tried to go back to basics like when he was a puppy and was first getting used to his crate. Weirdly he was completely fine being left to sleep on his own in the daytime, so it was a nighttime association with him. Ultimately he wanted to sleep with us and nothing else would work for him.

I know you said him sleeping upstairs wouldn’t work for you but maybe he would get used to the routine of you getting up early - do you have a partner or is it just you in the bedroom? My DH gets up early often and leaves dog in with me and he’s learnt over time it’s not time to get up and will go back to sleep for a bit longer.

Also just wanted to say I totally appreciate how tough this is. It totally drains you and it’s exhausting. I was genuinely so stressed and exhausted when we were trying to sort it with our dog so I really hope you manage to work it out.

Thank you so much for your understanding. I moved the crate and played a lot with him in it yesterday evening. Then at bedtime I lifted him into it. I kept my hand in through the grill and he snuggled up to it. He tolerated it for about 15 minutes, then started to cry, so i let him out and left him in the kitchen for the night. He was fine and I didnt hear a peep out of him until we went into the kitchen at 8am.
There's hope for him yet