Help oh help,
This past weekend I let Cricket sleep with me. I've had her 7 months , have always crated her, have never had a problem until I let her sleep with me. oh my....since I put her back in her crate Sunday night, she has cried and barked all night, every night! I had scolded her, pleaded, begged, ignored,but to no avail. She is still crying to get out of her crate at night. Lindey sleeps in her crate, Nubie sleeps in a chair, we're all in the bedroom together, this has not been an issue until this past weekend. I need some relief from her crying, I don't know what else to do. We crate everybody when we are gone during the day, give Kongs when we leave, she settles in with no problem, but we've come to dread going to bed. Help! They all get walked twice a day, I don't know what else to do. Should I leave her out of her crate at night? Should I give in?
amy

I guess Cricket's had a taste of freedom and likes it. If by sleeping with you you meant she was in your bed then boot her out. She shouldn't be allowed to whine her way into your bed.
Do any of your dogs have sleep aggression? If not, why not try leaving Cricket uncrated but with the crate door open?
When our hounds are restless near bedtime we have a play session with their squeaky toys. That lasts about 5 minutes and they're pooped.
How about a bedtime snack in case it's hunger waking Cricket up? A few cookies or a pice of bread? Just don't give a treat if she's already crying.
Could she be cold?
That's all I can think of right now.

yup, I mean in my bed!! My old guy has MAJOR sleep aggression, I like the idea of short play time, they get treats when they go to bed, not sure what else I can do, I don't want to give in to her whining.

Unfortunately, it takes longer to break a bad habit than establish a good one. It will likely just take some more time to convince her that she has to stay in the crate.

If you want to try leaving the crate door open at night, fine, but if you sleep at all soundly I'd expect to wake up with company. It's amazing how quietly even a big dog can move when they want (the lab I grew up with loved to sneak into the bed given half a chance).

-Shalea (missing Larson)

Everyone has different opions when it comes to dogs sleeping in human beds! I have 3 greys,2 of them have never tried to sleep in a bed,but if they wanted to I wouldn't have a problem with that.
However,Blue Moon,who is our senior,hops right in bed with me.I think it
is a privelage that she wants to sleep with me!! My bed is sort of high off the floor,but even at 10yrs.she has no problem! I think Pride would sleep in the bed,too,but I think it's too high for him to jump up.He's quite a big boy and Blue is much smaller.One great thing about my bed is that it is a California King,so me and Blue have plenty of room!! I enjoy her company!!
Then again,we don't crate our dogs,so we don't have a problem there.
Sandy

Hmmmmmmm, "No Comment".

Gary

She's something else! I actually started leaving her crate door open at night, she chose not to sleep with me the other night and sleep in her crate, she made a very "grown-up choice", I was proud of her. Unlike last night, when my husband and I went to bed, Cricket hopped up on my feet, and Lindey curled up around my head and slept there all night! We're going to go look at a King Size bed next weekend! My senior Nubie (the one eyed bandit) who is 10 1/2 still jumps up on our bed which is very high. But he prefers his recliner at night with a blanket. They are amazing animals, I'm still quite smitten with them all!

It's great that everything is getting better, and You're right they are amazing animals. Magical and Mystical.

Gary