My senior dog sleeping in his crate

[Anonymous]

My 14 year old Havanese is spending most of his time in his crate. It's a very comfortable crate. I leave the door open. It's under a table, so cozy. He has a water bottle, a fluffy blanket, and a fluffy toy.

He has two other spots he also enjoys. He has a fluffy blanket under a chair. He has a fluffy blanket under my nightstand near my bed.

He used to jump up on the sofa. It's not as easy. And when I put him there, he doesn't seem to want to relax and stay.

Same with bed time. He used to want to sleep in bed with me, now he prefers his crate. I have tried pet steps. He won't use them.

I suppose he wants more time to himself as he is aging.

This is really difficult for me.

We are moving in a month. I plan to move his crate in my bedroom at night.

My apartment right now is a mess with packing.

I can't tell if it's environment or his age.

Thank you for reading.

[Anonymous]

He’s 14! He’s sleeping where he feels safe. He doesn’t feel safe up high when he knows he’s going to struggle to get down.

You can talk to your vet about supporting his pain and mobility by adding something like Galliprant. But also, I think you have to just let him sleep where he wants. Get another crate for the bedroom when you move. He’s saying he wants a ground level space with walls and a roof.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry. It is hard when they get older. He probably feels safer in his crate with all that is going on. Maybe get a crate for your bedroom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s 14! He’s sleeping where he feels safe. He doesn’t feel safe up high when he knows he’s going to struggle to get down.

You can talk to your vet about supporting his pain and mobility by adding something like Galliprant. But also, I think you have to just let him sleep where he wants. Get another crate for the bedroom when you move. He’s saying he wants a ground level space with walls and a roof.

This is the issue. He can't relax on the couch even if you place him there because he's nervous about getting down if needed.

I'm sure the packing is throwing off his routine too.

Try to appreciate the time you still have together.

[Anonymous]

Will he let you pick him up and down? When my last dog got older he was like this until I lifted him both up and down for a while. When he was confident he wouldn’t have to jump either direction he wanted back on the couch/bed, and knew to come over to me and ask for a lift. Maybe try that and see if it helps your good boy?

[Anonymous]

He feels safe there and he doesn't understand what's happening. Let him rest there the move has him stressed out I'm sure.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like age but get him checked out at a vet. Our havi is a guard dog and always wants to be with one of us. What was his personality before?

[Anonymous]

He feels in control there, because unless there's a ramp he can easily use, he probably feels insecure in places where he needs to depend on you to be mobile. Also, the packing is throwing him off.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. He always enjoyed his freedom to jump on and off the sofa and bed using an ottoman. He would sleep sometimes under the bed. I put a plastic chicken wire around the bottom of the bed. After years I decided I was getting tired of trying to coax him from under the bed in the morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. He always enjoyed his freedom to jump on and off the sofa and bed using an ottoman. He would sleep sometimes under the bed. I put a plastic chicken wire around the bottom of the bed. After years I decided I was getting tired of trying to coax him from under the bed in the morning.

Maybe try using ramps if you have the space. My havi struggles with stairs for some reason.