Crating at Night

[Anonymous]

Hi. Pup is about 15 months old and house trained, except a few accidents after moving into new place. He loves sleeping on my bed but I've found that I don't sleep well when he does. I've returned to having him sleep at night in his crate so that we all sleep through the night better and I don't have to worry about him wandering around the house and getting into anything. He doesn't fight going in the crate at night but would never go in there voluntarily. Is it ok to make him use the crate overnight, and is there an age it should stop and he should have more freedom in the night?
Thanks

[Anonymous]

Why can't he sleep in a dog bed in your bedroom, with the door closed?

[Anonymous]

Why can't he sleep in a dog bed in your bedroom, with the door closed?

[Anonymous]

It's perfectly fine. The crate is his den. Many dogs will sleep in their crates even if the door is left open. As long as the crate is the correct size (he should be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down) it's a great place for him to sleep.

I breed, train, and raise German Shepherds. Dogs shouldn't be allowed to sleep in your bed. I am guilty of it occasionally. But it's really not a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Our 2 yo dog is crated overnight because we have a toddler who can (and does) get in and out of bed at night and though he's great with her it's not safe for them to be alone together. He doesn't mind being in the crate but he does whine and paw at gates if we try to confine him to just downstairs. Honestly, I think there's a good chance he will remain crated at night for most of his life (baby #2 is on the way). I think that if your dog is comfortable in his crate and feels like it's his "den" then it's fine.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thanks for replies. Re dog bed in my room, I've bought 2 dog beds, both of which he has decimated by chewing and pulling out all the stuffing. Also, when in my room overnight, he comes over to me and makes breathy noises so I give him attention (at least he's trying not to bark at me . If he would sleep quietly all night in a dog bed, that would be great, but we're not there. The crate it is!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's perfectly fine. The crate is his den. Many dogs will sleep in their crates even if the door is left open. As long as the crate is the correct size (he should be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down) it's a great place for him to sleep.

I breed, train, and raise German Shepherds. Dogs shouldn't be allowed to sleep in your bed. I am guilty of it occasionally. But it's really not a good idea.

+1 My dog sleeps in his crate with the door open. Make sure the crate is comfortable for your dog - correct size, as PP said, and put in a soft blanket or some towels - and create positive associations by giving him toys or treats in the crate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks for replies. Re dog bed in my room, I've bought 2 dog beds, both of which he has decimated by chewing and pulling out all the stuffing. Also, when in my room overnight, he comes over to me and makes breathy noises so I give him attention (at least he's trying not to bark at me . If he would sleep quietly all night in a dog bed, that would be great, but we're not there. The crate it is!

Thats very cute he is checking on you and giving you a sniff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's perfectly fine. The crate is his den. Many dogs will sleep in their crates even if the door is left open. As long as the crate is the correct size (he should be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down) it's a great place for him to sleep.

I breed, train, and raise German Shepherds. Dogs shouldn't be allowed to sleep in your bed. I am guilty of it occasionally. But it's really not a good idea.

+1 My dog sleeps in his crate with the door open. Make sure the crate is comfortable for your dog - correct size, as PP said, and put in a soft blanket or some towels - and create positive associations by giving him toys or treats in the crate.

+2. Our german shepherd has slept in his crate since puppyhood. We close the door but leave it unlocked. We bought an expensive but super high quality, tough mat for the inside, after he pulled all the stuffing out of another one. We drape a sheet over the top when we put him to bed.