What are your bedtime routines with your dogs?
Our new to us standard has been with us two weeks and I would to eventually have him sleep in the crate at night. I would also love him to sleep in later but the crate is first priority.
Our guy is 3 and I’m uncertain of his life and training until now so I’ve been treating him like a puppy, frequent trips outside for opportunities to pee/poop and praise when he does his business outside. I’ve slowly introduced him to the crate and he willingly on his own accord will go in for naps or when something scary is happening (thunder storms). I’ve closed the door on him a few times for short periods of time with no issues and only one time has resulted in barking, unfortunately I was on a conference call at the time so just let him out to quiet him down. House training wise I’m not sure he’s fully made the connection between bathroom = outside yet, but he also hasn’t really had the opportunity to have an accident in the house. We will get there.
He crashes hard at about 9:30-10 and he seems to wake up naturally between 5-5:30 so I’ve been getting up at this time to take him out. Since we got him, he’s been sleeping beside our bed with his leash attached to my arm so if he gets up in the night I will wake up and take him outside for a bathroom break. I’m a light sleeper so anytime he has a little woof in his dreams or shifts positions I wake up, thus my desire for him to sleep in the crate. He will sometimes come up on the bed but for the most part stays on the floor (I think he gets warm). He’s comfortable being in another room from us and will regularly go hang out on his bed in the hall when we are are in the kitchen.
Should I slowly work him up to more and more time solo in the crate before he goes in for a full night? Or am I overthinking this?
I am thinking if I take him for a long stroll and sniff at 10-11 pm he will be extra tired and fully emptied bathroom wise. Then he can go in his crate, I’ll set an alarm for 5 to try and wake up before or near the same time as he does to take him out.
My concern is that if I put him in overnight before he’s ready that will sour him on the crate and backfire. He’s a very sensitive soul and has a good memory. He has a collection of toys, we were playing with one certain toy last week and he accidentally crashed into my husbands knee with his head. Hasn’t touched the toy since despite cycling though the rest.
I don’t want to turn him off the crate, but I’m also desperate for a solid 6 hours of sleep! What would you do?
Our new to us standard has been with us two weeks and I would to eventually have him sleep in the crate at night. I would also love him to sleep in later but the crate is first priority.
Our guy is 3 and I’m uncertain of his life and training until now so I’ve been treating him like a puppy, frequent trips outside for opportunities to pee/poop and praise when he does his business outside. I’ve slowly introduced him to the crate and he willingly on his own accord will go in for naps or when something scary is happening (thunder storms). I’ve closed the door on him a few times for short periods of time with no issues and only one time has resulted in barking, unfortunately I was on a conference call at the time so just let him out to quiet him down. House training wise I’m not sure he’s fully made the connection between bathroom = outside yet, but he also hasn’t really had the opportunity to have an accident in the house. We will get there.
He crashes hard at about 9:30-10 and he seems to wake up naturally between 5-5:30 so I’ve been getting up at this time to take him out. Since we got him, he’s been sleeping beside our bed with his leash attached to my arm so if he gets up in the night I will wake up and take him outside for a bathroom break. I’m a light sleeper so anytime he has a little woof in his dreams or shifts positions I wake up, thus my desire for him to sleep in the crate. He will sometimes come up on the bed but for the most part stays on the floor (I think he gets warm). He’s comfortable being in another room from us and will regularly go hang out on his bed in the hall when we are are in the kitchen.
Should I slowly work him up to more and more time solo in the crate before he goes in for a full night? Or am I overthinking this?
I am thinking if I take him for a long stroll and sniff at 10-11 pm he will be extra tired and fully emptied bathroom wise. Then he can go in his crate, I’ll set an alarm for 5 to try and wake up before or near the same time as he does to take him out.
My concern is that if I put him in overnight before he’s ready that will sour him on the crate and backfire. He’s a very sensitive soul and has a good memory. He has a collection of toys, we were playing with one certain toy last week and he accidentally crashed into my husbands knee with his head. Hasn’t touched the toy since despite cycling though the rest.
I don’t want to turn him off the crate, but I’m also desperate for a solid 6 hours of sleep! What would you do?