My 2 year old Toy Poodle has slept with me since he was 2 months old. Now I want him to sleep in his crate or on his bed, but he will not. I have put him in his crate outside my bedroom door when it is time for bed and he barks until his throat is dry (11pm to 6am)! I've tried putting his bed out there and placeing a baby gate in my doorway, and the same thing. He stands at that gate and barks for 7 hours straight. Now he's back in my bed so I can sleep. His crate is now in my room but it doesn't matter to him. What can I do or is it hopeless?
I suggest training the dog before bedtime! I suggest that you make the crate/a great bed for this spoiled dog. I suggest that you use treats to get the dog into the crate and treat as the dog stays in the crate without crying. Eventually you will space out the time intervals of treating the dog as it is in the crate. Possibly going as far as into the next room while dog is in their crate. Also, before placing the dog in the crate for bedtime make sure your dog has been walked/exercised to eliminate supper. When first training the dog to go into the crate, closing the door is what is needed. However, at other times just leave the crate door open for the dog to go in and out of. Possibly include the crate in play time. Like hide a ball in there or hide the treat in there.
He's not a stranger to his crate or his bed. He will lay on his bed during the day playing or napping. He will go into the crate to get a toy. When it comes to bedtime, he refuses to sleep without me. He barked 11pm -6am(time to get up for work), for 1 month straight when I last tried to get him to sleep in his crate. I also had a visiting pup sleeping in a crate ajoined with his, and it did not make a difference. So I don't know what to do to get him to break down.
I understand that it is tough to re-train a dog to sleep in their own bed. Your dog sort of bonded to you and sleep as if being a litter mate. Was wondering if your training should now be done piece meal. Was wondering, during your day off, if you could try placing the dog in his bed at bed time giving the dog the best treat ever. As you get into bed next, if the dog jumps on the bed then... you get up and get outta there. When the dog jumps down off the bed, give treat again and again when the dog is in it's bed. You get back into bed...as you can see repeat many times. Wondering if you take a mid-afternoon nap would your dog join you? If so, maybe your training can be a 2-a-day training schedule thing? when training a dog for anything, the trainer needs to correct the dog one more time then the dog is willing to do the bad behavior.
I just confirmed the following information. I do not know if this will be allowed in this forum. If you are able to afford to spend some money, there is a device you can buy that is a dog collar with a small spray box attached. The spray bos is compressed air. How it work is that when the dog barks, the box sprays air in front of the dog. The air is not harmful yet gives the dog an unwanted response to the barking. I get a dog catalog and it is offered in the catalog. The company has a website. It might be offered in other pet stores as well.
