Aversion to Sleeping in Dog Crate

Sudden Aversion to Sleeping in Dog Crate

I have had two dogs for over ten years. They are a Wheaten and a Brittany. They sleep in crates in our bedroom at night and have done so for ten years. Recently, the Brittany has decided that he is unhappy in the crate and begins barking almost immediately. This can continue for two to three hours. What is the problem and how do I stop him?

~~ Rob

Expert Reply

Hi Rob,

At ten years old, your dog may be just beginning to develop a medical problem that hasn't yet come to light. Have you noticed if he urinates more frequently in recent weeks? If his bladder is becoming weaker, he may feel stressed about not being able to get out of his crate when he wants to.

Perhaps your dog is developing joint pain? If so, adding a nice cushion may help him feel comfortable enough to settle down and go to sleep.

Of course, there could certainly be another cause behind your dog's sudden aversion to his crate, but the sudden behavior change taken into consideration with his age indicates a trip to the vet may be in order. This way you'll at least have a baseline on his health.

In the meantime, is there any way you could cooperate with what your dog wants? Would he be destructive in any way if you allowed him to sleep in your room and just left the crate door open in case he wants to go inside? Barring that, could he be left in the kitchen with a gate across the door? I'm assuming that your dog is trustworthy when you leave him out during the day, so maybe one of these options will help your situation.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you're able to work it out.

~~ Kelly