Nighttime crate issues

[MARIA NUNEZ]

We have a 9 month old springer doodle. He’s been doing very well entering the crate at night and sleeping through the night. Additionally we have been crate training him for daytime hours. A little at a time from 30 minutes to now he can stay in crate for up to 4-5 hours (this is very rare). Suddenly in the last week or so he will go in the crate at night and starts well and within 1/2 hour he now starts pacing back and forth and sniffing loudly over and over again. Eventually we have to bring him out so we can sleep (he sleeps in our room,so he sees us and is not separated from us). Nothing has changed in the crate or the follow up to entering the crate. He gets outside prior to crating for bathroom needs and water. Please help! We don’t understand what has changed 

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi there,

Welcome to the forums! Sorry, for the late reply, I must have missed this post.

If your puppy is pacing back and forth and sniffing loudly after half hour of being crated, there may be chances that he has learned that this behavior gets your attention and now he's using it more and more in hopes of being let out. This can get quickly habit-forming. It could be that the first time, there was a real reason for the pacing and sniffing and now he has seen a pattern where his behavior leads to being let out and therefore the behavior strengthens and repeats.  

Where is he sleeping when he is let out? Does he fall asleep right away once he's let out?

It may be worth of investigating whether there may be a treat stuck or lodged somewhere under the crate? or something on the floor? I had a dog once who was fixated on digging the couch and after a week I found there was a cookie buried under the pillows! Any chance of any female dogs in heat in the neighborhood? Can there be critters in the basement, rats inhabiting the walls?

I would think of creating a new bedtime routine of giving him a long-lasting treat to enjoy when crated (e.g., a stuffed, frozen Kong or a long-lasting edible chew like a bully stick or Himalayan yak chew). Ask your vet for suggestions based on your dog's individual health. This may keep him busy for some time and hopefully fall asleep right after. 

Make sure your pup is exercised enough and offered mental stimulation as well through food puzzles, brain games, sniffing adventures, and environmental enrichment during the day. If he's anxious about anything it would important tackling that too.