HI all
My border terrier pup jasper has been with us for 2 months now, he has always been fine sleeping in his cage at night until 3 nights ago. We have his cage in the conservatory just off our living room and as I say he has always slept in there fine until now.
He was toilet trained really quickly after we got him home and is now at a point where he never goes in the house (he is almost 4 months old now by the way). If at any time we need to leave him in the house alone we put him in the kitchen behind a childs safety gate, he (mostly) setlles here o.k but at times can get a bit noisy, we were planning on stopping use of the cage to let him sleep in the kitchen (there is nothing in there for him to chew or anything so its fine) but now I am worried now that this will make things worse.
Any help would be appreciated (we need sleep!!)

Also he is walked 3 times a day (one a good long way) probably further then he should be to be honest and is always really tired until put in his cage when we go to bed and he springs into action!!
we have been ignoring him until now but it takes hours for him to setlle down

If he is in the conservatory it could be some form of wild life in the garden thats set him off. Mine are wide awake and at the back door when foxes occasionally pass through. I should imagine as a terrier breed he would instantly be onto something out there and moving so that may be a possible explanation.

They can also go through fear periods too, where are really stable outgoing pup can suddenly react to sights sounds and situations again with fear. If he is going through this period, then things may spook him easier. Have you had any storms or high winds that co-incided with this behaviour? things like that can do it and spook them.

It might be an idea if something has spooked him whilst in the conservatory to put him in the kitchen. Try putting a radio on a talking station, sound of voices can help. Also try putting an old t-shirt or jumper you have worn in his bed, your smell can re-assure them. Even a large soft toy to mimic a litter mate to cuddle up to has helped some dogs. If you usually leave him in darkness sometimes a low night light can help settle them. All tried and trusted things that can help some dogs settle at night and when left so worth a go perhaps?

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I agree with Sled dog hotel. Sounds like something has spook him outside, such as wildlife in the garden or nearby.

A couple of observations.

1, to much walking for a pup
2, try mental stimulation and play in the house. Mental stimulation will knacker him out more than exercise at this stage.
3, why crate train him and then change? Mine was crate trained is 4 years old and will happily go to his crate when ever he wants to with out being asked. It's his "den"
4, Something may have spooked him. A cat or anything in the night. I prefer my dog to be in the dark without access to outside light during the night (especially in summer) Helps get the full rest.

Thanks so much for replies
I'm not sure if he has been spooked , he seems to go crackers as soon as soon as the cage door closes before we even leave him!!
It was never really my intention to crate train him , it was more just somewhere safe for him to sleep/go when left as a youngster and thought the kitchen would be more comfortable then a cage.
The funny thing is we have had nothing but storms the last 3 weeks and he's been fine now its all settled he is crying all night!!
He is knackered at bed time that definately isn't the problem! i'll try his cage in the kitchen tonight with my old t shirt in and a low light on and report back tomorrow a.m.
Fingers crossed

If he's got enough room to stretch out in the crate, he'll be comfortable enough.

Just a thought, but conservatories can be very noisy places when it rains, or there is a lot of wind, or even if birds land on the roof. You may not notice if you are asleep upstairs. My other thought is that if it has been cold and you have the heating on, he may be too hot. These are just ideas based on my own experience, but I definitely think that moving the crate would be a good thing to try.

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me again guys, the saga continues!!
Following your advice, a small light on old t shirt in cage etc we had a few quiet nights but following this it was back to square one.
So we moved the cage into the kitchen which prooved successful except the fact that we were getting 10 - 20 mins of barking at every small noise (especially someone using the toilet). Jasper has been sleeping through until at least I am up for work at 6. A couple of incidents but if ignored any barking seems to stop quite promptly......
until last night when we were treated to 3 full hours of barking and crying!!! 1am until 4, understanding the worst thing to do is to come down to him I just couldn't stand any more, I let him out to wee and poo (cage was dry). I returned him to the kitchen, but not the cage and he was quiet right through until I have got up with my son at 8:15 (knackered by the way) Jasper has been out for a wee and got back into his bed in the kitchen.
There is no damage he can cause in there, at this point I would accept an accident on easy to clean laminate and it is perfectly safe in there so I am considering putting him to bed in there tonight without using his cage.
Any thoughts guys????
many thanks

It might be ok for your pup.

I got an adult size crate for the diner-kitchen and a large puppy pen for inside or outside. My 4 month old moves from one place to another to curl up or stretch out to snooze during the day and became reluctant to go to bed in her crate the last two nights. I was thinking she hasn't now got room to change sleeping places so yesterday we brought the puppy pen in from outside put in her bed and crash mat, a stuffed hoof and a rawhide chew. We had a nice happy puppy and she kept up the good work with the house-training too. She has even asked for her breakfast for a change.