Hello all,

Firstly a little bit of background on our pets. 4 years ago we got a lab/alsation cross, 3 years ago we got a collie cross. Sadly, our first dog died in September. They both had similar sleeping habits. We still have the collie cross.

Two days ago we rehomed a lab/terrier cross who is gorgeous, but we're getting a bit trouble with bed times. The dogs have free run of the house apart from the bedrooms - there are two dog beds in the lounge as well as a large sofa. Our collie cross sleeps on the sofa.

When it comes to bed tme, the new dog is not settling at all. She will go in her bed or on the sofa when prompted but will race upstairs as soon as I head out of the room. On Thursday night (her first night) I slept on the sofa with her . Last night she came upstairs again - there was some scratching at our door and yelping. I sternly told her 'no', which seemed to stop this, but she still slept on the landing area outside our room.

Basically I'm just after advice on how to get her to sleep in what at night is the dogs room (the lounge).

Edit: the new dog we have is approx 1 year old, possibly less.

Many thanks

Hi there

I'm no expert, but we have recently rehomed a 14 month husky x gsd. She just wants to be with one or the other of us at night.

When we first got her (2 weeks ago) we shut her into ther kitchen/diner at night, and she barked, howled, scratched for 45 mins the 1st night, then 5 mins, then nothing...... BUT was getting up at 4/5am for no real reason other than she didnt like being alone, she didnt need the toilet, and if we ignored her, but were in the same room, she'd go back to sleep!! Very annoying.....

Well Thursday night she started barking again at bedtime for no aparent reason, woke our 8 yr old up, so I ended up on the sofa in the room with her all night. Now obviously this wasnt the best idea ive ever had, i'm nearly 6ft and the sofa is a 2 seater

Last night we talked about what to do because hubby and I are both hanging for being up so early for 2 weeks, (also Tala has kennel cough, diagnosed Thur) so we didnt close the kitchen door, and she slept at the end of our bed from 11 until 8.30am..... I feel alive again!!!!

I think she probably has some seperation anxiety, and I believe this is common with rehomed dogs. We have to address this for when hubby and I go out in the evenings....... but at bedtime we really need to sleep.

I'm about to read up on seperation anxiety and try some bits today. We are going out tonight, and my parents are baby/dog sitting!! LOL

Julie x

We try to give the advice start as you mean to go on with a rescue, sort of give a clean slate, but sometimes the effects of being kenneld can influence this, if the dog has been in kennels(possibly with other dogs) usually they are left alone at night when the staff go home, the dogs can and do use the toilet in the kennels, they may bark during the night which the rescue cannot verify, the dogs may have a little seperation anxiety, its possible that your little one is trying to adapt to another new home, (its first-then rescue_then you) so its not sure of the rules yet, if you stick to your guns usually the pup learns what is accepted and what is not, it learns that once you go upstairs you are not lost for good you will appear in the morning, once it learns this then things will hopefully settle down, its so much the dog has to take on board, and if you are consistant it should get over these issues quicker than, one minute not allowing something, then changing your mind and then allowing it if you see what I mean, but you may be in for a few sleepless nights til the dog learns its new routine.

Mo

Hi. Well done for taking on another rescue x

The biggest mistake I made when I got my first 2 rescue's was giving them too much space and choice of where to sleep.

My 2 were very traumatised for various reasons and they also, had been in kennels for a long time.

What a new dog needs is security and somewhere to feel safe. Contary to what people think, giving the dog an option or too much space is not good for them.

What I should have done 2 years ago (which is what I do now) was buy crates/cages and let them sleep in that. I would also have put a blanket over the top, to make them feel safe. Like a den. I don't shut the door as I don't need them to be locked in, but it allows them to feel safe and it is "theirs".

I wish somebody had suggested this to me 2 years ago, as it would have saved a lot of sleepless nights!

x

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Thanks for the replies, I'll definately consider the crate option should there be no drastic improvement this week.

She seems to be a very quick learner, yesterday she wasn't even sure what a ball was. Today she was dying to go and play with it - really proud of her.

Hopefully she'll cotton on soon to the fact that we don't disappear when we go to bed for the night.

She is really clingy though - even if one of us pops to the kitchen for a drink she's up and following. Early days, and she's had a big 3 days so far. I just hope she feels a bit more relaxed soon.