Crate training question?

Question

I have a 9 week old Golden Retriever who sleeps in his crate by our bed. I've had him for 3 weeks now. He sleeps in our room so we can take him out when he has to go in the middle of the night. He can pretty much sleep through the night now, but 9 weeks still seems kind of young to move him into the living room. Trainers have said "younger dogs" should sleep in the room with their owners, and "older dogs" can be by themselves. When do they become "older"? I don't want to stress him out, and him being in the room isn't bothering us, but I also don't want it to become a dominance issue, which I know it can.

Answer 1

Your crated dog should sleep anywhere you feel most comfortable. It is not necessary for your dog to sleep in your room with you, though many people prefer it because it is comforting to them to have the dog nearby. It is also not necessary for the dog to be in the other room; I'm not sure where you got the idea that you can cause a dominance issue by having your pup crated in your room, but there's no reason to think that would be the case. If anything, sleeping beside you in a crate might decrease dominance issues (alpha dog, you, is taking the choice location on higher ground and picking the sleeping location for the follower dog).

In fact, I often take naps on the floor next to my crated dogs as a training exercise -- I've found that it makes them very focused on me and also teaches them to relax. I stretch out and relax and they follow my lead. Since I compete with them in dog sports, it's very important that they learn to relax in their crates, and that's actually been a very successful approach for us.

Don't sweat what room you want to crate your pup in. Sounds like you're doing a great job, and he'll be just fine in whatever room you choose.

Answer 2

Whether or not your dog sleeps in your room for the rest of his life is entirely up to you and if he does, it's not going to create any dominance issues. Dominance issues are only created if the dog isn't trained to know that the humans in the house are the pack leaders. If you want him in your room, keep him there! It can help develop more of a bond between you.

I've always had dogs sleeping in my room, either on one of their beds or on mine and I've never had dominance issues.

Answer 3

I would move him out when you feel that he can handle it. You are the best judge of your dog. I never allowed mine in the room with me, but then I dont usually have a puppy before 12 weeks. At twelve weeks they are weaned and ready to be out and away from mom. So if you really aren't comfortable with the idea yet, I would say wait untill the twelve week mark.
Good luck!

Answer 4

My dogs are 2 and 3 and I still have their crate in my room at the foot of my bed. They aren't crated at night because they are house trained, but they still love going in it for naps and stuff.

Answer 5

Our pups sleep in a metal puppy playpen at night in another room and are quite happy there. They will go up at the same time every night, because that is where they feel more comfortable.

Answer 6

i could in my opinion save him interior the crate nonetheless. he continues to be a domestic dog and in case you have been to enable him roam freely he would o.k. get used to it and forget approximately with regard to the preparation he already has. canines are like babies, supply them an inch and that they take a mile. save him interior the crate till he's totally knowledgeable to no longer bypass potty interior the residing house or do something detrimental. My Pomeranian is a lot older than your dogs, yet via fact that i've got had her i've got been preparation her via fact that she never grow to be knowledgeable as a domestic dog. it is not common particularly circumstances to do issues to coach and discipline them, yet do no longer enable them to get dominance over you. I additionally save my dogs interior the kitchen at the same time as i'm long gone or if i've got long gone to mattress with a mattress, foodstuff and water. it could sound harsh to a pair people, besides the shown fact that it is the only way i'm able to break her of thinking its very properly to roam the residing house and poop and pee the place she pleases. in case you haven't any longer observed, canines will frequently no longer bypass potty in restrained areas, so persevering with the crate would be suited i think of. If he's up at night making a lot of noise, in line with probability attempt to exhaust him of his power by using the day, if that would not artwork and is truthfully bothersome, that's advisable to evaluate disciplining him while you're pleased with that. properly stable success and he continues to be a domestic dog, it's going to me some greater months in the previous he calms down and is totally knowledgeable.