My nine year old Labrador will no longer wants to sleep in the house at night. She hides in her kennel ?

Question

If i force her to come inside she diggs at the door all night. she only started this 3 weeks ago.

Answer 1

When my dog was 9 (welsh springer spaniel) he started a similar behaviour. He had always slept in the utility room, but he refused to go in there and would howl if we left him there so we moved him to the kitchen and he settled. It was suggested there may be spiritual energy there he was reacting to, but he had taken 9 years to do this so we thought it unlikely.

I wonder if it is part of the dog getting older and wanting to withdraw into themselves a little bit, like they do in nature, if they are not feeling well or getting old.

I am sure this isn't the case with your dog and I do not want to upset you, but Dexter did pass away 6 months later. He just slowed down and then stopped and I wonder now if this behaviour was part of him knowing he didnt have long left.

If your dog wants to sleep outisde, then let her, but try and compremise so she has a source of heat out there and the kennel is as comfortable as possible.

I'll keep an eye on the other answers to this question with interest.

Answer 2

Sounds as if something is upsetting her has anything happened in the house to her make her frightened.

I have two Alsatian's that will let me know if some thing is not right so then I try a process of elimination.
Do not force her to come in but in a gentle kind voice with a reassuring tone just talk to her and watch her body language if she cowers then start asking questions.

You need to reassure her and give her some encouragement.

Good luck

Answer 3

Don't see this as a bad thing necessarily. Our dog has recently started sleeping in a basket that he's ignored for 5 yrs. Animals don't have to give reasons. Your dog might have seen something interesting going on in the garden last thing at night and doesn't want her enjoyment curtailed by being locked up inside.

Answer 4

As this is a recent thing, it is safe to assume that something has or is upseting her.
Can you think of anything? Did you leave the washing machine on and she doesn't like it? Is she suddenly needing to urinate more often and this is making her anxious - it may be the start of a health problem? Is she used to someone or another pet being in the room with her?
Another thing to think about is whether she is becoming senile as she gets older. It happens to dogs too around this age!

Answer 5

Oh poor baby, has she been scared by something in the house, have you done something in the last few weeks that makes a noise she isn't used to and its frightened her, could it be something to do with fireworks, have you got a fox or some other wild animal hanging round at nights that she is trying to get to, hope whatever it is you manage to sort it out, good luck.

Answer 6

Perhaps there is someone in the house your dog doesn't like? Or (yes, this might sound stupid) sees something like a ghost?

I believe a dog senses things much more than we humans do, not just through smell. Sounds like you need to check it out with a vet. Also listen to what your dog is telling you. At the moment she/he is saying that there is something in the house that gets her very worried, the reason your dog won't stay in the house at night? Hope you find out what's up

Answer 7

take her to the vet for just a check over, and tell the vet what has been going on, and i would suggest getting a spiritualist round to see if there is anything in the house that scares her.
i hope she is OK, she must be freezing in that kennel at night :o(

Answer 8

Have you changed your routine or hers in these last few weeks.
Put on central heating, 2 hot.

Could be a kidney infection and she knows outside she can cope better, than waking you up to let her out.

Or just wanting a bit of space.

Answer 9

it may be because of the recent fireworks that have been going on, she seeks the ultimate safety of her kennel.
loud and sudden noises can effect dogs in so many different ways.
if this is the case, give her time
the fireworks will finish soon, and she'll be back to normal.

Answer 10

My uncles lab did something similar once.. one night, my uncle was sleeping in his room with his lab, then the lab suddenly began barking and whining at the same time. It was jumping on the door. like he wanted to go out,, and no he didn't want to pee.. my uncle sent him out but he refused to come in. but only for that one night. creepy