This might help but it is not the funnest thing to do. We didn't have this problem with our lab, we got her into a routine and now she doesn't have to sleep in her crate anymore. But our Pyr... he just hated his crate and his crate is too big to fit in the bedroom so it is in the living room with the other one.( when we are not home the both have to be crated) Anyway this is what we did and it worked great, again it was not fun. But we got a set bed time for him, aroung 10:00pm and we gave him a little bit of food for his bedtime meal, this avoided the screaming. Then I got a dark towel and put it over the front of the den so that he knows it is bed time. (worked like a charm :) ) And for about 2 Wks my husband and I took turns sleeping in the living room with him. Us being there calmed him down and he slept through the night. Now he sleeps in his crate in the living room no prob. We even tried putting the crate in the bedroom for one night and he hated it, as soon as we put it
back in the living room he was out light a light. Not a peep out of him until the next morning.
How did you teach Bridger to sleep where ever he does? When I first got Charlie, I tried to have him sleep in a crate in the kitchen. He cried, I melted, I bought a second crate for upstairs in the bedroom. When he grew and need a bigger crate for upstairs (I bought the biggest one to start downstairs and used the movable panel, but got a smaller one for upstairs.) I tried to get him to sleep on the floor on a dog bed. After a couple of very restless nights of his trying to climb into bed with me, I bought the larger crate. When it is about 9 pm Charlie pushes me to go upstairs and puts himself in the crate. I would love to get rid of the crate upstairs especially because I am planning to get a second dog and the two dog crates are almost as big as my bedroom (maybe I should put my mattress on top of the two crates ??) I alternate between thinking there must be a better way and it's not broken don't change it.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2005 11:48 AM
Subject: [pyrnet] The Paw
I am awakened to "the Paw" every morning. When he gets up, Bridger comes into our bedroom and to my side of the bed. He puts his face very close to mine and stares for a few seconds to see if I'm going to spring out of bed to let him out. If he doesn't get the reaction he's hoping for, I am subjected to repeated "pats" and "jabs" with the paw. He uses the same strategy to get my attention at mealtime and when it's time for a walk. I think all Pyrs are born with this communication technique - my previous Pyr was very good at it too :>)
Lyn and Bridger