Sleeping Arrangements

[Sophie]

Hello all!

Mav is crate trained and depending on my shift and both of our moods he either sleeps in his crate downstairs in the kitchen or on my bed with me. I know him sleeping on my bed might cause some 'tutting', but I guess it's personal preference and I do wash the sheets regularly!!!

Anyway. I have always said that where I go, Mav goes. My other half is in the army which means that Mav has had his fair share of overnight visits to camps where the mess allows pets. I take his big crate and he is usually happy to be put to bed when we go. His crate is in the same room and he can see us.
Last time we went, he was fine the first night, but on the second night he woke up every hour crying and whining. Bearing in mind that it's in a block of squaddies trying to sleep and I don't want to get us banned (!) I was shushing him until he stopped then taking him outside where he would do a teaspoon of wee, then putting him back only to repeat the process every hour until a very grumpy Mr Sophie got up at 7... The next night he started to do it again and Mr Sophie said just let him out or everyone will wake up again, so out he came, jumped on the bed, found a good spot in the middle of us and slept for 9 hours solid.
Now Mr Sophie has been posted to a different camp and I am wary about the sleeping arrangements - for the time being although he has his own room he only has a single bed (we're used to it). Even if we wanted him to, Mav couldn't share the bed, he's just far too big.

He never, ever cries overnight in his crate at home. He just sleeps. I guess the problem is a) he can see us but can't get to us and b) I've spoilt him rotten by letting him sleep in my bed at home and by letting him out before.

I would like for him to be able to settle and be happy sleeping either in his crate in the same room as us, either with the door open or shut. I can't quite trust him not to chew things yet- he's very good generally but I don't want to run the risk of him gnawing at the carpet/ wardrobe etc.

Where do I start

[kita]

Try not putting him in the crate, just let him sleep where he wants. If the bed is too small for three, try putting a blanket on the floor by the bed - he may sleep on that. It may just be that he doesn't like being shut in the crate. You might have to kick him (the dog!!) off the bed a few times, but at least you won't have to get up and take him out.

Other than that you could always put the matress on the floor and all three of you sleep on the floor!!!! (Done that, got the T shirt, etc. ).

Sue

[sami]

Thats exactly what I would do Sue!!!

The only thing is what happens when you have a "cuddle" or is that not allowed in the barracks!!! I cold wet nose on bare skin can be a bit off putting at the wrong moment!!!


Tracy

[Caryll]

Definitely, try him with a couple of blankets on the floor by the bed.

[LOVEGSD]

It sounds like he just wants to sleep outside of the crate and because you've let him before he doesn't see why he can't now.....I'd let him out

[zetstaff]

Originally Posted by sami

Thats exactly what I would do Sue!!!

The only thing is what happens when you have a "cuddle" or is that not allowed in the barracks!!! I cold wet nose on bare skin can be a bit off putting at the wrong moment!!!


Tracy

[Sophie]

Originally Posted by kita

Try not putting him in the crate, just let him sleep where he wants. If the bed is too small for three, try putting a blanket on the floor by the bed - he may sleep on that. It may just be that he doesn't like being shut in the crate. You might have to kick him (the dog!!) off the bed a few times, but at least you won't have to get up and take him out.

Other than that you could always put the matress on the floor and all three of you sleep on the floor!!!! (Done that, got the T shirt, etc. ).

Sue

Fab advice thank you Sue! I can see how it's going to be - him jumping all over us trying to get a space, but hopefully Mr Sophie has the patience to persevere with me

Originally Posted by sami

Thats exactly what I would do Sue!!!

The only thing is what happens when you have a "cuddle" or is that not allowed in the barracks!!! I cold wet nose on bare skin can be a bit off putting at the wrong moment!!!


Tracy

Hahaha! No, that is definitely allowed Last time he had been booted off the bed and I forgot about him until I opened my eyes and he was sat right next to me staring with that "what are you doing to my mummy?" look in his eyes We ended up going in the bathroom We both agreed that 'cuddling' was not allowed in front of Maverick because it seemed wrong!

Originally Posted by Caryll

Definitely, try him with a couple of blankets on the floor by the bed.

I've always used crates because they're so useful, I'd forgotten completely about the massive range of normal dog beds, I will have to invest!

Originally Posted by LOVEGSD

It sounds like he just wants to sleep outside of the crate and because you've let him before he doesn't see why he can't now.....I'd let him out

Yes I think I've spoilt him... he's a clever little sod, he knows that at home he won't get let out so he's just quiet, whereas if we're at camp he knows he can protest enough to get let out!

[LOVEGSD]

Originally Posted by Sophie

Fab advice thank you Sue! I can see how it's going to be - him jumping all over us trying to get a space, but hopefully Mr Sophie has the patience to persevere with me



Hahaha! No, that is definitely allowed Last time he had been booted off the bed and I forgot about him until I opened my eyes and he was sat right next to me staring with that "what are you doing to my mummy?" look in his eyes We ended up going in the bathroom We both agreed that 'cuddling' was not allowed in front of Maverick because it seemed wrong!



I've always used crates because they're so useful, I'd forgotten completely about the massive range of normal dog beds, I will have to invest!



Yes I think I've spoilt him... he's a clever little sod, he knows that at home he won't get let out so he's just quiet, whereas if we're at camp he knows he can protest enough to get let out!

they are so clever!