Where does your doodle sleep?

[Stephanie]

Hello,

 

We brought our precious 8 week goldendoodle home last night! She did fabulous through the night! I was pleasantly surprised, and no accidents!!   She's also done fabulously on pottytraining!!  I know this is "technically" a puppy issue - but I know the adult doodle parents would probably have great advice as well.

I would love some honest opinions about where your doodle sleeps.  We set up her crate last night, and since she's going to get quite big, I got the lifestages w/ divider.  Here's my predicament....  our bedroom is TINY. After setting up the crate we realized the one walking path to the bathroom isn't quite so clear.  I know from what i've read these are really social animals, and I'm not looking to scar her in ANY way!  But....  I'd love to hear other's expereinces if you crate you doodle in another room? I was wondering if setting her up her own room , in my sewing room would be good?  its right in the hub of our house, and in fact, if  she was sleeping there during the day, she'd be with us more than if the crate was in the bedroom... plus on occasion when I do have help cleaning the house, she'd be undisturbed.  Feeling a little guilty,,, but I am thinking that making this adjustemnt NOW,  would be better than later??  Or would giving her a week or too after she's adjsted  , then move her?   I guess s smaller crate would work now, but that's only a temporary solution that won't fit as she grows...  ideas please!

[Adina P]

I kept my doodle in our room till he was about 7 months, crated.  BUT...you can do it in another room too.  He won't be scarred, he'll just learn to adjust to his new digs.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna slept in her crate in our bedroom until she was about 8 months old (door open) - then we bought her a doggie bed so she could stretch out more.  She still sleeps in our room.

There's nothing wrong with having her sleep in another room, a lot of people do that (especially for allergies).  She'll get used to it.

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

I have that problem too, Stephanie, with a tiny bedroom but I really like my boys being close so my crates are stacked next to my bed. I don't see having your doodle in another room as being a problem; it's just my personal preference to have them in with me. I'm resigned to not being able to get to my closet until they're ready to graduate to sleeping outside of their crates, but I know a large percentage of members crate theirs in another room.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

We had a similar problem when we first got Murphy as we were traveling in a RV for most of his first year with us. I couldn't wait to get rid of that crate in our RV as it was in the way no matter where it was. We let him sleep on the bed with us one night and he snuggled in at the foot of the bed and he's been there ever since. Problem solved. No crate, always close and didn't need a Doggie bed laying around. Bella prefers the floor or her owned, but. We are in a house with plenty of room. I still just don't like or use crates. Personal preference. Either was is fine and it seems your pup will get oriented to whatever you start out doing with her. Mine don't leave the bedroom all night, doors open or not. Just what they are used to. But they would do the same in any other rom too if we started that way I'm sure.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

What a cute puppy. Congratulations. When we got Monty, he was sleeping upstairs next to our bed in his portable crate for probably a week or so. After that, he slept in his Lifestages crate (the same one you have, with the divider) downstairs in the kitchen. When he was 5 months old, he decided he wants to be with us upstairs, so I bought him a bed and ever since he's been sleeping with us in the bedroom. Crate is completely gone. Monty migrates during the night from his bed to the cool tiles in the master bath. He was such a good reliable puppy so we had no problem with him roaming the house when he was that young.

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Cosmo has his own room, and he has had since his second night with us. Now (he'll be two in May), even when invited to sleep in our room, he doesn't want to and ends up back in his own room.

I think your sewing room sounds like a great option, and I would advise making the change now. I would give her a ticking clock or a radio on very low to keep her company. Cosmo has a radio and sometimes a box fan for white noise, and he has done very well ever since that first night!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Our dogs have (had) their own room in our office room. They both had crates in there. Now they sleep in our bed!

Good luck-don't feel guilty the puppy don't know what that is anyway!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Coopers crate is in our lounge. we only had it by the side of the bed for about a week. Now she doesnt sleep i  her crate at night - she can sleep wherever she wants, and she usually chooses the bathroom!

[Christine & Shelby]

Shelby's crate was in the kitchen/living room area from day one (my bedroom connects to the living room). I slept in the living room on the couch the first few nights so she knew I was there. She was sleeping through the night by day 3. I made sure we had a good half hour of playtime before I put her in her crate so she was pooped. Never had any problems at all.... And she is very connected to me!

[Joyce & Wilson]

I remember bringing Wilson home about 11 30 at night.  Gave him a gentle bath , dryer on low and not scary and off to bed we went.  Wilson snuggled in and has never been crated.  He is now 80 lbs! Its just what fits you and your family.

[Eric and Koda]

We kept Koda's crate in our bedroom the first  2 weeks we got him, then transitioned his crate to the living room in the day time for him to go into when he wanted "den time". We started leaving him in there for 30 minute periods in the day time and returning to let him get used to feeling comfortable there without us. When we first transitioned him to the living room at night (which is right outside our bedroom) he would cry at odd times of the night. Now at 15 weeks old, he now sleeps in his crate in the living room. I still take him out to potty in the middle of the night but other than that he sleeps like an angel and doesn't seem to be bothered by not sleeping with us at night. I do walk him several times a day though so that helps with the bonding time and wearing him out for night time sleep time. I know it's sad to see your puppy cry while you aren't around, but I think a slow transition and building trust that you are around despite being in site will help your adorable pup out in the long run. 

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

My bedroom is extrememly small too, when I got Sasha I set up her crate in the livingroom.  She was awesome in her crate and loved being in it so I was lucky.  The first night when I put her in the crate and went to bed she wimpered for about 10 seconds and that was it.   I never ever had a problem with her being in her crate.  When I got Oliver I set his crate next to Sasha's, his transition to the crate was uneventful as well.  I believe this was because Sasha was in her crate and he just followed along, plus they were company for each other.

 

Make the crate a happy place for the puppy and never use it for punishment.  I never left any toys in the crate because both of my dogs were agressive chewers.  I also never put them in the crate with thier collars on either.

 

I do not crate them at night now and they are just fine.