Transitioning to another room

[Janelle & Finley]

I have tried to do a search before posting this but couldn't really find anything specific to to my question so forgive me if this has already been addressed.

Finley is 3 months old and doing great.  He has been sleeping in a small crate in our room since we brought him home and is now sleeping through the night.  He is getting really big really fast and quickly outgrowing his crate.  I purchased a much bigger one for him which creates the issue of night time sleeping.   Our room is not big enough for the larger crate so it has to be downstairs.  My kids are on spring break this week so I thought it was the perfect week to try and "transition" him to not only the larger crate but being downstairs. 

It did not go so well.  LOL!  I tried at first cold turkey (which was probably not the best idea I have ever had) and tried to get him to sleep down here by himself and then I ended up coming down and sleeping on the couch.  Once I came down and slept on the couch he was better...not barking as loud.
Should I sleep on the couch a few days and then try to leave him downstairs by himself?  He is a light sleeper so the second I move he hears me so the sneaking out once he is asleep won't work for me.  I am just not sure how to transition him to sleep downstairs.  Thanks in advance for any help.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I have seen other discussions where people move the crate further and further from the bedroom--if you put him in a new crate AND downstairs at the same time, that was probably too much for him. Use the smaller crate a bit longer maybe and put it just outside your bedroom door, where he can still see you--then a bit further--when you have him doing better in a spot where he can not see you, then put him downstairs and maybe you will need to be with him a bit at first --then bring in the larger crate--baby steps! 

[Janelle & Finley]

Thank you.  I will try this tonight.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

You could also just put a doggie bed in your room and let him sleep in there  :)

Sorry, I don't have any suggestions for you.  My 2 guys sleep in my room.  I recently moved to a larger home and can now actually fit 2 doggie beds in there.  My old house had a 12x13 master bedroom with a king sized bed, 2 doggie beds, and a chest of drawers.  That room was a bit cramped, but I figured that it was only for sleeping lol.

[Janelle & Finley]

Thanks Amy but he has to be in a crate he is not ready to be on his own.  He eats and chews everything in site and will occasionally have accidents if he isn't watched closely.  So that isn't an option for us right now.  :(  Definitely will do that once he is older. 

[BettyAnn, Holmes & Lucy]

Janelle- we're in the same boat. Our guys are the same age and I just kicked him out of my room last night- cold turkey. Yesterday during the day I put him in his crate throughout the day even though I was home and gave him treats whenever he was in there, hopefully making it more positive. I also gave him an old hoodie of mine to sleep with, but I don't think he really cares for it.

He is able to sleep through the night, but for the past few weeks he would wake up and bark around 2 or 3 am, NOT to potty, but for attention! And I know I should've ignored him- but I didn't want to wake up my husband (who was already awake from the barking and grumbling) SO I probably did the worst thing and let him out instead of ignoring him.

Tried being strict and taking him to go potty at that hour- but he would not budge. He's in a wire crate, 36", so good size. I'd open the door and he'd crawl right into my lap to go back to sleep! Cute- but not good. We came to a compromise and I'd leash him to my nightstand and he'd sleep the rest of the night there not waking up until my alarm went off at 5:45. OK, I didn't want this behavior to continue and I wasn't willing to have him in my room barking, so last night I moved his crate out to the living room, same level as our room but he can't see us. He slept out there and I did hear him bark for 5 min. at 2:45 am (and thankfully my husband did not) but I ignored him and he stopped and I didn't hear a peep out of him again until I woke him up at 5:45am.

He was so happy to see me and no accidents in the crate, thankfully. So I think this will be our solution for now. I do hate the crate in the living room, but it's hidden behind a love seat. I still don't have a good cover for it that fits, just a couple beach towels over it. Covering him does help.

He usually goes to bed around 9:00 but the t.v. is usually on til 11 or 12-- but the lights and the noise didn't bother him at all. I think he liked knowing we were around him even though he couldn't see ut. It's when the lights & noise are off that wakes him up.

Good luck!!!! I hope you find your solution. If you can stand to hear him bark and ignore him that might work as it did for me. I know if Holmes were to see me it would actually encourage his barking.

[Lynette Main]

Mine all were in crates when they were small. I let them out of the sleeping crates when they were two, They all sleep with us in our bedroom. I have three BIG dog beds.Aja is always in her bed,Mya ..her bed or under ours..Shea.usually sleeps on the bed until I pet him for a half hour,then he finds his bed. Doodles just love to be around people. They will all stay in the bedroom untill my feet hit the floor.My Doodles are all three years old.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Set the new crate up where you want it to be and begin using it for periods during the day. Throw toys or treats inside so he can go in and retrieve them. Continue to use the old crate and put it just outside your bedroom (as suggested by others) and then make the switch to the new one.