Try going in steps.
First, if she doesn't know to go to her crate on command, you are going to need to do that first. It's pretty easy. Put food in the crate, hide all their toys there, say "go to bed" and when they go into the crate, praise. Feed them in the crate.
Once they go in voluntarily,
Lose an hour of sleep by crating for one hour before letting her out and into your bed. DOn't praise her for coming out...but praise heavily for going in. Have a cong or something precious in the crate, remove it when she comes out. Don't be surprised if the drama queen doesn't touch their treats or toys in protest.
They will learn (enjoy it in here, or not at all).
Do NOT reassure them verbally with "ooohhhh, it's oooo kaaaayyy....Shhhh...it's o.k....good girl..." or any of that. You are rewarding their anxiety and making them freak out more. I know it doesn't seem like it but I now have tested this enough to know it's a fact. Bit your lip, but don't praise pouting, whining, crying, or any other such. It's only an hour. They will live.
Do that for a few weeks, or untill they sit quietly for the hour.
Then step it up to three hours. When they whine, check the clock...is it time? No? Go back to sleep.
Get where this is going?
One day, you will fall asleep and wake up to realize that you didn't let the dogs out...because they didn't wake you. BINGO. |