[JosieBishop]

My yorkie is almost two years old. We’ve had her since she was about 12 weeks old. She uses potty pads, and was GREAT with potty training. No problems at all. In December 2008, she started sleeping in the bed with us instead of in the crate since she potty trained so well. The problem: with her new found freedom of sleeping in the bed, she has a HORRIBLE habit of waking up between 4 and 5am – either to explore the house or to BARK LOUDLY and incessantly at miscellaneous sounds outside. She goes to bed about 11:30pm. She is NOT waking because she has to go to the bathroom. It is completely disrupting our sleep, so in the last couple of weeks she has been sleeping in the crate downstairs so at least she can’t run around the house, and if she does bark at 5am, I can’t hear her as well. My dilemma – each time I put her in the crate – she goes to the bathroom in the crate – both #1 and #2!!!!! She NEVER used to go to the bathroom in the crate and I wonder if she is doing this to get back at us for putting her in there. I don’t believe that she really has to go, because when she sleeps in the bed I know she can hold it until at least 7 or 8am when I get up. How can I get her not to bark at every sound outside and to sleep without getting up at 5am. How can I get her not to go to the bathroom inside the crate? (And by the way, she has never slept in a doggy bed. She disregards every one I buy.) It’s really getting very frustrating and I’m becoming very desperate. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!