I'd just add that to me it seems you and your girlfriend are most concerned about her night whining and how to stop it. The suggestions of how to give the little one a more interesting, interactive and involved day that appreciably satisfies her daily activity and family pack-connectivity/interaction needs can help to sufficiently tire her in a positive way so that her pent up energy is worked out by bedtime and she welcomes sleep. Then, by confining her to her crate near the bed and patiently waiting for her to adjust to the new sleeping situation and moving that crate slowly and further away night after night if you must should help her desensitize to these arrangements. Many dogs adjust well to crates for sleeping and reasonable confinement while their family is away until they are housebroken and come to accept the crate as their own little den. Some even prefer a shawl or small blanket be placed over three sides of it to make it cozier for sleeping if they are an insecure dog. But a good, meaningful and working, active day together with meaningful family interaction evenings and a sleeping arrangement that honors yours dogs pack instincts to sleep near to its pack can all work to solve your issues with her current night whining. I hope that you can enrich her life and help her to enjoy it more and that this pleasantly tired girl can find her sleeping arrangements are made a little friendlier for her. Good luck as you work out your problem areas with your sweet little girl. I hope in a few months, all three of you are happily settled within a good lifestyle for all.
