Whining in his crate in the A.M.
 

Our little guy, Samson, just turned 4 in February. He's mostly a really great puppy, with few accidents and/or incidents. However, the last four or five months, he has really started whining in his crate in the mornings. I am really good about not saying anything to him, but my husband isn't (He usually says "Samson, lay down" and it works for a little bit, but not always and not always as long as necessary). I am also good about waiting until he's quiet to let him out of the crate, but some times my husband just can't take it anymore and lets him out. However, there have been times when neither one of us says anything to shush him or let him out until he's quiet, but that doesn't seem to help. He's back to whining the next morning. It is starting to drive us insane! What can we do to help us out with this?

We thought maybe he was hungry, because he eats at 6:30pm and then nothing until the next morning. We've tried splitting his dinner up into two smaller meals, but that doesn't seem to help. We've tried letting him out, then feeding him and then putting him back in his crate (on the weekends, so we can go back to sleep) but he just whined!

Does anyone have any advice to give? Thanks in advance!

Also wanted to add that we recently moved from a second floor condo, where he really didn't see too many people or other animals, to a house. Now, whenever we are outside in our own yard, he goes crazy barking at people and other dogs going by! If we are out walking, he does really well at not barking, but when he is just outside of our home doing his business, he can get so worked up and bark like mad! Any ways to help quiet him down or curb his barking a little? Thanks again!

Anything? Anything at all? LOL!! :)

I had trouble with Ruger early in the morning when he was crated, now he just sleeps with me. Anyway, what worked for me was to either keep the crate in the dark or cover it -- kinda like a bird.

Is he whining maybe because he needs to go out and potty earlier than before?

When Rizzo sleeps in the crate, he'll whine extra early to go out to pee, and I can put him back in and go back to sleep no problem. So I prefer to let him sleep in bed, where I have to wake him up in the morning to take him out, and he's usually ready to get back in bed, lol.