crate vs bed - ongoing saga
 

Okay, I've posted this before about letting Tobie sleep in the bed. I broke down and he's been sleeping up there for about a month now and it works well, problem is, he's going to my dad's house in about a week so he can watch him after he gets neutered and Tobie's sister who lives with my dad and his fiance sleeps in the crate and my dad's been fussin at me about re-training Tobie to sleep in the crate. Thing is, Tobie will go in there and maybe whine for a few minutes and then sleep, until about 3 hours later and then I feel bad and its back up on the bed.

I JUST DON'T NNOW WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!! Do you crate him, or let him sleep on the bed...any suggestions. I am at the point that I want to pick something and stick with it consistently. When I've crated him at night, usually around 6am I'll let him out and on the bed for the last hour or so before I have to get up.

He stays out of his crate in the bedroom so far and has knock on wood, been doing well.

Just don't know what to do as a first time yorkie owner!:confused:

All three of my dogs sleep in bed with me. I really don't see the harm in it.

i waited with each of mine until i knew that they were completely reliable and were either going on the pad or holding it until I got up (not until they woke me up) before i let them in the bed w/me, if either of them has an accident, it's back to the crate. they were both in bed w/me at 6mos and i haven't had any problems. i will though have them sleep in the crate if we are staying the night out somewhere (ya never know) :rolleyes:
whatever works for your lifestyle is what's important, don't listen to us :p
in the end it's your decision

Mine sleep in bed with us

I think there are two things to consider when making the decision.

1. Is your dog potty trained? Loki slept in the crate til he was trained enough to scratch at the closed bedroom door when he wanted to go downstairs to be let outside. So even though he was having accidents now and then, he wouldn't hop off the bed and just pee on the floor. Eventually we didn't need to keep the door closed and he'd just ring his bells. Now he just sleeps through the night.... And then we got Sammy who is not housetrained quite yet but she sleeps ON my pillow and if she stirs I go let her out. If you are disciplined enough to do that and you will wake up, then it's fine. Otherwise, the crate is the way to go.

2. Do they act possessive of your bed? I'm not talking about taking the best spot :D If they growl when you get in bed, then obviously that is a bad situation, but there are ways to work on that! I taught Loki to "move" and he gives me a funny look but he moves his butt over! I had to create an actual command for him, and work with him on it (with some treats of course). I learned that he didn't appreciate being picked up and moved when he was half asleep (duh!) so i just gently ASK him to move and he moves immediately - (wouldn't you, if the alternative was being moved?) Sammy, on the other hand, doesn't really care where she sleeps as long as it's soft. I can just scoot her over and she doesn't even bother opening both eyes... ;) Loki was never "protecting" the bed though - he just takes 20 minutes to get comfy and didn't appreciate me grabbing him and moving him over. Some dogs do "guard" the bed - in which case they should NOT be sleeping with you.