My dogs are so different! I need help!
 

Ugh, I've got the worst problem, and it came to quite the culmination last night. One of my dogs is totally fine with sleeping in her crate at night. She was raised on crates, and has never complained. But my other dog, when I first picked him up, I put him in the crate for the ride home, and he barked nonstop. And this was two years ago! So every night, we put him in his crate. He used to make a big fuss right away, but has gotten to the point where he will be quiet for about an hour, and then starts whining. So, when he does that, I take him out and take him to the bathroom, he does his business, and then he goes back in his crate. But, he keeps whining past that point. I've tried squirting him with a water gun, and it used to work, until my boyfriend started sleeping on the side of the bed with the crates. He would use the water gun, and would tell me the next day that Tbone is completely soaked from him squirting him because of the whining. So last night, by BF got fed up enough, took him to the bathroom, and when he wouldn't go, HE PUT TBONE IN THE SHOWER!!! I was SO mad! Tbone didn't know what he had done wrong, and the BF didn't even bother to dry him off, just put him sopping wet back in his crate. I got him out and towelled him off, and let him sleep with me the rest of the night. The poor pup, I am afraid that now he won't even want to go to the bathroom (where his potty pad is) because he thinks my BF is going to throw him in the shower! Ugh! So I don't know how to get Tbone accustomed to sleeping in a crate at night, but I did say that from now on I am sleeping next to them so that never happens again! And the whole time our other dog Tina has no problems. Tbone has never found comfort in confined places, and I have to admit that he is quite the momma's boy. He has bad enough separation anxiety that most of the time he has to be sitting up next to my body. Needless to say, no one is getting a good night's sleep in this house except Tina, and it is driving us all crazy! What can I do???

:mad: That was so mean! If my husband ever did something like that to Scooter, it would be the last time!!!!:thumbdown

I was SO mad that he did that. I instantly said, "what did that teach him?" Of course, he had no reply. UGH! MEN! I swear, my bf is the worst pet parent I know! It makes it so hard to be consistent with the dogs!

I am stressed!!!:doh: :doh: :doh:

I expect that you are able to sleep through Tbone's whining alot better than your BF.

I am not condoning what your BF has done. However, rescuing a dog who is barking or whining is also sending inconsistent messages. Tbone has learned that whining will - eventually - get him taken out of the crate. AND, on rare occasions, after a little torment from BF, it gets him taken into bed by you.

This isn't what you want Tbone to learn.

How to resolve this? I think you and BF have to get very clear together on where you want Tbone to sleep and how you are going to respond to his whining. If you have had Tbone for 2 years, he is not a puppy. There is no reason why he has to go to the bathroom after only an hour in his crate. While BF's behavior is too harsh, I'd say "Girlfriend, YOU gotta toughen up!".

If it were me and I was determined to make the dogs sleep in crates, I'd move the dogs' crates out of your bedroom. I'd put them as far away from your bedroom as possible. I would shut the door to their room and the door to your room. Then, I'd turn on a fan in your room to help drown out Tbone's whining. If Tbone responds like Joey (and most 2 year olds), he will cry most of the night for the first night. IF YOU DON"T RESCUE HIM, he will cry alot less the second night and by the third night, IF YOU DON"T RESCUE HIM, he probably won't make a sound.

However, all of that is only if what you REALLY want is for the dogs to sleep in their crates. If that isn't what you REALLY want, what I've said is too harsh.

I completely agree. Great advice! :thumbup:

Yes, I agree. Great advice. Thanks!