HOWL with Amy

Q: Dear HOWL,

My ‘puppy’ is now four years old and still sleeping in a large crate at night. When Betty was young it served a purpose both for potty training and preventing massive destruction of our home. My husband, who refuses to let Betty sleep in our bed, has supported keeping her crated at night. I want Betty free of the cage and am just worried she will come up on the bed in the middle of the night.

Can you give me pointers on how to get rid of the crate and teach Betty to sleep instead in a dog bed or on the floor? I am excited to regain more real estate in my bedroom!

Thank you for your help,
Crate-less in SB 

A: Dear Crate-less in SB,

By four years of age Betty should no longer need to be crated at night. She should have outgrown destructive chewing and be able to hold her potty through the night.

For the first week or two, set up a tether station next to you by wrapping a leash around a heavy piece of furniture (like the leg of your bed) and pulling the latch of the leash through the handle. If Betty likes to lay on a dog bed or mat, place one very close to the leg the tether is attached to and away from anything she could get wrapped around when you are asleep. It is VERY important she be tethered next to you so if she were to get stuck in any fashion you would hear her and be able to release her. 

If you have a command for going to a specific place like “go to your bed/place” use this to bring her to this spot before turning off the lights. Give her a treat once she arrives in her spot and praise. In the morning when you wake, praise her, release her from the tether and out to potty. Continue this for several weeks.

In two weeks or so, do the same “go to your bed” but do not tether. If she tries to get up on the bed, re-tether for two days and then try another no tether evening. Continue this until she is consistently not coming up on the bed.

Congratulations, you now have your bedroom real estate back!

Amy Peer