hi, i have a year and a half old bichon frise dog although she is very small for a bichon.  i crate trained her since she was a baby and she's always slept in the crate with the door closed and been happy to do so.  Obviously the crate has blankets, water and a toy in there and at night i put a blanket over the top so she knows its dark.  This has worked really well, until recently.  When there's signs its bedtime she usually happy got in it but has now started not to.  i think she's realised that she wants to be in a comfy bed upstairs or something!

ive tried giving her treats in the daytime by getting in it and she doesnt want to!

do you think i should start leaving the door open and shutting the kitchen door to avoid her going upstairs?the trouble is the kitchen gets light  at 4am in the summer so I  imagine she'll start whining for people to get up!!its just that the crates worked so well up unitll now and whenever she's left on her own we leave her in the kitchen with the door open so there won't be any difference at night times.any suggestions?!

Thanks

> do you think i should start leaving the door open and shutting the kitchen door to avoid her going upstairs

Yes!  Mine are not expected to sleep in a closed crate at this age.

i agree. I use crates to train my youngsters but once they are fully house trained etc then the crate door is left open all the time, until eventually i remove the crate and just leave the bedding.

Maybe she's getting too warm in there - I imagine with the temperatures that we've been experiencing, a covered crate would get really uncomfortably warm.

Anyway - I agree with JeanSW :)

ok thanks.do yours still sleep downstairs though or up with you?

Could you not put curtains/blinds up in the kitchin? Therefore giving her the run of the kitchin with more space and air flow?

I don't think whether it's light outside really makes a difference, they just get used to going to bed at a certain time.
i usually go to bed about 10pm and my dogs always start getting restless and wanting to go out for a final wee etc even though they've been fast asleep in the lounge since 7pm when my daughter goes to bed. more down to routine than anything.  
I have three dogs and they sleep in the utility room but would be in the kitchen if i didn't have one. i don't like dogs sleeping in my bedroom because mine tend to fidget  and disturb me, i also don't like my room smelling of dogs. it's nice to have one dog free zone.
to be honest non of my dogs go up stairs unless i'm up there cleaning etc, they just wait at the bottom. Everyone has different places they sleep their dogs and you should just do whats best for you. I've never used a crate and would rather just have a bed downstairs for them,if your dog is getting upset then just leave the crate door open, so she has a choice and put a bed in the corner of the kitchen and see which she prefers to use. if she's then happy i'd leave her in the kitchen rather than change her routine but thats your choice.   

Gemma81, in my house i dont allow my dogs upstairs, this is my own preference but i do know lots of owners that do :) my reasons for this is to try and reduce the dog hair carpet going into our bedrooms! And also my large breed dogs have to be careful on climbing stairs etc :)

ok i think ill leave the door open tonight and also put a bed i have for her in there.  ill shut the kitchen door but if she cries do you think i should do the same as when i crate trained her and ignore her if she cries for attention so that she leanrs to sleep in there?

thanks!

Itoo have stopped shutting the crate door once my dogs have become housetrained and past the chewy stage but the little one does not come upstairs at night she is sht in the kitchen with her crate door open. I wouldn't expect the light to be much of problem I think its more about routine infact my lazy toad sometimes stays in her crate after we are up  just watching us. If she barks I would ignore her. Why not try this during the day when perhaps you are upstairs or out for a short while so it becomes normal. The other thing I do is always send her to bed in crate when I go out or at night but dont shut the door. Ok she can walk out again but she gets the message also works wonders for "sendaway" if you are doing obedience!