I'm hoping someone could offer advice/strategy for dealing with my mutt. She is a young english setter 4/5 mths old. Is housed in a crate overnight which has been working out really, really well right from the start. No mess, no whining or barking overnight - always happy to go in. I give her a tiny treat at bedtime to encourage her to bed and also in the mornings when she comes back in. She goes to bed at 10 ish and my husband lets her out at 5.30 and puts her back until I get up at 6.30. Been working out absolutely fine.

The other night, 3.30 ish, we heard her whining and barking. Thought this unusual and let her out. The same happened the next night - let her out and she had dreadful diahorrea - assumed this was why she was so upset. Last night the same happened at 1.30. Let her out and she did a paltry wee and rushed back in.  ........ Hmmmm .... I think she's taking the mickey now. I am very sensitive to her barking, particularly in the middle of the night because of the neighbours, so I was quick to respond.

My problem is, I feel I have made a rod for my own back. Having been absolutely fine from the first night we had her (what luck!!), I am puzzled why this should start now. I am going to stop giving her a treat every time she goes to bed - this might stop her maybe. But I am interested what you all might think of this sudden change in behaviour.  I am now lying awake, wracked with guilt (husband sleeps very badly and never gets back to sleep when disturbed) and the last thing I want is for the children/neighbours to be disturbed. Has anyone else experienced this sudden change in behaviour? Please, please help!!

If it's only been one night since she had the diahorrea she might stil be feeling abit funny and ill.  Keep an eye on her, give her a couple of more nights to see if she settles again.

Also don't not give her the treat.  The treat is a reward for going into her cage, you take that away and your not rewarding her for going to bed.  (And being a setter she might just make a noise untill she gets her treat.

Insted try to make sure she has done wee's and poo's before bed time.  If she is solid in her poo's then if she whins and barks ignor her.  Going down to her is saying "you bark we come running"

Hi... kai (5mth mal) started doing this the other week. goes to bed about 10pm was waking at 1 to 1.30am. i let him out thinking he needed the loo, but when he got out there just wanted to play. he did this the following night aswell after that i refused to get up to him. i called his name (sleeps in crate at end of bed) and said lay down bed time. which is what i say when he goes to bed. after 5/10 mins he got the message and went back to sleep. although he did still try to get me up for a cpl of nights after but i said the same thing each time, and now he doesnt bother trying. ive worked out the differences in his whinning for a pee or a play.

perhaps with your pup having been a bit ill and having to get up, they now think its part of the routine, but when they realise it isnt they soon adjust back again. with kai it was only 3/4 nights and he now sleeps til 5.30 -6am when he thinks its time to get up for breakfast :-)  i still make him wait til 7.20am thou :D