please help me, I am at the end of my tether. Lewis is an 11 month old welsh springer who has been crate trained from 8 weeks.  When left in the crate during the day, he barks for 10 minutes of so and then is quiet (I have stood outside on a few occasions). This used to be the same at night too.  Just recently however as soon as I put him in his crate at night he barks and barks and barks.  Last night he barked and howled for 4 hours and thats how its been for 2 weeks or more!  I haven't changed anything, he is getting the same amount of exercise. In fact on days he has a longer walk he seems worse!  I just dont know whats happened.  He is a total sheep during the day and follows me round from room to room, although I go out for 1 - 2 hours most days.  I think it may be seperation anxiety, but he must sleep at night surely.  I live with my 4 year old son who is woken up each night and we are both very very tired.  (also the neighbours have mentioned it) What is the best thing to do please?  I have tried letting him sleep in my bed, but he doesnt settle and scratches around. Many thanks. 

Welsh Springers are very family orientated dogs and it does sound very much like seperation anxiety.  I guess in the day time he knows he is not going to be left for anymore than 1-2 hours, whereas on a night it is so much longer.

Why is he still in a crate at 11 months of age? It is ok to keep a crate as his bed but the door should be open now, unless he is destructive or badly toilet trained, he should have his own bed and freedom to move around.

Is he getting enough daily exercise? This breed needs a good 100-120 mins a day and much of that off lead.

It must be terrible for yourself, your son and your neighbours to have him barking most of the night, no wonder you are at the end of your tether.

You seem to have done what I would advise to ignore him, but if it is continuing 2 weeks on it obviously is not working, shame that you gave in and let him on your bed, but I can understand your frustration and reason for doing this.

I would personally open that crate door, he obviously misses his family, you don't have to have him in your bedroom, you could even get a dog gate on there so that he sleeps on the landing but can still see you or perhaps will settle in his own crate if he has the freedom to check on you occasionally. I think for the sake of peace this is what I would do.

There are ways to deal with seperation anxiety, but I'm ready for bed now, so will pop back on tomorrow to give you some tips, that is if other CD'ers don't help you out first. :-)

thanks for the reply.  I tried leaving the crate door open one night and he scratched at the kitchen door and threw himself at it, which was even more noisy for us and upsetting for him.  That was the night that I resorted to bringing him into my room. I will try the gate on my door, it is a bit tricky as we have a cat who is best shut in the kitchen at night or else he meows alot!! Anyway, last night was only 10 mins barking so maybe its getting batter.  I'll try all suggestions, thanks.

Wow!  10 mins barking is a huge improvement isn't it?

What you need to remember is that he loves you, all Spaniels along with many other breeds, I personally think on a whole prefer company and like to be in a pack, he has no other dog company so you are his life, I actually love being followed around by my girl and families dogs, and as long as there is no problem in seperation anxiety it is fine.

Your WS seems to also be glued to your leg in the daytime, however what is very pleasing to hear is that he will be left and not cry when you go out for  1-2 hours, so personally I don't feel you have a huge problem to sort out and personally I would see how the night time progresses with the crate open and access out of the kitchen, some dogs just need to be near their owners, breed has an awful lot to do with this and it is not something that has to be a problem.

If however, even with a gate on your bedroom door and he can not bear to be parted from you, you will need to practice small seperation tactics to make him feel more secure with you.

Teri has given you the perfect substitue which is a piece of your clothing, blanket, anything that has a strong scent of you on it, you can put this object in bed with you, sleep with it and give it to him in his crate or sleeping place, it will give him great comfort an may be the only thing you need to do.

During the day time, try to seperate him from you just for 10 mins to start with, if you can get a gate it would be perfect he can go in the kitchen and still see you, whilst you are watching tv or cleaning your room, give him a nice knuckle bone or treat along with a good boy to make him feel it is a good thing to be seperated not a punishment. :-)

Gradually turn the 10 mins into 20 mins, then into 30 mins, always give a lot of praise when you are re-united and give him the confidence to feel happy at seperation even when you are in the house together.

Sometimes the tv and radio can also give comfort and make him feel less vulnerable.

Eventually and hopefully he will feel independant enough to spend time alone, and especially on a night time will be happy to go back into his opened crate feeling relaxed about it.

Above all else try not to get frustrated with him, he loves you and like with any child just needs to learn it is ok to be alone too. :-)

This is not my breed so intimate knowledge is somewhat limited however I'm agreed with Carrington that it's odd your boy is restricted to a closed crate overnight at his age unless you have additional problems with him you've not mentioned.

One thing which may help, apart from leaving him free access to leave the crate if possible, is to give him something worn regularly by you at bed time - unwashed so having your scent.  Put it with him in his crate or leave for him to sleep on elsewhere.  A dressing gown, nightie or sweatshirt - the more "fragrant" the better - and also the largest sized item so lots to snuggle into :)  Perhaps as Carrington suggested you could have him outside your bedroom door behind a baby gate if you don't want him in the room with you.  Dogs upset by our absence can suffer separation anxiety to varying degrees but these simple steps may just be enough to turn the corner with him.

Understandably you must be frustrated and exhausted by this but of course so is your dog, for whatever reasons.

Hopefully these suggestions will offer some respite to all concerned meantime :) 
Regards, Teri 

i dont like the thought of a 11month old in a cage all night TBH. Id bark too if i was locked up for hours :(

Welshies are well known as 'velcro' dogs. They love human company and have to be with you/on you/in you all the time. I lost the last of my Welshies 2 weeks ago but all of mine had separation anxiety. In practice this meant when I was out they were caged really for their own safety (would never leave them for more than a few hours) as one would get so upset she would dig up the carpets and eat the doorframes. The rest of the time they were with me or came with me in the car and had free run of the house at night inc bedroom. I have heard of breeders having to take back pups because the owners could not stand how close they like to be with their owners. This is one of the things that make the breed so appealing to me.
I would phone the breeder for advise or if not a longtime established breeder, I would phone the breed club for advise.

Why not for the time being put the crate in your bedroom and then gradually move it away.