Barking

Question
Our dog usually is already sleeping soundly in her cage/crate before I go to bed, with the crate open. I bolt it shut before I retire, and usually within a rather short time, she would start barking!

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Followup To
Question -
Thank you for making your expert advice available. Our 11 year old English spaniel has lived indoors since birth. Five years ago, when we moved, the house had a near white carpet and she started scooting frequently and leaving brown trails everytime, having taken her to the vet several times, each time she has stopped scooting from just one day to not more than a week. In the end, we had to put her out to the garage, where she has access to the yard. Recently we noticed she seemed to scoot less and decided to bring her back in the house. We bought a cage for her to stay in at night. At first she was very happy to be inside and did not mind the cage at all . . . in fact she chose to sleep in the cage even during most of the day. Just about a week ago, she decided she no longer like to be shut in at night in the cage and started barking. We tried putting her back out in the garage (which is attached to the house) so she can have her freedom, but she started scraching the back door and wanted to get in. We are at our wits-end as to what to do with her. One night in desperation I remember how the vets would tie her mouth up, so I tried. But, I feel awful having to do that to her. Please help. Is there any other way to stop her barking without tying her mouth up? Thank you so much.

Esther.
Answer -
I am short good ideas.  You could try what I have found works very well with new puppies.  What I do is lay down by the crate like I was going to sleep there.  Usually a puppy may fuss a little, but then settle down and go to sleep.  Once it is asleep, you can get up and go to bed.  It is worth trying with her.  If that doesn't work, get back with me, and maybe I will think of something else that will.  

Answer
Is the crate in the area you are in, and then you go away to the bedroom?  Did this develop about the time she started sleeping in it on her own?  Maybe try waking her up and putting her out just before going to bed.  If she is awake when you retire to the bedroom, she may understand you are still near by.  If that doesn't work, go to the crate and bang on it and tell her quiet.  As a last resort, move the crate into your bedroom.  She wins, but some battles aren't worth fighting.  At least you should be able to get the sleep you need.  

You may need a good obedience program to establish your place as top dog.  
Having a good pack structure reduces such problems.  The dogs see all the
people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in
the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members
outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by
reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class
or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with
a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/.