sleeping away from me in crate at night?

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hello I have a seven month old female black lab and heres our problem.......

I am moving in with my sister within days until I can get my own place(a few months), The room I have wont be big enough to put her crate in seeing as I have to put my cumputter in there. She has slept uncrated either on my floor or on my bed since I got her(four months ago), I can't leave her in my room as she has begun "tasting" things latly and I cant have her eating everything also the shedding is driving me nuts, so she must be crated.....but the crate has to go in the basment, I could leave her with a toy or two, a old shirt or something that smells like me, a radio on low and perhaps even a night light.......would she bark? should I begin crating her now so she will become used to it?

Thank yu for any advice you can give.
Answer -
This is a tough one.  We do what we have to do, and there is no explaining it to the dog.  If you have been using the crate right along when you aren't around, this may not be too bad.  I would start tonight with the crate next to your bed.  Do it step wise.  Have her sleeping out of your room before you move.  Spend some time with her loose in the basement so she isn't exiled to a strange place to sleep.   At your sister's, the light and radio can't hurt.  What i have found most effective with a new puppy is laying down next to the crate like you were sleeping there.  Once the dog falls asleep, you get up and go to bed.  

Has she been spayed?  If not, I would try to do it right away.  The increased chewing at that age could be part of the flaky behavior that often is the first sign of a female coming in season.  You do not need her oozing blood and mucus while trying to fit into your sisters home.  Even if money is tight right now, find it some how.  Ask the vet about a payment plan or find a low cost clinic.  Most vets refuse to spay a female once she starts into season.  Increased shedding is another sign of coming into season soon.  Are you using a slicker brush on her?  I just picked up a nice one at Wal-Mart for only $4.  The ends of the wires are rounded so it is less scratchy than some.  

If you do get stuck going through her season, go to the pet store and ask about ''Seasonals''.  Other brands work fine too.  They are made to hold a pad for her.  They certainly reduce the mess allowing you to have her in the house.  


Hello again and thank you for the reply

She goes in her crate whiel I'm out but she barks like crazy because I can here her down the street, I will try what you said.

Answer
Crates work very well with young dogs that start out in them.  I once ended up with 2 young Labs and only one crate.  My friends' dog barked and barked even after I offered her a large box to sleep in.  I finally gave her the crate, and left my puppy on a short chain with the box to sleep in.  You might try short chain in your bedroom.  It restricts the dog to a small area just as the crate.  Clear everything out of it except a safe toy or 2.  Make sure she can't reach the computer cords.  Dogs are individuals and what works for most dogs, sometimes does not work for another.