I have an 18 month old dog. The past few weeks he has decided he doesn't want to sleep through the night. We are staying at the in-laws at the moment and so he has been sleeping in the bedroom in his own bed. For some reason now he won't sleep through the night and he either wants to get on the bed with us (he is a big dog so we don't want him there) or he cries and scrats at the door until we let him out for the loo. When we let him out he always goes to the loo he nearly always goes for a number 1 and 2!

We have tried everything to stop this including feeding him twice a day for set times, he has good off lead exercise twice a day and usually we make sure he goes for a walk a couple of hours before bed time and we always take him to the loo just before he goes to bed. When he cries we have tried ignoring him we have tried letting him sleep downstairs but leaving the door open in the bedroom so he can get in his bed. When we do this he runs upand down the stairs and barks for ages (which is not good in someone else's house). We have tried a different bed for him but nothing works.

This is getting to the point were my husband and I are getting only 4 hours sleep a night and it is far worse than having a baby. Any suggsetions would be much appreciated.

Thanks :confused:

As a general rule, the first step with behavior change is a vet check. I doubt it is anything physical. Dogs do not deal well with changes in their routine. I would have expected such a younger one to do better. I would try to recreate his old environment and routine as well as possible. His bed was certainly a good move. Give him plenty of attention in the evening. I am glad you gave as many details as you did, because that is much what I would suggest.

If he doesn't settle down soon and go back to sleeping over night, you might try a crate. The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self. Dogs that have been crated all along do very well. Many of them will rest in their crates even when the door is open. I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling. Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew. Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys. Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter. Don't leave
Anything in the crate the dog might chew up. It will do fine without even any
Bedding. You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, may take some work.
Start just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going
in. Feed it in the crate.

He may hear strange noises in his new home and get up to investigate. Moving around stimulates elimination, and when he needs to go, he wakes you up. Confine him to a crate, and he may just go back to sleep.