My 7 year old shelter shih tzu has started waking up every morning at 4am and wakes me up by barking/whining. He also frequently starts whining/barking when I put him to bed at night-he sleeps in the laundry room. He does not need to go potty, he is just excited when I open the laundry room door. I tried tough love by letting him bark but he barked all night. He usually just wants to go to a different area of the house to sleep but I have to open the door for that area. Not sure what to do. I am not getting a lot of sleep. He is a great dog other than this issue.

If he barks when you want him to sleep "here" but he sleeps quietly and all night long "there," I'd let him sleep "there." Something may have happened in his past.

I'm the first one to preach tough love but when one of my dogs is upset I tend to think she has a reason and "go with the flow."

My GSD has wanted to sleep in the same room with me since she was a puppy. I allowed it, she's fine, she sleeps through the night. Close the door with her on the outside and I'm in for a long night.

Does he sleep in a kennel? And why in the garage?

Laundry room not garage. He does not sleep in a kennel. We have one and maybe that is the answer. We will try it.

The problem with there is that it is not a good place when we have company. I tried the sleeping in our room last night but he woke me up at 4 am and when to the there place. I will continue with our room and see what happens.

Why not buy a dog bed and allow him to sleep in your room with you? Dogs are pack animals and are lonely when they are separated from the pack. Try a kennel in the room with you. It sounds like she is lonely if you are sure she is not needing to use the bathroom. I have always let my dogs sleep in the same room as me. They love to be with their 'pack".

I have to spread rep.. But I agree with the above (all of it). Dogs are pack animals and find comfort in being close to their people. Having him segregated from you in the laundry room is tough.

Start with a crate, then move to a dog bed. If he wants to sleep in a specific place in the house, then that is where you should put his crate. Do some test runs during the day. Make everything positive and extra fun.

How long have you had this dog? If recently, then he has a lot of things to adjust to. You, your family and your rules. Give him time. Let me sleep where he wants if it allows you to sleep.