My dog is a 6 year old chihuahua/jack Russell rescue. We had her for 4 years now and over the past two years she began to wake up multiple times at night. She is scared of crates and will not go in one. She barks and wines unless we wake up and feed her. THis occurs at about 1:30 and 4:30 in the am. We refuse to feed her because she is slightly overweight as it is. We feed her 3 X throughout the day. When we go on vacation and give her to other people to watch her she does not have this behavior. Does anyone have any ideas at all that can help me PLEASE. Thank You

I have never had a problem with my dogs and I feed them a light breakfast of 1/2 cup of dry food each and then a big wet/dry meal at night followed by 2 biscuits before bed.

They understand that the biscuits means it is bed time and that they are not to get up until the next morning.

Have you ever got up in the middle of the night to feed her?
How do you know she wants food?

If you have ever gotten up to her then this is your undoing. She now knows that she has 'won' and you will get up and feed her.

Be persistent, do not get up to her no matter what.