My 5yr old maltese/foxy won't settle at night in the laundry although for the 3yrs we have had her (we adopted her from RSPCA) she has slept in the laundry of 3 different homes - she is a lovely friendly little dog but this is getting too much as she whimpers and scratches the door

Oh my, my heart aches reading this. I understand that some people put their dog in a closed room at night, but my dogs have all absolutely lived to be near me at night. I don't know anyone who doesn't let their dog sleep in their bedroom, either in a crate, on a dog bed, or on the bed (my little JRT is allowed under the covers most of the time).

I don't know why your dog is unhappy now. It might be your current house, or her age, or noises that are scaring her, who knows. She might be getting arthritis - what does she have for a bed? Does she have water in there?

And why not your bedroom where she would be SO happy?