Pug won't sleep alone anymore

orionz06 · 08-20-2012, 06:51 AM

I have a 4 year old pug and a 5 year old Boston terrier/pug mix that have had zero issues sleeping together in their crate for 4 years now. They actually prefer it, we have two crates and only one gets used. Recently, with no changes at all, the pug has seemed like he has become attached to us a little more and won't sleep without whimpering all night. Let him loose but not in the bedroom and he is still whimpering and whining. Only fix is to let him sleep with us, which is not exactly preferable but a reality at this point. Any thoughts? Already tried a thunder shirt, putting an old shirt in the crate, and a few other things.

comom · 08-20-2012, 07:30 AM

Hmm, I posted a reply and it disappeared in cyberspace. Here goes again-

The first thing I'd do is take a "Tough Love" approach and not give in to the whining. It souds like the crates are in your bedroom- if so, I'd move at least the Pugs into another room. Maybe one where you could leave a radio on for him. Leaving an unwashed shirt with him is a good idea. Have you tried giving him a frozen, stuffed Kong in the crate?

Some other things that came to mind-

What kind of bedding is in his crate? Maybe he needs something thicker.

Is it possible something startled him while he was crated? In that case, I'd start crate training all over again. Maybe even consider a different style crate.

orionz06 · 08-20-2012, 07:33 AM

Crate is in our living room. To my knowledge nothing startled him. I also left out that he has zero issues being in the crate during the day or when we go out.

If we leave at 10pm and crate them there is no sound. If we try to go to bed he whines. Bedding is multiple blankets, no concerns there. They have enough for a pad and they like to burrow.

Tough love seems like the only option but I was hoping to have more insight.

comom · 08-20-2012, 08:14 AM

I meant to ask about crating at other times of the day. Sounds like he is trying to use his cuteness to his advantage.

Here's another thought- maybe he'd settle if he were crated in your room.

orionz06 · 08-20-2012, 08:16 AM

That doesn't work either. The little ****er, honest to god, just seems like he has figured out how to sleep with us.

comom · 08-20-2012, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orionz06

That doesn't work either. The little ****er, honest to god, just seems like he has figured out how to sleep with us.

Definitely time for some "Tough Love" then.

dabears!! · 09-18-2012, 05:58 PM

it is NOT time for tough love.
this is something you should have looked into prior to owning a pug.
they are VERY VERY attached to their masters.
you can push him off the bed time and time again and he will jump up.
a sad pug is really crushing to see granted how lively and full of energy a happy one is.

I have owned/had in my family 3 pugs and 1 pug boston terrier mix.
I have raised all of them since puppies

at my house i have a pug and an english springer lab retriever mix
lab sleeps on a blanket turned bed next to the bed, pug sleeps in between my feet.

when i went to san francisco i left him at my moms house, he sat his *** infront of my old bedroom door EVERY night whining until he went to sleep.
he would not sleep in her bed that time.
he sleeps there fine now that he realizes im coming back from trips.

its a pug thing and it is very hard to break them of it, especially if they have done it for the last 4 years.
try to get him to sleep between your legs if you sleep on face/back or behind your calves if you sleep on side.
my 3 year old pug

orionz06 · 09-18-2012, 06:17 PM

He actually went back to normal and was never sad, just whined at night. Sort of strange. Awesome dogs though. Also have a boston/pug mix.

Eternal Acacia · 09-18-2012, 08:17 PM

Boston/Pug mix is awesome