Last night I started training Kodee to sleep in my room un-crated. I put him on a leather 6 ft leash attached to my bedside stand. His sheepskin bed was next to the bed, and he could also reach to lay on the tile that's in front of our doors to the deck. I was hoping that if I limited his freedom to one area, he wouldn't pee in his "sleeping quarters." He did great.

Anyway, this a.m. I noticed that when Kodee and I got up for the morning, he was much calmer than he normally is - not just when we got up, but he's been that way all morning! It's really nice - usually he's all excited and hyped up for the first few minutes he's out of his crate in the a.m. He was calm during his trip out to potty and everything, and now he's in the kitchen w/me, laying down on the floor. It's almost weird how calm he is! So I'm wondering - is this possibly because he was sleeping out of the crate and could move and stretch all night? He was calm all night, so I know he didn't burn any energy off in the night. It was not the first night he slept in my room - he slept in there crated a lot this winter. So, is this new calmness a coincidence, or has anyone else noticed this happening with their dog (those who don't sleep crated at night)?

The other thing is I feel more bonded than ever to him this a.m., which is also a surprise...but a nice one!

Dogs are always excited to get out of their crate. They know they can't get out so its like a big WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO when that door opens.

No door, no WOOOOOOOOO.

I started letting Lear sleep outside his crate about a month ago, untethered. He felt my trust in him for yet one more thing. Made him feel important and satisfied, like doing a job, sleeping at my feet. I believe that reflects on the bonding too. They feel closer to you, sleeping right there with you, and vice versa.

He actually is doing a job, since he's being trained as a PPD. He needs to be out of the crate at night. I'm real happy how he took to it so naturally. At first I felt there was a possibility of him jumping all over me trying to wake me up through the night but he hasn't done that. He just settled in. A couple of times he had to potty, so he licked my face ever SO gently, just a tiny little kiss. Very sweet - he's a tough guy sweetheart

When I first let Cujo sleep out of the crate he felt so important like he was doing such a good job that he thanked me by chewing up the baseboards. Then he'd run around the room and shove his nose in my face at sun-up. I kinda miss that though, now he just sits next to the bed staring at me till I wake up.

Some young dogs are naturally destructive and others are easier. I don't read into it. If your dog does fine at night then congratulations you just saved yourself alot of money

True often sleeps out of the crate now and other waking up a tad earlier than I would like, he's very good about the whole thing. The visions I had of him maurauding through the house at night never came to pass.

I'll fess up that True has bed privileges so sometimes there are 3 heads resting on pillows instead of the usual 2. He sleeps like a human, which is both cute and a little unnerving to see.

LOL - I'll be lucky if DH lets me keep Kodee in our BR at night (he's out of town right now). There's no way in h*ll the dog is sleeping in our bed (although it might be cozy for me when DH travels....hmmmm)

I'll be watching this thread as I am ready to take the leap with my 6 month old to let him start sleeping on the dog bed in the bedroom.

I have done this in the past with other dogs without a problem, but I am always nervous something will go on when I'm asleep and the dog will wreek havoc with destruction or soiling in the house.

Like others have done, I will put the pup on a leash attached to the bed. I have also put a couple of cat bells on his collar so I will hear him if he moves much.

I hope the transition with him goes as smooth as it has with my other dogs.

For those of you whose dogs sleep out of a crate at night, how old were they when you started this? Kodee is 8 mos now...

 Quote: Kori Bigge

Anyway, this a.m. I noticed that when Kodee and I got up for the morning, he was much calmer than he normally is - not just when we got up, but he's been that way all morning! It's really nice - usually he's all excited and hyped up for the first few minutes he's out of his crate in the a.m.

I am new here and also new to crating so this is just an observation for any else who is crating. I read here (somewhere-don't know how to search) that if you act excited when you are getting your pup out of the crate, that will create excitement for said pup. Soooooo, when I quit acting excited (good girl!
you're so good! wanna go outside!, she quit going ga-ga when I got her out of crate.

She now calmly walks out, stretches, waits patiently as I leash her, sits calmly at the door, etc.

True was well over a year when we first did this but I know other forum members did it when their dog was younger. Depends on the dog.