Creating a dog overnight.

[MrB.]

We acquired a 3 year old Havanese around 4 months ago from a home where, let's just say, he wasn't a happy dog. Although I grew up with a dog, this was the first time my partner and I had decided on a pet together. We had decided on him as we felt training a puppy was too much for us to take on, however, we soon learned that despite his age, there was somethings he just didn't do. He had never been walked on a lead before (and had no recall whatsoever), and whilst he was toilet trained, we did wake up to a few accidents. My sister in law has 3 Lurchers and is reasonably knowledgable about dogs, and she suggested getting him a crate for overnight. We did this, getting one that is much bigger than he is so he has plenty of space, and we have fitted it with a spongy mat and a dog bed so he's comfortable, and covered it with an old towel to block the light and make him feel safe.

He has a big comfy bed that sits in our snug, although he's usually found on the sofa, but he has access to the crate through the day if he wants to as I leave the door open. However, at night, when he goes in there to bed, I shut the door. I'm up just after 5am to let him into the garden, but I'm now wondering whether I should keep the door closed to his crate overnight? He seems happy with this arrangement as we've had no howling or scraping to get out, but I'm just wondering if this is the right thing to do.

Whilst he's in the car with just the two of us, he has a car seat with harness in the rear, but we are planning on a holiday in Wales this summer taking our two nieces, so he would have to go in the rear of our XC60 in his crate, so I think given he's used to sleeping in it with the door closed, this will be no issue.

Am I doing the right thing by keeping the door closed overnight?

[MrB.]

Thanks for all the responses chaps, and apologies for the error in the title! If I were to CREATE something overnight, I'd go all Weird Science and try for Kelly Le Brock.......

Anyhow, back on subject. I feel that little Finlay is happy with the door closed, but he came from a relatively unhappy home and he is still quite withdrawn in himself, so just want to be sure he's settling in OK. He gets the run of the ground floor and the garden, and whilst I leave the crate open all day if he feels the need to take himself away to a quiet space, he never really does as he likes the company as I work from home. He's always either on the sofa, or in his big comfy day bed. We will also be having a few weekends away this year visiting family in Scotland, and the break in Wales, so we will be taking his crate for him overnight.

Appreciate all the input.

Edited by MrB. on Tuesday 28th June 21:13