I have 2 dogs that sleep in a crate in my walk in closet. Worked out fine but now the problem is we are due to have another baby in Feb and because our closet is so large until the baby gets to be much older we were going to convert the closet in a small room for the baby. So I need to get the dogs out of using the crate at night. The one is 4 years old so she should be OK to do this and the other one is 2. She has always slept in a crate at night. Any suggestions on how to do this? One other thing I have daycare children who show up at 5:30 in the morning and the younger one barks alot. I tried to leave her out the other night and she barked at them and woke up my whole house. I need to avoid this as well. Please help me! I want this done before the baby comes.

As a professional petsitter for 5 years I have never heard of uncrate training a dog. I would make sure both dogs have their own dog beds to sleep on at night and that should fix your problem. I would start by placing the beds in their crates so they get used to them and then simply remove the crate out of the equation.

As for the barking... get a large spray bottle and do 10 parts water to 1 part vinager. When the younger one barks spray her face. She will then associate the mild burning of her eyes with barking and wont bark. Also, be sure to use the words "No Bark" so he/she will learn that when you say that its time to be quiet.

HTH

So would you say for their ages that they shoulndt be having acidents on my carpet during the night. That's the main reason that they are in a crate at night.

We just took the door off the crate - the dog's bed is still in there.
I think you should still make the crate available because dogs see it as a safe place or their den.

Just not sure where i can put it then. It's really big since it houses both dogs. I just don't want it out in my room or any other room. Maybe a smaller one just for the younger dog. I don't know.

Does the closet have an air vent???

By 2 years they most definatly should not be having accidents at night. They have the ability to hold it if you let them out right before you go to bed. Do they ever have accidents durring the day?

My dog was not forced into a crate by age 1 when we moved to a home from an apt. He had his crate still and sometimes goes in it, but he sleeps at the side of the bed (on floor) and he only has accidents if we don't remember to take him out in time.

I"m pretty sure that the closet has a vent in it. I'd have to doublt check that one.

No they don't have accidents during the day. Right now with the weather they are out though most of the day.

Well, closets get very stuffy and being in poorly circulated rooms is an increased risk for sids. I know none of our closets have air vents (who would want to pay to keep their clothes cooled, kwim). I would not chance it myself, but you have to decide what is right for your own child.

I agree with Marbear. I would not advise to keep a child or your dogs in the closet. It is poorly ventalated and not really appropriate. (JMO)

It's a walk in closet so it's rather large. It would fit a bed in there so it's not a typical closet and it does have a vent in there. It's big enough to be classified as a small room. Thanks for the concern though!