crate training a senior dog?

[savannah]

I adopted an older, deaf dog with arthritis on the 10th of June. I have gotten 1 okay nights sleep since i adopted him. I don't know what to do, and am very open for suggestions. I love him dearly, and only want what's best for him, but i also want to keep my sanity and get some sleep.
Here is what we currently do:
Before bedtime, I take him outside and have him do his business. Then, i carry him upstairs, and block of the stairs so he can't fall down. I go to sleep, and he follows, and he makes his nest on a pillow (on the floor), decides he doesn't like it, and goes under the bed to sleep. At around 2am, he starts to cry and paces and goes from room to room, and he cries to go in the tub. One day i put him in there to see what he would do once in there, and as expected, he cried to get out as soon as he got in. I take him outside, and he goes potty half the time. So we go back inside, and he keeps whining and pacing. This carries on the entire night until i get out of bed at 6am. And this is if i am lucky he will sleep until 2am. Sometimes, the whining and pacing starts as soon as we go to bed and carries on all night.
I do have a crate which i have used on my other dog. I was thinking of taking it out and using it on Poko (the new dog) but don't know how to crate train an older dog. Should i attempt to crate train him, and if so, can someone refresh me on the process? Where should i keep the crate (living room, dining room, kitchen, my bedroom, basement etc). he also spends most of the day in the living room (where we spend most of our time as a family). He was a stray which i adopted from a shelter, so i don't know if his previous owners were crating him at night.
If not crate training, what should i do? He and my other Peke hardly ever spend anytime alone as there is always someone at home (unless we go shopping). And he has a holisitic med for his anxiety.
Any and all suggestions would be very appreciated! Thank you

[Eleni]

has he seen the vet? maybe hes having pain?

or maybe his bladder just isnt as good as it used to be at holding it thru the night and he needs a midnight pee break.

Eleni

[Beaglemom]

I'm not sure if crate training is the answer in this case. Your new dog has just undergone a stressful situation aggravated by the fact that he is deaf and has arthritis. Crate training might cause more stress if he has never used one before. Like Eleni said, he may be in pain due to his arthritis. Is he on medication or supplements for his arthritis? An older dog may not be able to go all night without a pee break. Their bladders are just not the same as a younger dog.

Anytime a dog is adopted, especially an older one with a disability, they go through a lot of stress and have to adapt. Be patient and reasuring. I'm sure he will become more confident in his surroundings as time passes.

[savannah]

Thank you. I am hoping that he will adjust.
He has seen two different vets in the past 10 days.
He has started taking a weekly injection (i can't remember the name of the injection) for his arthritis. A cowoker suggested giving him glucosomine (sp?) so i will look into that. Does anyone have any suggestions for arthritis?
I thought at first that it was his bladder, but half the time he does not do anything outside. I still take him outside and give it a try anyways.
I did not think crate training was a good idea, given his situation, but i thought to ask here in case if i was wrong.
We thought of bringing him on the bed with us to get a good nights sleep (maybe he wants to be close to me) but he just wanted to get down. I really feel sorry for the little guy. When we adopted him, i did not know he was deaf or had arthritis. Funny how the pound was, all they told me was "we have never heard him bark" and absolutely nothing about his temperment, health etc although i mentioned his limp, they said that was his "gait". I just knew he was an older fellow who needed a good home, and i could not let him get pts.

[Eleni]

being deaf, maybe nightime when everyone is asleep is a time filled of anxiety

perhaps he cant sleep because he isnt sure of his surroundings.

that would explian him not settling in at night for sleep


Eleni

[badger]

Check out this thread:

http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread....ight+wandering

[Lucky Rescue]

Agree with Beaglemom. This dog is very stressed, anxious and confused.

If the dog is deaf, then in the darkness he can neither see nor hear and probably becomes very frightened and disoriented. Can you put a nightlight on for him? This may help, since it would be at his eye level.

OR, perhaps gating him in a bathroom with a light on and with his bed, water and any chews or bones he likes may calm him. I would also try Rescue Remedy.

For the arthritis, you can give him Aspirin. Dosage depends on his weight.

And thank you for adopting this poor little guy!!

[Beaglemom]

I just want to say that I think it is great that you adopted an older dog and are giving him a second chance on family life!

About the arthritis. My dog has arthritis and she is on supplements. We give her Sasha's Blend which is a powder added to her food daily. It has worked wonders on her and her arthritis doesn't bother her as much as it used to. It is all natural. It is only available through vets.

I was going to suggest a night light as well. Maybe he will feel more comfortable if there is a bit of light in the room.