Hi, my dog sleeps in the kitchen and has done since we got her and she has always been fine, but for the past couple of nights she has been either waking up in the night or after we have gone up to bed and sits at the bottom of the stairs barking (not an aggressive bark, but more of a whiney bark). my OH tells me to ignore her and she will take herself back off to bed, but I struggle to do it and last night I brought her up into our bed and she fell asleep and I took her downstairs and she was fine.

She has had no change of routine, except that my OH is on holiday and he has been lettting her go upstairs in the morning for a sleep on the bed.

does anyone have any suggestions as to what may have caused the change and any ideas for things I can do to stop this happening?

It could be just change in seasons, my puddycats are getting up earlier and earlier. Or it could be just what you said - that she has been a little more spoiled this week and she may be testing the water to see what else she can get. I would try to do a little to comfort her like a night light so she feels cozy but otherwise I would ignore her.

Hi, my dog sleeps in the kitchen and has done since we got her and she has always been fine, but for the past couple of nights she has been either waking up in the night or after we have gone up to bed and sits at the bottom of the stairs barking (not an aggressive bark, but more of a whiney bark). my OH tells me to ignore her and she will take herself back off to bed, but I struggle to do it and last night I brought her up into our bed and she fell asleep and I took her downstairs and she was fine.

She has had no change of routine, except that my OH is on holiday and he has been lettting her go upstairs in the morning for a sleep on the bed.
does anyone have any suggestions as to what may have caused the change and any ideas for things I can do to stop this happening?

there ya go, they arnt daft, she wants the comfy bed with mummy and daddy in it. :P

She has had no change of routine, except that my OH is on holiday and he has been lettting her go upstairs in the morning for a sleep on the bed.

does anyone have any suggestions as to what may have caused the change and any ideas for things I can do to stop this happening?

ah - you've said it all...dogs learn how to manipulate their humans very swiftly and she's making a good job of twisting your arm to let her go upstairs, now she's got a taste for it. We let Ailsa go upstairs about 4 yrs ago when we had major building work and dust downstairs - it didn't seem fair to expect her to sleep in it - you wouldnt get her to sleep downstairs now, she would absolutely refuse (and sulk). She's also learned that the supply of pigs ears are kept in a box in the cellar with a lift up lid (one of those IKEA recycling boxes) and whines and points at the cellardoor until someone is daft enough to open it for her. Better still, she gets Alfie the barmy bengal to open the cellar door for her and helps herself. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Sounds like yours is doing her utmost to train you to let her upstairs!

I agree with everyone else, your hubby has took her upstairs on the bed and she would quite like to go up there all the time, a case of giving an inch and her trying to take a mile :D

I know i'm a sucker for it, but I was all fired up last night to be firm and not let her up and then she didnt even attempt to do it!

Maybe she has a sixth sense that she shouldnt come up, but i think she was just so tired from her class that she couldnt even be bothered to attempt it.