Whining at night

Merlin is 13 years old and sleeps downstairs at night but is allowed the run of the house during the day. In the last week he has started whining at about 4.30am and will not stop until he is either let upstairs or I sit with him (other members of the family will not do - it has to be me). He has been checked by the vet and is physically healthy - although is going blind and deaf due to age. I have tried ignoring the whining - but it is very loud - and I gave in after 2 hours of constant whining. I also have another dog and they get on very well so he does have company downstairs at night. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Hi and welcome to the forum

I'd say you've got two options - either give him access to upstairs at night as well or you just have to tough it out.

Having seen the vet is a good first step - with any change of behaviour especially in an older dog it's worth ruling out physical discomfort. I'd still hold it in the back of my mind but it does sound unlikely, especially as he's ok through till 4.30.

The problem with holding out but giving in after a couple of hours is that they learn, incredibly quickly, that it's worth persisting. It becomes a question of who can hold out longer and it's so often the dog!

If you do go down the 'tough it out' route, you have to be prepared not to go down to him at all. If you are concerned that he might want to go out, then someone else needs to do it. If he's dying for a wee, he'll go with them. If, though, he is just after your attention then be brave and bite the bullet. You'll have a couple of awful nights and will probably feel guilty as hell, but it's the only way.