Chipper preferring crate to bed... Bad Energy! :(

[carrie]

If the dog sees you as a true leader, a proper Alpha, it should not expect to sleep with you. If you have crate trained properly then the dog accepts that the crate is where it sleeps. So far - you do not have a problem, everything is as it should be!

What concerns me is that you are concerned about this behaviour!

I suspect that you are are either over analysing the situation and you should, in fact, be very happy and proud that you have a well adjusted and naturally behaving dog....or

the dog is using this situation to manipulate you!

Do you have other issues with the dog regarding feeding, walking, off leash behaviour or having visitors to the house? Anything?

[Pekemom]

One of my dogs began doing the same thing when he hit about 6 months old. I took as a sign that he found his crate to be a positive/good place and wanted to sleep their not to get away from us but because it was "his spot."

I think that because of his training, he respects me and my fiance as his masters. That makes him happy and that is why he chooses his bed or crate over our bed.

[ramanth]

Chipper has no issues. He's the most happy go lucky dog I know. Loves people, including strangers, other dogs, cats, ect. I can set his food in front of him and ask him to wait and he will. I can ask him to get into his crate and he does, no hesitation.

If he wasn't allowed on the bed, I could see your point in manipulation. But he has permission to be on the bed. And for the past year and a half he'd follow us happily into the bedroom at night and curl up into his dog bed or come up onto our bed when invited.

For him to suddenly change his behavior and give the bedroom a wide berth. To look afraid when standing in the doorway, yes, that does cause me to be concerned.