Puppy sleeping through
Discussion
Louis has been with us a couple of months now and is about 5 months old. When we first had him he settled straight into a full nights sleep in his dog bed in our bedroom. 
We have a cage which we use when we go out during the day he settles into it very well for a few hours.
Recently he's been waking up and pestering to come into bed, if not allowed pacing around the bedroom chewing things and reliving himself. So time for the cage downstairs at night. First night fine small yap @ 6am let him out to to the toilet, 2nd night same thing. 3rd night I just can't get him to settle. As soon as I go upstairs barking, whining and cage battering start. I'm writing this from the side of his cage (snoring now) so will try to go to bed again. Am I doing this right?
We have a cage which we use when we go out during the day he settles into it very well for a few hours.
Recently he's been waking up and pestering to come into bed, if not allowed pacing around the bedroom chewing things and reliving himself. So time for the cage downstairs at night. First night fine small yap @ 6am let him out to to the toilet, 2nd night same thing. 3rd night I just can't get him to settle. As soon as I go upstairs barking, whining and cage battering start. I'm writing this from the side of his cage (snoring now) so will try to go to bed again. Am I doing this right?
What breed is Louis? Any chance he started getting cold at night's. Occur our whippet will try and get in our bed on cold night's but we generally find he settles well if se cover him with a decent blanket.
It's a hell of an adjustment for him now so he is exhibiting behaviour in response to what you've done to him. He will be confused. You will have to ignore him to some extent and if you do respond to him make minimal fuss and contact. Just be careful he doesn't injure his feet/claws if he is scrabbling at the cage. Surging next to him is not great (but understandable!!)
It's a hell of an adjustment for him now so he is exhibiting behaviour in response to what you've done to him. He will be confused. You will have to ignore him to some extent and if you do respond to him make minimal fuss and contact. Just be careful he doesn't injure his feet/claws if he is scrabbling at the cage. Surging next to him is not great (but understandable!!)
Edited by bexVN on Thursday 20th December 07:35
He's a Terrier cross quite a hairy brute (think long haired JRT) The house is quite warm so I don't think he's cold.
Last night I think something disturbed him and hen just wouldn't settle. Putting a kong+treats in the cage to encorage him in just woke him up more.
Eventually I lay by the cage in he goes, and after 1/2 hour asleep, so I could close the door and go to bed myself. He slept through from 1.45pm to 7am
When he's going mental in the cage
a) It worries me he will become cage phobic
b) Neighbours disturbed during the small hours.
Lets see what happens tonight
Last night I think something disturbed him and hen just wouldn't settle. Putting a kong+treats in the cage to encorage him in just woke him up more.
Eventually I lay by the cage in he goes, and after 1/2 hour asleep, so I could close the door and go to bed myself. He slept through from 1.45pm to 7am
When he's going mental in the cage
a) It worries me he will become cage phobic
b) Neighbours disturbed during the small hours.
Lets see what happens tonight
He needs consistency, out him in his cage and don't return till its time to let him out, no matter how much he barks. We have a 5 month old pug and he goes all night without a single noise now. But when he was first locked in the kitchen he would bark, cry and beg to get out, now he will go to the kitchen and get in his bed when he is tired, knowing he will be there all night.
It's hard though, but stick with it!
It's hard though, but stick with it!
Our last dog was a greyhound and used to sleep at the side of our bed, one night I get into bed and the wife spoons me. She was lovely and warm. In the middle of the night I wake up to wifey heading out of the room for pee, half asleep I could feel her spooning me, her warm breath on the back of my neck - it was only the dog, it had been there all night! She got locked in the kitchen from that night on.
He wants attention/company and when he makes a racket you give it to him. He's learning how to get what he wants. Don't give in to him. We've been through this this year as well and with 2 young kids in the house who we didn't want woken up it's tough.
If you really must give in then at least wait until he's been quiet for 10 seconds before going to him, then he'll learn that being quiet = reward.
Tough it out and it will get better.
If you really must give in then at least wait until he's been quiet for 10 seconds before going to him, then he'll learn that being quiet = reward.
Tough it out and it will get better.
ehonda said:
If you really must give in then at least wait until he's been quiet for 10 seconds before going to him, then he'll learn that being quiet = reward.
Tough it out and it will get better.
I always wait till he's quiet. I can stand the racket, not fair on the new neighbours though. (semi with thin walls)Tough it out and it will get better.
Does he get left alone in the day at all? A bit of a time out might help get him used to being on his own if not?
We went through it twice; initially when we got our pup and a couple of months later we all went on holiday and stayed in an open plan cottage meaning she could get next to our bed. So we had it all again when we got home.
It does get better!
We went through it twice; initially when we got our pup and a couple of months later we all went on holiday and stayed in an open plan cottage meaning she could get next to our bed. So we had it all again when we got home.
It does get better!
ehonda said:
Does he get left alone in the day at all? A bit of a time out might help get him used to being on his own if not?
We went through it twice; initially when we got our pup and a couple of months later we all went on holiday and stayed in an open plan cottage meaning she could get next to our bed. So we had it all again when we got home.
It does get better!
Yes he uses his cage during the day 1-4 hrs 2-3 times a week.We went through it twice; initially when we got our pup and a couple of months later we all went on holiday and stayed in an open plan cottage meaning she could get next to our bed. So we had it all again when we got home.
It does get better!
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