Won't sleep thru night now!

K

KarenW

Forums Regular
Prancer was sleeping thru the night in his kennel A week after I got him from 1030 to about 530. Now 2 months later he is getting up in middle of night. First was 5 then 430 then 4 now 330. Weird it is really about a half hour earlier every night. Have found some resistance to kennel at bed time to all of a sudden he will now whine sometimes when I put him in. Nothing much has changed except for the fact that he is out of his kennel more during the day. I thought this would improve the sleeping not make it worse.
Any suggestions?
 
Is he getting up because he has to go out, or does he just want out of his kennel? Does he sleep in the room with you?

At this age, he can make it through the night without going out (as he's already proved) so you might have to try some tough love. At the moment, he's training you! You have to reverse the process. I'd cover his kennel with a light blanket or sheet if he's in a wire crate and withhold water before bed and for the overnight until he gets through this.

First, be sure there isn't a medical reason. If he isn't going to the bathroom more during the day too, it's probably not a urinary infection. If he is, check with your vet to see if something is going on.

Now the tough part. If he's in the room with you, you'll have to just say "quiet!" firmly and not get up. He will cry, and yip, but he'll stop eventually and after a night or two or three -- depending on how stubborn he is -- the cycle will be broken and your sleepy puppy will be back. If he isn't in the room with you, you'll have to just ignore him for a few nights until it stops. Also make sure he gets lots of exercise and play time before bed so he's tired.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
 
I'm with Ann--if he doesn't REALLY have to go, it's time to wait him out a bit. I remember pushing the wake up time in the middle of the night back 15-30 minutes every morning. So if she wanted to get up at 3:30, we waited until 4, and then took her out for a few days. Then we would wait until 4:30, etc. That way at least it wasn't cold turkey.
 
Ok I will do the tough love. Your right he does go to the bathroom when I let him out but like last night as soon he came back in he curled up on the floor in a blanket I had there to go back to sleep. I guess I have also been guilty that I don't put him back in his kennel ... So never thought of it as he is training me good point. I feel he is kind of dominating anyway with me but that it is getting more relaxed. Thought I was getting the upper hand, maybe he just found a new card to play....
I will let you know how it goes.
Thanks for the insight.
 
I remember those days. I agree he is training you. Shelby did the exact same thing, she can be very manipulative to get what she wants.

We did not keep her crate in our room for this reason. We had to do the tough love and it was not easy. Shelby is very stubborn and very persistent. We would close our bedroom door and wear earplugs every night. She was very very loud. After a few weeks (I don't think most dogs are as stubborn as her) she learned she was not going to get her way.

She is no longer in her crate at night and she sleeps in our bedroom, or if the door is open at the top of the steps. She never wakes us at all except on the weekends because she is used to being up at 5 every morning. But even then all she does is put her paws on he bed to see if we are awake. If we don't move she lays back down.

So hang in there, be tough and you will get through it. And it will be worth it in the long run. We didn't do that with Hollie and we never were able to sleep in, she would bark until we got up. She definitely had us trained and we vowed to ever do that again.
 
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