I have recently taken on my Mum and Dad's 7 month old labrador puppy because they couldn't cope with her. She's adorable and has, so far, settled down well with my two dogs.
The problem is that she has started to wake up at 5 o'clock in the morning and it's getting earlier and earlier. We usually get up between 7.30 and 8.00 and the dogs would be let out and given breakfast then. She was fine for a few nights but then started waking and barking which woke the other two and they'd bark too. I've been going down to them and letting them out thinking that maybe she needed a wee or something but then they won't settle down again once they are up. If I put them back in the Utility room they bark and bark, if I leave them loose in the house they play like wild things and wake everybody up.
I'm starting to hit menopause and the hot flushes are badly disrupting my sleep and with teenagers who are usually up till 11 at least, the day starting so early is really not welcome. I've got to the stage where I'm so sleep deprived that I'm just not coping. Actually it reminds me of when the boys were babies.
This morning I set the alarm for 6.30, closed all the doors so that I can't hear them barking as much and although they woke at just before 5, I didn't let them out till the alarm went off. There was no poo or wee so they clearly can hold it just fine. If I stick with doing this till the clocks go forward and then start letting them out at 7.30 will they eventually get used to their getting up time? Assuming that the neighbours don't lynch me first!
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
Bark it out?
7 replies
KarinMurphy · 24/03/2014 12:36
OP posts:
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.