Dog waking up ridiculously early.

[RedRed9]

My dog has started waking up at 4:30 and then cries nonstop!

We’ve tried taking him outside and bringing him back quietly and without fuss (I wondered whether he was waking up needing a wee/poo but this doesn’t seem to be the case) and we’ve tried ignoring him.

Today he literally cried from 4:30 until 6. (When I had to give in and get up for a wee so thought I might as well feed him as 6/7 is his usual breakfast time anyway. Although I did wait for a break in the crying to get up.)

He used to sleep in until we got up for work at 6/7. I don’t know why he’s suddenly started waking, full of beans at 4:30! I could cry.

[vanillandhoney]

Blackout blinds? It's light very early at the moment.

[forsucksfake]

My cat is the same. The racket she makes means I cannot sleep so I just get up and give her cuddles and food and then she will go back to bed. Most times I cannot fall asleep again myself, but I can at least close my eyes and lie down.

Do you think a full tummy and toilet in the garden would help ? Can you fall asleep again after being up for a while?

I know the food and cuddles seem like a reward for waking you up, but I saw no other compassionate way around it and now the habit is set.

[RedRed9]

When this first started I was letting him out the back quickly, feeding him breakfast and then he’d have a little go on his chew and quickly fall back to sleep.

But I thought that it was silly feeding him at 4:30!

[Mostlydrinkingtea]

Just a thought but could he be hungry?

[Veterinari]

How old is he?
Could be a sign of cognitive decline?

[RedRed9]

He’s 18months.

I’ll give him a bedtime snack for a week and see if that makes any difference.

We’ve also planned a later, longer walk to see if that tires him out any more. I’ve realised he is sleeping a bit more in the day than he used to (just because it’s lockdown and we’re at home). Usually he’d sometimes come to work with me or occasionally be out at day care or running errands with me. Not doing these things all at once or all the time but without those added extras he’s just pottering and sunbathing and sleeping.

[Kordelia]

The bedtime snack might help.

I had to get blackout blinds for one of my dogs. It worked in his case.

[gettingusedtothelimelight]

Mine wakes me as he wants to be let out and fed at 4am. Bloody annoying but I now get up and feed him and let him out then we can all go back to sleep. Barmy I know but feeding him later etc just doesn't work. He already gets a bedtime snack as well. Wonder if I've got a pig instead of a dog!!

[RedRed9]

I managed to keep him up until nine last night (he kept nodding off and looked exhausted so I stopped after that), he also had a nighttime chew and a later, longer walk.

Managed to sleep in until 6am and then ate breakfast and had a quick wee and was straight back to sleep.

Which is so much better than 4:30!

We’ll see what happens after a few days.

[BiteyShark]

Mine was always an early riser.

Recently at age 3.5 years he has started to laze about on my bed in the morning and often doesn't bother getting up now until I coax him with his breakfast. I don't have any tips other than waiting until they grow up .

[forsucksfake]

Sounds like you are doing very well! I hope it continues! May we see a pic of him? Pups nodding off are the cutest.

[RedRed9]

Another 6am wake up and straight back to sleep after breakfast and a wee. 🙌🏼

I’m wondering if that might be the case for him too @BiteyShark 6am is much easier to deal with though so I’ll take it!

@forsucksfake how about a ‘play with me?!’ photo instead?

[forsucksfake]

Oh, he's adorable! How can you resist him, even at ungodly o'clock? Thanks so much for sharing, and enjoy every minute with that little darling.

[BiteyShark]

6am is much easier to deal with though so I’ll take it!

I used to breath a sigh of relief if we made it to 5am. Bloody knackering it was .

Today he decided our lazy morning in bed had to finish at 9am. Such a difference.