There must be a solution to this or nobody would ever have a dog!

[inexcessive]

Can any dog owners help me? My 7 month old puppy has started waking up at around 4am (2am yesterday, went back to sleep at 4am). He whines and barks. I have to go to him as we have neighbours and i can’t just let him bark it out. When i go down he just wants to play. I am literally weeping from sleep deprivation. Currently i don’t feel much love for him and that makes me feel terrible. What the hell do i do?! Can anyone just tell me this will get better?

Let him sleep with you. Dogs sleep in packs and need company. Isolation is distressing for them.

Put his basket next to your bed at night x

The only thing that worked with our dogs was to let them sleep in my room. Both were big dogs so couldnt sleep on my bed or there would have been no room for me 😁. My sister has a staffie. She wouldn't settle downstairs without a teddy to cuddle up to.

Agree with @genevamaybe - this thread could definitely be about a baby/child!

Making me realise that not only do I not want another child, I definitely do not want a dog either!

Could you not speak to your neighbors, explain the situation and that you plan to try riding the barking out? Maybe getting them on board might help so that you can at least give it a try?

Good god you do not need to have the dog in your bedroom, let alone bed, especially when you don't even want to! The most balanced dogs we had growing up lived in the utility room and never set foot upstairs. Never caused any problems. It's the ones that get pandered to that give you trouble! (I know because I made the mistake with my first dog as an adult - a strong willed sausage dog who ruled the roost!).

You have to be firm and consistent. Reassure him you're there but in a non-friendly or fun way, then go back upstairs. It will stop eventually!

7 months old 😢 just misses you. Honestly I'd just bring him up with me but I know not everyone is like that.

When my dog was younger, I used to out him in the kitchen and shut the door at night time 😭 he was always really good, but I feel terrible guilt about that now, but he was really bad for not waki g me up and doing the toilet in the house. Now he sleeps in next to us, right next to the bed. Sometimes he leaves and sleeps on the couch. I would bring him up beside you for a while.

Our dog sleeps in his own bed in our bedroom.

Only thing that solved this for us was letting her sleep in our room. We were dead against it but to be honest it has improved all of our lives! She sleeps from 9pm to 8am now no issue.

Ideally he should be in a crate in your bedroom, that’s where my 7 month old pup is, if he wakes in the night I ignore him for 5, if he’s still wanting to come out I take him out to the garden, don’t really engage with him, let him have 5 mins (which feels like 20 years) and then I bring him back up to bed with dry food and water, he’ll have a bit and then go back to sleep x

I'd say try him near your bed (but on his own bed on the floor). Also, my dog used to wake up several times a night when he was a puppy but now sleeps right through and even likes to lie in! I'm sure he'll grow out of it. Maybe just sit with him but don't play? Otherwise he'll expect that to happen every night. Good luck!

I honestly feel your pain so much. We had exactly the same when our pup was around the same age, whining and going outside at 3am, then running round playing. Eventually we loosened all our rules and let her sleep on the landing on a blanket. It worked and now at 18 months she nearly always sleeps from 10pm until 7am.

@ladynyland why would she do that? She's already established he doesn't need a wee. Last thing she needs to do is establish a night time wee habit.

It is not cruelty to not want a dog in your bed

My dog sleeps in the kitchen, it is not “cold and dark” nor are tiny violins playing , my dog wears fleecy pjs (short haired hound gets cold) and has a nightlight (she is scared of the dark, nightlights help) and has a heater to snuggle up to.

I’d find a big dog in my bed disruptive for sleeping (and sex), so that is not happening here!

My dog did this when I first got him, although he was slightly older. I was told by the vet to either knock on the floor or go downstairs and bang on the door but not to go into the room. It worked the first night I tried it, I couldn't believe it ! The vet said he just needed to know we were still there. He never barks at night now.

TheHumans - that's what I wonder whenever people talk about their dog sleeping in their room. How / when do they ever manage to have sex with a canine audience in residence? Our dog goes crazy if anyone in the family has a brief hug

Nope.

Ignore the bad behaviour praise and reward the good behaviour.
After 2/3 nights it will stop.
Increase exercise in the evening and if you haven't got one consider a crate with a heavy blanket over the top. Professional advice. Do not let him sleep on your bed. He needs to learn you are the head of the pack and he's not an equal. Ditto for sitting on the sofa.

Puppy training classes and agility classes are great for giving puppies mental and physical stimulation and give you some great ideas for training and bonding.

You'll soon start to love your pup again soon.

Sorry if you think it's harsh advice but ice had so many owners and experience problems, usually because they've not let the dog know who the pack leader is and his place within it. Nip this in the bud now before it turns into an even bigger problem.

Good luck x

Adaptil diffuser in the room he sleeps in too should help him stay calm. Most veterinary practices sell them. You can't smell it but the pheromones in it are soothing for him.
What breed is he?
Is he/she neutered yet?

Do not give CBD oil at all. There's some very dubious advice on here. If there's something you aren't sure of ask your veterinary surgeon or nurse for advice. Feel free to pm me as I am one. X

Arghhhh I know lots of people here are against dogs sleeping in beds but I would miss mine so much if he wasn’t in mine! He’s brilliant! Warms my feet up, no need for a hot water bottle, if I’m feeling especially soppy I’ll give him a little spoon 😂 Although I am single so ya know!

Our dog sleeps with us in our bed. She curls up and sleeps all night. I love hearing her breathing in the night

Get another pup 😁 I’m only half-kidding. I have three dogs and they cuddle up at night on one giant bed in the kitchen, and don’t make a peep until 6.30am.

Our dog slept better shut in our small utility room. It stopped him barking at night noises and made him feel more secure.

I can't imagine expecting to go upstairs to sleep and leaving a solitary dog downstairs on its own, especially a puppy. They're pack animals and part of the family. I wouldn't banish mine downstairs at night, she's perfectly happy using her open crate by day but when I go to bed, she comes too and she sleeps on my bed.

I had this problem with my dog. I spoke to my neighbour about it, and explained that I was very concerned about disturbing them. My neighbour suggested leaving him to bark it out.
With my neighbours blessing, I left my dog to bark. The first night he barked for almost 2 hours, it was awful to listen to. The second night, he barked for 40 minutes. 3rd night, he barked for just 10 minutes, and on the 4th night, he barked for a couple of minutes.
He has been quiet ever since, unless he genuinely needs us. On a couple of occasions, he has barked and after a couple of minutes, I go down to him. He goes outside to toilet, comes in again and I tell him its sleep time. Then I go to bed.
My night time routine now goes; I let him out to go to the toilet, tell him its night time, turn off the light, close the door and go to bed. I wake the next morning at about 8am and the day begins.