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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

9 month old puppy waking far too early

20 replies

fikel · 22/06/2017 10:27

Hello
My toy poodle has gone from being the most incredible sleeper to waking at 5am. We are shattered and obviously not good for DD who has to go to school.
He sleeps in his crate, covered in a quiet area.
Any advice, tips most welcome

OP posts:

JustMumNowNotMe · 22/06/2017 10:29

5am is hardly the middle of the night!

Is it the light waking him? I'd just put him out for a pee and go back to bed if you need more sleep.

furryelephant · 22/06/2017 10:31

Our cockapoos used to wake up between 4.30-5am every morning and barked until someone went down to them in their crates. Then we stopped putting them in their crates and just in the kitchen with the door shut and they sleep happily until someone gets up around 6 if it's an option for him not to be crated it might be worth a try, we were really surprised!

Original poster

fikel · 22/06/2017 10:43

Hi yes it's not middle of night I agree but he used to sleep soundly until 730, so it's a massive difference, as I say it's my DD that it affects the most as she can't get back to sleep. We do take him outside to use the toilet but he just doesn't settle back. I will try leaving his crate door open, thank you and see if that makes a difference

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bluetongue · 22/06/2017 10:45

I have the opposite problem with mine. He sleeps in my bed and I have to force him to get up on workdays. Saturdays are the best. We both get to sleep in

Original poster

fikel · 22/06/2017 11:01

That's a nice problem to have 😀

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Veterinari · 22/06/2017 11:07

Crate doors should always be open - crates should be a refuge the dog feels safe in, not a cage trap

Lucisky · 22/06/2017 11:47

I think it's the light mornings. My toy poodle, 6.5 months, has a preferred time of 4 am for a poo and pee at the moment. I just let her do her business and we go back to bed, when she'll sleep till around 7.30. I don't have trouble going back to sleep usually, but if I do I get up. What could be nicer than early morning on a hot summers day? It does help that I am retired though, I don't have to worry about feeling below par at work after early rising.I am sure this will change as we lose the light, at least I hope so.

Original poster

fikel · 22/06/2017 11:53

My boy is a toy poodle too

OP posts:

Original poster

fikel · 23/06/2017 09:15

Well leaving crate door open made no difference

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 23/06/2017 09:22

Mine has started to wake even earlier at the moment around 4ish and is around the same age as yours. This morning I got up, let him out for the toilet and then ushered him back into his crate and he went back to sleep for a little bit. He is sleeping more in the day, especially during this recent heatwave so I do wonder if that has something to do with it as it is obviously cooler in the early morning.

Veterinari · 23/06/2017 19:48

How are you responding in the morning OP - could you be reinforcing the behaviour?

Original poster

fikel · 23/06/2017 20:28

I'm not interacting with him. Have been advised just to leave him to bark it out, as even taking him out potty is reinforcing his behaviour. I kind of see their logic as he never had problems going even 11 hours through the night.

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freshstart24 · 25/06/2017 19:42

We drape a black towel over puppy's crate so it stays dark. He is still zzzzzzing when I pop down at 6.30 to start my day and I let him out for a wee as soon as he stirs.

niceupthedance · 28/06/2017 15:50

We have this issue too, 4am every day :(

He is a large breed so can't have him on the bed. Can't leave him to bark and whine either as he wakes the kids up and they don't go back to sleep.

He is the same no matter how much exercise he has (but actually got up at 2am one day when we were too knackered to do the evening walk).

There must be a solution, we are losing our marbles with tiredness. Help!

Mrsladybirdface · 28/06/2017 15:59

How old is your dog niceup? Touch wood we have turned the corner with out 1 year old. She sleeps in our room but not on the bed and was getting me up before 6am every morning. Though would go back to sleep. Anyway she now stirs when we starts to stir about 6.30 but doesn't need to go out straight away. So does get better

Catsrus · 28/06/2017 16:44

We used to have a sleeping rota with puppies (and new rescue dogs). One of my DDs or I would sleep downstairs on the sofa next to with the puppy and they pretty soon slept through the night. Once they were comfortable in the house, settled and confident we could begin to leave them alone downstairs. Of course the DDs never wanted to stop sleeping with the puppy

Wolfiefan · 28/06/2017 16:48

@Veterinari I tried leaving the door open when pup went in for a nap. She cried until I went in and shut it!! It's her safe space to sleep in!
My girl is 9 months. Sleeps until 6:30. Goes to bed about 10:30 after a last wee. We have blackout curtains on her windows.

niceupthedance · 28/06/2017 18:36

Ladybirdface he is around 8 months... hoping it's just a teenage thing. Might have to investigate sleeping next to the crate downstairs for a while then... oh that's so not going to be popular with DP!

KinkyAfro · 29/06/2017 06:55

Same as wolfie our girl cries until we shut her crate door, it's the only place she'll sleep at night but door has to be shut. So glad we crate trained her though, she's recovering from a cruciate op and is spending most of the daytime in there too

Original poster

fikel · 29/06/2017 19:46

Crossing my fingers that it was just a blip. We are keeping him going before bed and this seems to have helped of late!

OP posts:

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