Is it me....?

[DumbledoresWand]

I have a 3yrbold show type cocker... I've had him for 18mths - he was the puppy a covid breeder couldn't sell...
I've always had Spaniels, Joe is fabulous, though he lacks the bounce and hyper activity of other spaniels I've had - very calm, great on his lead, good in the car, only barks when he's pleased to see someone - human or dog!
He is ruled by food, he put a lot of weight on after castration, but with more exercise and diet food he's getting back to a normal weight.
I live in a small bungalow, with a good sized garden. Joe sleeps on the bed at night, but wakes around 1am wanting food... I've tried ignoring him, putting him in the kitchen to sleep - both for a good few weeks at a time. In the kitchen he just cries the whole night, ignoring him just has him walking round me on the bed nuzzling me and tapping my head with his paw. I thought it was because he was hungry BUT when I go on holiday, and Joe is at the dog boarders - where he also sleeps on the bed - he sleeps through the night til 7am.. every night!!!
I know I snore, and I also get up in the night a couple of times, so maybe I'm actually disturbing him?

Food in bowl, plain good quality food, twice a day, all done in 5 minutes. Stop all treats. Dog sleeps outside of bedroom as his behaviour is currently unacceptable. Ignore 100%. This dog must not be acknowledged or rewarded for nuisance behaviour - if he succeeds even once in a hundred attempts, he will redouble his efforts.
One thing that most owners of spoiled dogs do not realise, is that it is not fun for the dog either. Animals who are constantly pestering for their next snack, trying to think of different ways to elicit attention, never settled - they are absolutely not happy.
Boundaries time!

Haha, my beagle used to do the same, and still does sometimes - I just roll over and ignore him and he'll disappear under the cover in a huff

@villainousbroodmare ... I realise now I need to be tough, and consistant.. it was just a puzzle how he slept through at the dog boarders, he must have me down as a soft touch 🙄

I think he's probably quite smart, and you're very kind, and it can be a terrible combination.
If I could fast forward you through the next three weeks of whining and barking and nonsense, to the contented dog and uninterrupted night's sleep you could both be enjoying, you wouldn't believe it.
Just find your inner resilience, realise that no normal healthy adult animal needs attending to in the night, and remain implacable.

I wondered about what the routine is when you wake up at yours and at the boarders? Do you feed him straight away so he associates you waking up with him eating? Maybe at the boarders he has to wait or something else happens first?

Dogs do learn by association really well and we reinforce and make associations without knowing. My dog has associated the sound of cracking eggs with him maybe getting some scrambled egg so he comes to the kitchen straight away that he hears that!

My dog also pesters my husband but not me for chews in the evenings because he is the one who gives them to him and I hardly ever do. He knows that DH is the one who might give in so he sits by him giving him the eyes and nudging his arm trying to get him to get up to the treat cupboard! I have told DH he needs to ignore and break the association but he's always been the one most likely to cave in with the kids as well.

I get how difficult it is! I have an Akita who wakes me up every night pretty much for the toilet as he suffers with IBS sometimes and also when I ask him to do his business before bed he pretends to be asleep. Sometimes, when we get to the back door, it turns out that he just wants to sniff the cool air, sit outside or come straight back in. Sometimes I just lock him out but then he wakes me up trying to get back in. In summer I leave the doors open much to DHs disgust but in winter it's like having a toddler with the up and down. He only comes to me and when I'm away he somehow manages to sleep through with no issues. Watching with interest.

@ThePure
@HillBillieEilish
It seems like our dogs have got "their person"... except in my case I'm the only person!!.. so I'm going to try ignoring, no speaking, no response at all and see how that goes

I'm not even his person! He makes it clear I'm his second favourite despite everyone recognising that I do everything for him.

I hope it works for you! It's going to be a long few nights! 🤞🏻

Mine is the same. I love him the most and do everything for him but inexplicably DH is his favourite