We brought our lovely 15 week WCS puppy home when she was just over 8 weeks. We were off work for 3 weeks to get her settled in. She’s exceeded all our expectations - which were that it’d be like having a baby and toddler all rolled into one and utterly exhausting. Toilet training going very well. She’s really receptive to training - we do little and often. Got puppy classes organised from next week. We’re a family of 4 and our working patterns mean she’s only left alone in the house when we choose to do so - she’s up to 20 minutes every other day. She seems happy and content most of the time. Can be bitey as expected when tierd and as like to chew the wooden furniture given half a chance, along with stones and random sticks!
After an early evening 10 minute sniffy wander or play in the garden she tends to settle down with us for snoozing on the sofa. Last outside wee around 10.45pm, bed in her crate downstairs at 11pm at the latest where she happily trots in and settles. It has a dark blanket over it.
She wakes between 4-4.30am every morning for a wee and poo and then will settle back in her crate until 5-5.30am. Since day 1 she’s been up at that time, (no matter how many times up in the night) After being fed at 6am she’ll sometimes snooze for up to an hour and half.
How do we stretch her sleep until 6/6.30? Is this habit? Is she just hungry (fed 6/10/2/6 although we aimed for 7/11/3/7)? Do we just need to live with it until she’s older? Do we just ignore the whine at 5am in the hope she settles. I don’t expect her to sleep 11-6, but the 5am wakes ups for the day are hard going - maybe that’s just the downside to her being generally fabulous!