4 month old puppy and I'm struggling with lack of sleep

[DoggieNamechange]

HI all - first family dog so need some advice.

DDog is lovely - 4 month old Miniature Schnauzer... He is bright and happy and great in so many ways, toilet, recall, walking etc. He's very loving and full of beans. We're in a good routine with food, walks etc and he gets plenty of exercise and playtime.

We got him at 11 weeks and he'd go to sleep in his crate fine... maybe wake once a night for a pee or get up at 5 for the day so pretty tiring for us but all normal for a tiny puppy. He gradually dropped the wee and started sleeping later so for the last few weeks it's been 2200 - 0700 which is ideal. The last 2 nights he's been waking at 3pm howling and will not settle... scratching at crate like mentalist (he's always been totally fine before and other then 10 mins here and there we've not left him to cry). I've tried ignoring for 30 mins and then sat near the crate and quietly reassured but he's taking an hour or 2 to settle and I'm so tired I don't know what to do.

Is this normal? Is it separation anxiety that he'll grow out of? I know he doesn't need a wee and try to do good exercise and mental stimulation during the day without over tiring. I've just had to step out of a meeting as falling asleep. HELP!

Might he be getting cold now it’s got a little chillier? Pups really love to be snuggly and warm with blankets etc

Thanks - I did think this although discounted as temp not that much of a drop but could seem a lot for a pup. I'll get a heat pad from Amazon and try that.

Our youngest dog had one of those sheep cuddlies with a heartbeat. It’s still her favourite now ( she’s4)
You don’t want to know what she does with it now 😳
She came from a litter of 10 and missed being in the litter heap.

Mouse in the house? Our reacted when heard one scuttling in the night

At a similar age to your pup mine started barking all night and would not settle in her crate. I tried heat pad, low volume music on, a cuddly heartbeat sheep (and after a week we gave up and she now sleeps upstairs).

A dog trainer told me they often do become less settled around 4 months and apparently it’s easier to stay close to them downstairs and retreat gradually; I’m not sure how long it would take to start again and do this.

Lack of sleep is so hard, it got to us and so the dog came upstairs, but I appreciate that’s not for everyone.

@saywhatdidhesay Oh yes forgot to add ours sleep in our room. Youngest still squealed every night for about 3 nights ( to be expected) Good luck OP.

Have pup in your room - no need for sleepless nights with a pup. Either in crate or penned in area with a bed - or your bed if you like. That’s the last thing either of you need. Move them out when they are older and coping better. We never bothered as ours sleeps like the dead so nothing wakes her up 😉