i need help! I have a 7 wk old pup for 3 days and he has been up a minimum of every hour all night. I have the snuggle puppy with heartbeat and heat and blankets that we all rubbed on mom and littermates. I feed food in his crate. Food and water are taken away several hours before bedtime He sleeps by our bed to hear us and we can put a hand down by him. We play with him at night but he crashes hard and early and nothing we do can get him awake and playing again. This is our 3rd lab and not had an issue like this before. What can we do?
Do you mean in the evening? I'm sure that's what you are referring to and not night time. He is very very young and it is early days. You haven't had time to get in a routine yet. Do you put something over his crate when it is bedtime? It took me a few weeks to do this with my puppy earlier in the year but once I did it made a difference. Think she felt more secure - she has always slept in the kitchen.
Do you have a crate? Here is some great advice - http://www.thelabradorsite.com/crate-training-your-labrador-puppy/#crate-training-night When I get a new pup I sit by the crate until s/he goes to sleep. I'm always ready with a put-up bed to sleep by the crate if needed, they are so young and missing their litter mates. Eventually, after a week or so, I wait by the door while they go to sleep. Some settle much easier than others. .
Yes I meant in the evening. I put him in after he falls asleep beside me after last potty trip. He is now sleeping a bit better but seems from 3am on he is ready to play and up at 5:30 insisting it's time to get up. We have him sleeping in a box by our bed with a towel mostly covering it. He has the snuggle puppy with heartbeat and a chew toy and his blanket. We are going to have to switch to his crate soon.
Do you think he could be getting hungry or thirsty during the night. I see you said you pick his water up several hours before bedtime -I wonder if you might be better to leave it down until you go to bed, and possibly save just a very small amount of kibble for a late night snack. Might be worth trying.
