Ok lab friends, I am looking for some advice. My Holly is just about 6 months old. Sleeps well in her crate. Except she has taken to whining and barking much earlier in the morning than we want to get up. She gets up once in the middle of the night to use the potty, but she isn't barking to do that. I know that getting up with her just teaches her that she can get us up, but short of letting her "bark it out" and wake up everyone in the house, does anyone have any advice for dealing with this? I really don't want to be getting up at 4:30 AM for the rest of this pups life. Thanks in advance!! Anyone ever have this happen but have the pup outgrow it??
My boy Shadow started barking in the early morning at around that age. Yes, he grew out of it. The best advice is to temporarily go back to setting an alarm for just before Holly wakes up, taking her out for a very quiet toilet break, even if she doesn't need to go, then put her back to bed. Move this by 15 minutes later each night. This should hopefully "reset" her.
My puppy starting barking in his crate at 1-2 months, but at night (not the morning). I went downstairs and yelled 'no' at him, and squirted him in the face with water. That was the first and last time he ever barked in the crate, and the first and last time I ever squirted him with water. Does your puppy realize you don't want him to bark? He replaced barking with a high pitched whine in the morning at ~4 months. My solution to this was to take him to pee, but otherwise he stays in crate till 6:30 am. AND, I moved his breakfast to 8am. I was feeding him as soon as I let him out of the crate. I read an early breakfast can make the problem worse, as they are whining partly for food. I've never tried to train him not to whine, as then I wouldn't know if he needs to use the bathroom.
" In principle, I have no problem with dog trainers who use corrections in training, provided that the corrections are proportionate and effective. PIPPA, MATTINSON. TOTAL RECALL: PERFECT RESPONSE TRAINING FOR PUPPIES AND ADULT DOGS (p. 31). Quiller. Kindle Edition. "
And yet, Pippa herself, like most of us here, no longer uses punishment in dog training, as she has realised there are better ways. I could find the quotes to support that statement, but I'm not sure you're interested, so I won't waste my time. That's not what you said you did. You said: Yelled. Squirted. Yes, I say that is absolutely wrong. Absolutely. If you would like me to back that up with reasonable explanation, I would be happy to, but, again, I don't think that you're interested in hearing it.
@RMBIII it could be something that is waking your pup up at that time. Could be someone going to work, or walking down the street. Fiona has given good advice in terms of setting your alarm clock and taking her out for a wee then pop her back in her crate to sleep. It might take a few days to a week, but be consistent and she will learn.
