Hi, this is my first post needing advice as a first-time PUPPY parent to a sweet, excited boy who wakes up early like clockwork. Bodhi is 9 weeks on April 18. We got him on April 5 at around 7.5-8 weeks old. He did not do well sleeping in the same room as us (have not heard any parents experiencing this, our situation might be unique!) Every time we would turn over in our sleep, he would cry and scream. Even if we touched him outside the kennel, it wasn’t good enough, he would cry. We figured out after two sleepless nights that we should try moving his kennel to the main room of the house, where we all hang out, keep the door open during the day to introduce the kennel as a safe place, and have him sleep there away from us. He does great! We go to bed around 10:00/10:30 p.m. and Bodhi wakes up around 5:30 a.m., no accidents in the kennel. Although I should be rejoicing in the full night’s rest, I have an issue or question on his early rising. I have not used an alarm clock since we brought him home. During the week I normally need to be up by 5:30 a.m. anyway, so I kind of welcome the puppy alarm clock. As a light sleeper myself, his stirring, scratching, and whining wakes me. Again, I need to get up anyway... I can tell he senses me getting up because he’s silent while I get up, splash my face, use the restroom, and get dressed. Once I walk out into the living room and turn on the kitchen light, I usually wait for about 10 seconds of calm/silence before I let him out of the kennel, and our day starts! Question/Concern: Should I set my alarm (even though I don’t need to get up any earlier than when Bodhi starts stirring)? My fear is that it will train him to get up earlier and beat me to the alarm. I could lie there for another 30 min till 6:00 a.m, listen to him whine and yelp, meanwhile I need to use the restroom myself. If I did that, I would be in a hurry to get to work on time and that would send all of us in a bad place with being rushed and overwhelmed. I feel like I’m overthinking it and that I just need to be thankful that he sleeps, doesn’t have accidents in the kennel, and that I make it to work on time.
Hi, no real advice I’m afraid but it sounds to me that you are doing really well and many bleary eyed new puppy owners (me included!) would be very envious of that routine!! If he starts waking earlier and earlier then you can deal with that when it happens but for now enjoy your sleep!
I agree with @LaM. You @Bodhi's Mom and your dog are early risers and there are no issues with that. If you later change your habits, then with a bit of training you can reset his body clock.
Hi, thanks to you both (@LaM and @Michael A Brooks), for reading through my first post. Still waking around 5:00/5:30 a.m. during the week (and weekends ). I will just be grateful for the seven straight hours of sleep ! We are now trying to work with him on taking time out/being OK with kennel time while we're home and needing to take care of things, which I'll post separate of this!
Just remember he is only little and if you try to leave him to sleep later he could soil his crate as he can't be expected to hold it in. My pup is 7 months now and sleeps until 8am. Your doing great by the way.
Thank you @WillowA . I have to remind myself every single second that he's just a baby. I'm trying to take in (and be grateful) for all of his puppy moments. I appreciate your comment!
Yes, or otherwise you are teaching him to make noise to wake you up, which you then respond to. Set your alarm, get up before he does and take him out - then return him to his kennel if you need to, whilst you finish getting up and ready. That way, you will not teach him to initiate things and you will hopefully be able to get a lie in at the weekends...
