I'm still being woken by my 7mth lad almost every morning. Its only about half hour early but its really starting to grind!! I don't think this is 'std' puppy behaviour but am prepared to be corrected. He sleeps in a crate/pen combo. He goes to bed at about 11ish - straight in, no fuss lays down in his crate before the light goes off, never a peep during the night but wakes at about 5.30ish and whines almost every morning. I've had him from 8 weeks and other than the first few nights has always slept fine, he never makes any noise during the day, he's not generally a whiner or barker. If he needs the loo he sits at the back door, no 'accidents' since he was about 3 months. I normally (aim) to get up at 6 but somewhere between 5.30 and 5.45 he starts whining, not an urgent whine just a set of 3 or 4 whines then a few seconds gap and again maybe 4 times then a gap of 5mins and starts again. I never go to him when he whines. When he heard me turn off the light in the guest room, where my work clothes are he stops, I can wait at the top of the stairs for 5 mins in silence, then go down and again wait before letting him out and make a fuss. It's just like he's getting me up! He goes straight out for a wee but I would have thought he'd be fine longer than 7hrs? If I go down and let him out for a wee at the weekend at 5.30, he'll go back to bed with no real fuss and be quiet till 8 no probs. (obviously I never make a fuss or treat him at this point) I've tried :- turning the heating off (incase the boiler woke him) Leaving him to whine (most morns we lay and listen to him) Walking him straight before bed Waking earlier to see if he's being woken by someone going to work or whatever. Even if he's a bit tired the day before he still seems to wake early. On the odd occasion (once a month maybe) when he is quite he starts as soon as he hears me moving upstairs. He used to jump at the sides of the pen but has stopped that and just sits in the middle now! I wonder if he thinks the whining is what sets me to come down, maybe I should set an alarm and get up earlier than him to brake the habit of whining even though he stops before I get to him? The only reason I haven't tried this is coz I don't want to get him waking at say 5 and be worse off!! I hoped he grow out of it but no signs yet!! Any thoughts great fully received. Graham
Re: Early morning whining STILL I think you need to move getting up backwards! Start going down to him at 06:15, in the hope that he doesn't start whining until 05:45…
Re: Early morning whining STILL Sounds a bit like Lilly was. She was just looking for company though. Does he actually wee when you let him out? Lilly will go out turn 360degrees then come right back in : Does he go out right before bed? Does he have access to water overnight? Might help to find the best solution for you......
Re: Early morning whining STILL Thanks, He does have a wee He does go out right before bed He has his water bowl all day and night It does seem he needs the loo because he settles with no fuss if required.
Re: Early morning whining STILL Hmm.... Lilly isn't a big drinker. Also has the bladder of a camel. When she was in her crate she never had water overnight. I might suggest removing the water overnight as a first step - it does sound like she needs a wee rather than just waking you up for a play or breakfast. Worth a try. Won't cause any harm.
Re: Early morning whining STILL I don't give Brew access to her water bowl overnight in her crate. She has her last meal of the day early enough to drink plenty and empty her bladder before bed. When her stepbrother spaniel decides it's morning and wakes up, he wakes her up too - she sleeps through no problem. If I were to give her water, she is firmly of the opinion that, if not actually thirsty, all water is to be paddled in and distributed over the greatest possible surface area. : Clare
