Hi Folks, Ziggy (4 months) has been really good overnight pretty much from day 1. Sleeping from 11pm through until 7am with a loo break around 6 for the first few weeks. These past 4-5 days he's been barking consistently just after 5am. He's not desperate to go out but will pee with a bit of encouragement. He'll go back into his crate for an hour then start barking again. He's fairly sleepy in the evenings but we tried keeping him more active last night but it didn't make any difference. He doesn't seem to be peeing any more frequently than usual so I don't think it's a UTI. I've had a read through the waking early article and similar threads. Seems like the answer is to get up before him and slowly extend out the time but wondered if anybody had any other suggestions/comments. I'm so tired that reality seems like an illusion *stares at hand wondering if it's really there*
....I should also say that he's started losing baby teeth/growing adult ones and he does seem quite keen to get into a chew when he wakes...not sure if that's a factor??
Hi Stew, Sleep deprivation is the worst, isn't it! You can find some information on dealing with early waking here. Hope it helps
Last few nights I have had to change my sleeping pattern to get closer to the pup, was 1 am to 10 am now 10:30/11 PM to 6 am. Wish I could get Balder to go back in after doing a morning bathroom break, or go fast because the outdoors is still to exciting to this puppy.
It used to be 7 (and i was smug) Then it went to 6.30 (less smug) Yesterday was 5.30 (near tears) Today it was 5:15 (can no longer function if not actively drinking coffee so strong it burns through my stomach lining) I was determined today. I got up at 5.15, no eye contact, no play, no good morning. Did a wee (which frankly he didn’t need) and then popped him back into the crate. 20 minutes of barking later - my 14yo stubbled down the stairs thinking it was the fire alarm. I know what I have to do, get up at 4am and let him out so that he does a wee whilst still sleepy... but it’s 4am... and I was smug damnit. I liked being smug. Smug means sleep. He’s now prancing around like rudolf on Christmas Eve and I’m rocking in the corner. He’s just so bloody HAPPY. All tail wagging and smiley. Urgh.
Hi @Stew, it could be that the light mornings are causing him to wake earlier and not want to settle again? Is his crate covered with anything so that it is darker in there?
Hey Selina, that could definitely be the problem. He sleeps in the dining room which is quite bright in the morning as the patio doors are in the same room, hasn't troubled him up until now which is odd. We bought blinds to install yesterday and will set those up today. He did sleep much later this morning though, 6:45!
Let's hope that helps, it could be that he's seeing or hearing something outside now that it's light so early that is disturbing him.
