Dog Community

Not letting us sleep! Behavior change

Posted : 6/23/2006 11:17:09 AM

I could really use some advice right now about a change in behavior with our 2 dogs. Up until about a month ago the dogs (ages 16 months and 6 years) easily slept through the night. In fact, when we woke up we would have to rouse them to get them up and moving. Well I don't know what has gotten into them, but now they are waking up between 3:30 and 4:30am every morning. They are wild too, starting the Basenji 500 at 4am! They just won't go back to sleep. My husband and I are losing so much sleep. They only way we can get sleep is to let them out in the backyard all morning until its time for us to get up. It's an ok solution, but I really don't like them to be in the yard unsupervised. Do any of you have an idea what might be causing this change in behavior? They used to be the laziest dogs imaginable in the mornings, now they are destructive forces of nature! Any suggestions or thoughts would be very welcome.

Thanks, Karen

sooner

Posted : 6/23/2006 11:22:23 AM

I have no idea if this is even relevant, but I#%92ve noticed some changes in my dog#%92s schedules as well. I attributed it to the changing weather; they#%92re getting their activity in the cool mornings and evenings and being lazy all day.

Xerxes

Posted : 6/23/2006 1:19:34 PM

Sighthounds are notoriously sensitive to changes in weather. I know that PHs behavior can change with the seasons, up to and including eating habits, sleeping habits and playtimes.

Lance Reed

Posted : 6/23/2006 2:39:03 PM

Hi, as there been any recent change in their diet (new brand or change in feeding time) ?

Or are they waking up when the morning light is just about to come in....?

Karen

Posted : 6/23/2006 2:45:37 PM

Nothing has changed in their diet...but I do live in Arizona and the sun is starting to rise very early now. We adopted both of them since September, so perhaps this is their normal pattern in the summer, we just missed out on the joys last summer. I suppose they may just be wanting to enjoy the morning "cool" before it heats up to 110. Oddly, they have both been wanting to spend a lot more time outside in general too. It's so hot though, so we aren't letting them spend too much time out when the sun is up. Thanks for your responses so far.

Amanda R

Posted : 6/29/2006 1:10:09 AM

for now it is instinctual being a sighthound and changing with the whether, but as the dog gets older the change becomes less dramatic, i wouldnt stress about it because many dogs are like that, i suggest dog proofing a room for them instead of the yard since it makes you uncomfortable though because its not really a behavior you can just get rid of

spiritdogs

Posted : 6/29/2006 6:50:33 AM

They only way we can get sleep is to let them out in the backyard all morning until its time for us to get up.

Perhaps after you did this the second time, they realized that by "racing" they could get you to do it all the time (smile).
It might take a couple or three nights of sleeplessness to convince them that you are going to ignore them, so they might as well quiet down.

labcrab

Posted : 6/29/2006 4:06:48 PM

Slicky did this in the Winter - 3:30 AM every morning. It killed us becuase we were still potty training at the time. Soooo.. when he'd get up, we assumed he had to go out and would gear up and head out into the FREEZING 3:30 AM NY winter air!! Harsh.. We quickly learned that he just wanted to *play*... It actually took several weeks of pretending to be asleep and NOT responding, for him to get the picture. I dare say it was more like a month.. I think I delayed the whole thing by freaking out and yelling at him to "GO BACK TO SLEEP!" at least twice. In my defense, I was extremely sleep depraved and he was extremely annoying. You're going to have to suck it up and pretend to be asleep no matter what they do, if you want them to stop.

cakana

Posted : 6/29/2006 4:12:31 PM

My samoyed did this every spring for a few days at a time. I'd go downstairs let her out, she'd sniff the air and wander and finally I'd just let her stay out (she could nudge the door open when she wanted to come in). I finally got tired of it and ignored it. Then one night she nudged me and I ignored her only to wake up in the morning to find she'd had diarrhea all over the house. So, now with my labs, I'll try to ignore it but I'm too nervous to go back sleep anyway, so I get up [:-].