We just moved and i can't her to sleep

    • Puppy

    We just moved and i can't her to sleep

    I have a 3 year old min pin and from the time I got her she has lived in the same apartment with 2 cats myself and my girlfriend. My girlfriend and I have since broken up and I just moved out with the dog. I understand it is a stressful time for her, but I can't get her to sleep at night. She just paces the new apartment and barking. everyonce in a while she will lie down and sleep next to me but then she jumps up and barks. I have gotten a total of 20 minutes of sleep over 3 days. How do I help her? I would do anything for her.
    • Gold Top Dog
    My first thoughts are if you have familiar stuff for her to lay down with, like blankets, towels, etc, that smell familiar.

    If you've truly only gotten 20 minutes of sleep in the last 3 days, I would go to the vet and ask for some valium for her.  This will help for a day or two to allow you to get some much needed sleep as well as for her.  This is NOT a long term fix, but I know that I do not function well or patiently on low sleep.  Today is a good example of that for me.  ;) But the meds will allow you both to recoup a little and then begin with some desensitization stuff for her in her new place.

    Good luck!
    • Gold Top Dog
    First of all -- this starts earlier than just bedtime -- extra exercise is called for, to de-stress her.
     
    Then first, I would crate-train her.  Give her a SAFE PLACE (she's hearing everything and feels by duty she has to see all, hear all, be EVERYWHERE) -- put the crate right by your bed (use a wire crate so you can touch her while she's in there). 
     
    TRAIN her to the crate -- feed her in there, give treats, have her chillin while you are chillin next to her watching TV, reading or whatever.
     
    Try a little valerian root (tincture is fastest) --and it will help relax her -- a dropperful squirted behind her canine tooth or even mix it into a bit of peanut butter or tahinit. 
     
    Or just plain clamp your arm around her and tell her to stay!  See she feels like she has to protect you -- so start on a little "Nothing In Life Is Free" and convinced her YOU have it all covered and she doesn't have to take care of you.  That is *your* job!!
     
    Hylands Calms is also a big help -- give it like a treat and tell her to chew it up (they aren't bad tasting) -- it's a homeopathic and not at all habit-forming either. 
     
    Rescue Remedy works really well for some dogs -- again -- squirt it behind the canine tooth.  Just tap the bottle like 8 times before you use it (don't 'shake' -- just tap on it). 
     
    All 3 of these things are easily found in most any health store. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    totally agree with the crate training thing. kenny lived with us for 7 months in our apartment, and then we moved to a house and i believe the transistion from his foster mom's house, to our apartment, to our house has been easier by having him crate trained. that way he always knows where "his place" is no matter where we live.