Dog Community

Early Riser.....

Posted : 3/6/2007 12:07:02 PM

Our little 9-month old pup (long-haired chihuahua/terrier mix) just loves his crate, and goes in very nicely each night and settles down to sleep.

But he wakes up with the SUN! He wakes up around 6:15 a.m. and starts to whine, then he starts whimpering, and then he starts to SCREAM! (it sounds like he's yelling, "OW! OW! OW!" LOL!) Of course, I go downstairs as soon as it starts in so that he doesn't wake the kids. But then I'm up for the day, and I'm tired.......

I would like at least another hour of sleep on my days off. On nice days, I will leash him up and take him for a little run around our cul-de-sac while the kids sleep. But it was 3 below zero this morning!!!

Any ideas to get him to sleep a little longer? He goes into his crate on his own around 9:00p.m., but then DH lets him out to go potty between 11:00 and midnight before he's back in for the night. Should we move his crate to the basement where it's darker? Put a blanket over it (like a bird?!?!)?

TIA -
Ruby

boneyjean

Posted : 3/6/2007 12:11:13 PM

Do you think he needs to potty or is he just ready to get up?

We had this problem with Izzy for awhile. What I found is she was screaming b/c she was hungry so I started feeding her a little later at night and now she can wait until morning to eat. She is a piggy and never misses a meal!

rwbeagles

Posted : 3/6/2007 12:14:03 PM

small dog=smalll bladder....I would think it's less the sun...and more the bladder waking him up, lol. I doubt a blanket over would help for that reason.

When you gotta go you gotta go! Doe he pee when you take him out right then? If he does then you could simply put him back in say quiet, and go back to sleep no?

paulaedwina

Posted : 3/6/2007 12:20:05 PM

In my puppy raising experience they just need to potty by the wee hours. With Yoshi I didn't really even wake up (the crate he slept in was in the bedroom). He'd start to fuss, I'd get up take him outside to potty, put him back in the crate and go back to sleep. Worked like a charm.....except for that one time I fell off the stoop.

Give that a shot. This means getting up as soon as he starts to fuss -taking him out to do his doody and then putting him back. Don't make a big deal, don't make a fuss.

Paula

Kiera Carlson

Posted : 3/6/2007 12:22:22 PM

He doesn't seem to *have* to go when he gets up that early .....he seems to want ME! Even though he is part chi, he's not that small - - I'm guessing 10-12 pounds by now. He's about the size of a smallish Westie.

I have tried to put him back in his crate after calmly letting him out to go pee, not giving him any stimulation at all. It's worked a couple of times, and he's slept for almost an hour again. But usually he'll just start crying again.

I really do think it has to do with the sun. During the late fall and winter, when the sun came up later, and/or it was cloudy in the morning, he was sleeping until 7:30 or later. But now Spring is - supposedly! - on its way, and the sun is up earlier. And so is Rudy!

Tashmoo5454

Posted : 3/6/2007 12:33:56 PM

Is his crate in your bedroom, or is it downstairs?

Kiera Carlson

Posted : 3/6/2007 1:45:06 PM

The crate is downstairs between the kitchen and living room. The living room blinds are drawn at night, but the kitchen is full of windows without coverings. We *could* move his crate to the basement at night. It's a nice finished basement (furniture, carpeting, etc.).

Tashmoo5454

Posted : 3/6/2007 1:49:39 PM

From personal experience, i have found that my dogs like being with us in our room at night. Would you be willing to try having his crate in your room? Most dogs want to feel like they are part of the family, and he may feel isolated from you if you move him even farther away. Sometimes it's comforting for them to wake up and know that you are right there with them, especially with a young pup.

Kiera Carlson

Posted : 3/6/2007 1:53:21 PM

We tried the crate in the bedroom when we first got him. And I've slept on the couch a few times while he's been crated in the living room. But it just doesn't work for me. I absolutely can NOT sleep near that dog! Every little noise he makes, wakes me up with a start!

mudpuppy

Posted : 3/6/2007 2:32:51 PM

earplugs. Ignore his screaming. Every time you respond to his screaming you are ensuring he will do it again the next day.

Cita

Posted : 3/7/2007 1:02:14 AM

Of course, I go downstairs as soon as it starts in so that he doesn't wake the kids.

Yeah... I think a big part of the answer is right there. Responding to his ruckus is reinforcing it. If you're worried about the pottying, you could try setting an alarm for a couple of hours before sunrise, taking him out then, and ignoring him until you're ready to wake up. You could try having the crate with you, or putting it in a soundproof room, or trying to block out the sunlight. I'm guessing he equates sunrise with activity and excitement, and is eager to get in on the action!

labcrab

Posted : 3/7/2007 11:31:20 AM

Assuming it's not a potty issue, this is what worked (perfectly) for me:

An alarm clock! It's that simple. Set the alarm clock on buzzer (not radio) for your regular, weekly wake-up time. Do not acknowledge him at all until that buzzer goes off. He will eventually learn (and accept) that we don't get up until we hear the buzzer. Stick with it and be consistent and eventually you can set your alarm for whatever time you want and he won't bother you.

It worked for Slick and he sleeps in the bed with us, i.e - he can physically wake us up any time he wants. He doesn't even think about it until the buzzer goes off. Good Luck!

Vivian

Posted : 3/8/2007 7:47:41 AM

He has to wee wee take him out, please.