Getting a pup to sleep through the night

S

sonjafoers

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 May 2009
Messages
2,107
Visit site
I'm having problems getting my 7 month old EBT pup to sleep through the night and am wondering if I've missed anything obvious here! I've tried all the common sense things I think but due to my brain not functioning due to lack of sleep there may be something glaringly obvious I've not picked up on.

I'm a very light sleeper and I've had her since the beginning of December and she has woken me up every single night by becoming restless and waking up at 4.30 every morning and I can virtually set my clock by her :(

She gets walked with my other dogs for about 45 minutes every morning and then comes to the yard with me and mooches about for half an hour or so whilst I feed the horses. They then get left at some point during the morning for 3 or 4 hours and they sleep during this time.

They get an afternoon walk followed by a trip to the stables and stay with me whilst I do any odd errands so they are out and about for 2 to 3 hours after which they have tea and go straight to sleep. I used to take them out again about 7 ish but I'm now making their evening walk later & later in the hope that it will help her sleep through. Last night I took them out at 9.30, got home at 10 and kept her awake until 11.30 - only to be woken up at dead on 4.30 by her walking around as usual.

The most I've left her at this point is about 40 minutes during which she wandered around constantly, if I put her on my bed however she will instantly go back to sleep - and I mean instant! She's snoring within seconds so it's not a needing toilet issue. It's easier for me to do this so I can try and get a bit more sleep but I don't think it's why she gets up because even as a pup in her crate she was awake at this time and I didn't bring her onto the bed then.

She is in the same routine as my other dogs who sleep through the night and I think she's getting enough exercise because she always falls asleep after the walks. I've tried keeping her awake after her tea until the final walk but often this is my relaxing time too so if I'm watching tv she gets onto the settee and falls asleep.

Can anyone suggest anything please before lack of sleep sends me loopy :rolleyes:
 
NeverSayNever said:
Id crate her overnight for now to break the habit :)
Click to expand...

I second this. My cocker spaniel pup has been amazing. I got him in Feb.
He knows crate is bed time and sleeps right through. He woke me up once at 5am by crying - was so unusual i went down to him, let him out and he ran straight to back door, let him outside, did a HUGE wee then ran bk inside straight in his crate and curled up.

Good luck and i hope you can catch up on some sleep soon!!!! :-) x
 
katiey said:
I second this. My cocker spaniel pup has been amazing. I got him in Feb.
He knows crate is bed time and sleeps right through. He woke me up once at 5am by crying - was so unusual i went down to him, let him out and he ran straight to back door, let him outside, did a HUGE wee then ran bk inside straight in his crate and curled up.

Good luck and i hope you can catch up on some sleep soon!!!! :-) x
Click to expand...

Mine is exactly like this will only make a noise if desperate!! shes 8 months old but crated over night with a towel over so completely dark as these early sunrises where making her wake up earlier than normal, now she sleeps till we wake her up sometimes 10am at the weekends! Could the lighter mornings be making her wake up, is she in a light room?
 
Thank you for your replies everyone.

She has only been out of her crate for a month but it was exactly the same when she was in there - she would wake up at about half 4 and be very restless. As I am such a light sleeper I kept her crate in the lounge but my bedroom is above it so I would hear her moving about & the crate creaking.

In the early days I would get up & let her out for a wee because I thought that was what was waking her up, and I would put her straight back in the crate and she would go back to sleep. For the last few months I wouldn't go down to give her a toilet stop and she would wake up & then go back to sleep, then in the last month or she has been free range at night so she's still waking up at the same time but I'm not letting her out. I'm sure she would go back to sleep eventually but it's how long I can cope with lying there listening to her padding around before I crack and put her in bed with me! She also wakes the other dogs up so they all start shifting beds and generally keeping me awake.

Maxine1985 I have been thinking along the same lines as you, the room is very dark but I sleep with the window open & the birds start singing at about the time she wakes up. However she has always done it so when she was downstairs in her crate it's been winter so no birds.

I've debated taking them out at 8ish, going to bed at half 9 and then getting up at half 4 when she wakes and starting the day then to shock her - however I'm not sure what that would achieve apart from totally k****ering me :D

Do you think she's getting enough exercise? She's mainly off lead galloping around during her walks. Could it be diet related although she's fed the same as the boys ( raw ) and they seem to sleep well. Is it the breed? I've never had an EBT before so it's all a learning curve.

Sleeping tablets for me don't work so I'm considering stuffing her full of Nytol instead and knocking her out :D That's a joke by the way!!!
 
Last edited:
might be obvious :o but why not put her somewhere like the kitchen to sleep then she doesnt wake you up? Sounds like she's just got into this habit and by you reacting to her you'll reinforce it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top