It's 4.30am again

Lovescobs said:
It's that time of morning again, my re-home cocker spaniel is barking and barking and barking she wants to get up and run around. I have guests so I feel guilty. Please someone tell me it will stop in a few nights? She's 3 so not a pup
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Is there light coming into where she sleeps?
 
Blackout where she sleeps, so the early mornings don't wake her. It is also possible that you have a fox/cat/badger etc visiting the garden around that time and she hears that, try a radio on very low overnight. I hope something works.
 
Yes it's gong light, but she was in kennels before so I thought she'd be used to light mornings. She's probably used to being able to get up, go out and wee/poo etc. in the end I got up let her out and she had a poo bit carried on barking after I put her back. She's next to my other dog so not suddenly alone. She's had 2 more poos this morning, maybe I'm getting the feed timings wrong as well. I'm pooped! Lol
It'll be really hard to black out the room, it's an open plan living dining room with 4 windows, one being a huge arched one. I'll try and cover her crate maybe.
 
How long have you had her? Mine was a demon when I brought him home, I didn't sleep a wink for the first few nights! But I stuck him out and he learned;)

Is she also an attention seeker in the day - whining when you leave the room etc? Mine did this too, so I used to not come back in until he stopped (I had to have a book on the stairs as he took so long at first:eek:)
 
Spudlet said:
How long have you had her? Mine was a demon when I brought him home, I didn't sleep a wink for the first few nights! But I stuck him out and he learned;)

Is she also an attention seeker in the day - whining when you leave the room etc? Mine did this too, so I used to not come back in until he stopped (I had to have a book on the stairs as he took so long at first:eek:)
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I picked her up on Monday, and it is quite a change in lifestyle for her so maybe she's high on all the attention!
she piddles anywhere so I've mainly started on house training and having her sit before food goes down and when I open her crate (she's generally bouncing up and down at the sight of me, it's not opened until I get a sit)

my 1st intention was to just ignore her, but with her having a poo when I have taken her out I'm not sure whether to come down to let her out but make it later each night. I feel by doing that I'm rewarding her barking.
I agree with waiting until it stops, that worked with my other dog (she cried a lot at 1st) is 10 seconds enough?!
she's wants to be around me all the time, stuck to me like glue, but isn't scared.
her excited happy face makes it easy to forgive the sleepless nights but I'd like to resolve it, although she's 3 its like having a pup again :eek:
 
Could you put in a dog flap so she can relieve herself when she needs to? Do you know her background? Try feeding mashed potatoes in her last feed, as it can encourage dogs to sleep. What about using DAP, either plug in or spray? Can you leave a radio on for company, I know she has another dog there, but a radio would give hum an voices.
 
Be strong. Be firm! 10 seconds is fine but make sure it really is ten seconds, not just counting to 10 really quickly because you want to come out of the loo;)

Cockers are the Velcro dogs but she also has to learn a little self-sufficiency. That excitement is 'Oh thank god you're back! I thought you were never coming back ever!' - you want a more relaxed 'oh there you are. Nice to see you' reaction. Dap can help.

At 3 years old, if she's healthy, she should be more than capable of holding it in overnight. Make sure she has a last run and poo just before bed and she should be fine. Then block your ears up. You will get through it! I did!:D
 
I'd use an airline/plastic crate so more enclosed, and try and cover it with a blanket. They are ventilated on all sides so she should be fine if you leave the back or one side of it uncovered.
 
Thank you for all your ideas and replies, I fed her earlier than i have been today and she's had an evening poo for the 1st time. Last night we had friends over so there was someone kipping on the couch, she didn't make a peep all night. So to tonight I'll know of that's because there was someone in the room! If she barks tonight ill get a dap tomorrow and tonight I'll cover some of the crate it's in a nook in the room so I can cover some of it and leave the back and one side free for ventilation. Here's hoping. I've had one proper big spat that I had to seperate. I'd put the balls away that get thrown for them outside. They hung round the cupboard and it resulted in a spat that needed quick separation and time out. But they've actually been better together since it and still never left alone together
 
This sounds mad but my dog doesn't know where the balls are kept. He never sees me get them, he believes they come from my pocket, makes training a lot easier!! And means he is not hanging around, sticking his head in kit bag, box, cupboard, trying to help himself etc.
So instead of balls come from cupboard, balls come from MUM!
He is a bit obsessed though, I have to show him my open hand when I put them away in my pocket, or else he watches my hands.
 
little update; last night was similar she began to bark at 4.30am. however settled back down by 5.30am ish and started again at 6.30am, I got up at 6.45 as usual for in the week.
she does stop as soon as she hears someone, so if I get up, wake my girls up, have a wee, then go down and ignore them until I have opened the back door, come back to let them out; not a peep (some jumping up and down but no barking).
I'll get DAP and carry on, its been a week today so hopefully it will now start to improve
 
Good news:)

It does take them a while to settle down but it does get better. And they do make up for their devilment in cuteness (I do think his high cute factor is the only reason Henry has made it to his current age:D).
 
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We had this with a cocker we looked after (we've got one so knew they didn't need to get up in the nite!)
The life saver was borrowing a cage and draping an old sheet over it so they felt safe and secure. Not another bark for the rest of the month. Well worth a go if you are a sleep demon like me! Pet shops sometimes hire them if you don't have one. Or can't make a makeshift one
 
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