Sleep Deprivation (me) Help Please..

W

Wasrandyra

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 February 2009
Messages
906
Location
Maidstone Kent
Visit site
I am writing this totally shattered so I do appolgise for any typo's.

As most of you know I have two terriers, they live downstairs at night in their crate.

Normally I have no problems with them at night although the JRT can be very 'barky' generally for no reason as an attention thing. I rarely get a peep out of the other one, he likes his sleep too much.

When I am on early shifts I tend to go to bed an hour or so earlier and so do they, however the JRT has taken umbridge to this and seems to go to sleep and then explode barking without warning about 10 mins after I go to bed/ just when I am dozing off and at half 3 and or 4 in the morning.

If there was a 'reason' the other dog would bark to so I am fairly sure its an attention thing. I dont want to go down stairs each time as I feel this would be a 'reward' for barking, but I am totally shattered.

I am a llight sleeper and she has woken me up about 6 times this week, usually an hourf or so before my alarm goes off so I cant get back to sleep.

I dont know what to do but it is really affecting me I was so tired at work today that I was nearly in tears. Cant have this keep happeneing.

My OH suggested muzzeling her at night but I think this might be a bit cruel. However probably not as crual as strangling her, which is what I feel like doing at the moment.

Thanks for any advice Rachy xx
 
Nothing a soundproof garden shed can't sort,

sorry no help am sure the knowledgeable will be along shortly.
 
could an electric collar work in this situation? or something similar - whereby you can 'tell her off' without going down to see her so she doesnt get the attention? Probably way off the mark, perhaps too extreme.
Are they in the same crate? could you maybe put a dark sheet over hers? or leave a radio on? sorry probably no help!
 
Is she crated at the mo? Either way maybe Cayla or Katie Houston will be on later, the crating queens!!! You basically need to let her know, this is bed time, quiet time.
I have a noisy bint (think fire engine when she is hungry or excited) and the way I dealt with it was to isolate her from the stimulus (people, activity, cats) either in our large exercise area or in a crate in the kitchen.
I would also make sure she is totally zonked through exercise, training or making her think, during the day.
When I admonish her vocally, it isn't high pitched or fun, it is a very loud, low, firm voice - think 'if I hear another peep out of you, you will regret it!"' - although of course I would never harm her, it is just a tone of voice. Nothing to excite or wind her up further.
I used a battery bark collar on her and it was as much use as a chocolate fireguard, probably hyped her up more.
How's your fella getting on, calmed down any?
 
Hello, Sorry to hear about the lack of sleep! I can sympathise cos got a new puppy (terrier x) in April last year and it took us a little while to settle her at night. One thing that worked for us was building up a little nightime ritual....we would tire her out during the day, then she goes outside, then we stuff her kong toy, or rubber ball with a hole in with a few treats and she gets this as we put her to bed.

She did squeak and cry alot to begin with but we just completely ignored it and used earplugs...sound harsh but she is now totally silent every night and only squeaks a bit when we accidently sleep in. Now she is really enthusiastic about the nightime routine and is fine either in her crate or in a downstairs room. Hope this helps. Good luck with it.....it gets easier
 
Earplugs is a good idea. Is she a dominant bitch? If so she could be stressing that her "babies" ie you, are missing. If that is the case then, demoting her might help. The dog whisperer book is good for stuff like that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top