Hi everyone, we've had our nearly 11wk old lhasa apso Poppy for 2.5weeks now. House training is going really well, we're getting there with the puppy mouthing, we start puppy classes this week aswell which is great but we have a night-time issue thats really bothering us. I feel at the end of my tether with the lack of sleep and it's getting me down

For the first 4 nights she went to sleep in her crate around 11ish, a little whimper and then slept til around 7 which is great. The past 2weeks though she's been waking up around 4.45am howling, whining and barking. I don't know whether to ignore her or go and let her out for a wee but I can say her whining lasts the same amount of time whether I ignore her or get up and take her out into the garden.

If I do take her out she has a very little wee and then screams blue murder when I put her back in her crate as it's obviously 5am and I'd like a bit more sleep. Poppy's in the kitchen in her crate and this room has a doorway not a door so the sound travels up the stairs and wakes my 2 children (4 and 2) and my partner up also.

She normally goes back to sleep at about 5.30am but wakes up about an hour later whining again. I get up with her at this point as I think she's been in her crate long enough at this point (bedtime's about 11.30ish.)

I don't know if this will improve when she can go out on walks from Friday? Also she's been napping from about 7.30-9pm which is too late I realise but I just can't keep her awake.

I'd just like to know people's opinions and experiences and whether you think I'm being unrealistic..
Thanks alot
Kayleigh

I don't actually think that 5.30 is unreasonable for a young puppy! Maybe that is the time when she wakes because of her little bladder and feels the need for the toilet!

Dunno what other think!

I'd be fine if it was just the toilet she needed but it doesn't seem to be just a wee she wants as when I take her out in the garden she has a very small one and then goes to have a look to see if our outdoor rabbits are awake!

She then protests at being put back in her crate which makes me think that she wants to start her day then. Her whines start at about 4.45am aswell which is just an unmanageable time for me to start my day.
Thanks
Kayleigh

Anyone got an opinion or some advice?!

Not really. Babies sometimes wake at 5.30 or so because it is morning to them; puppies are no different. It would be good to stop the evening nap, but at the same time puppies need their sleep and to wake them up will make them very grumpy and insecure.

The best I can offer is that you go to bed an hour earlier, then you won't feel so tired when the pup wakes you up.

Have you tried putting a radio close by, with the sound low? I think she has decided it is morning and there is not a lot you can do about it at the moment. As you say, when she can go for walks, she may be more tired and sleep longer.

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For the first few weeks or even months you expect to be woken up in the middle of the night with a new puppy - her not waking until 5.00 is pretty good

When my dogs were young and woke in the early hours, they were usually quite playful after doing their business in the garden - playing with them for 10-15 minutes usually helped tire them out, but had the opposite effect on me and woke me up

For the middle of the night toilet stops you could take her out on a lead so that she does not run about and play and give her no verbal or physical attention bar the toilet cue that you use and praise when she has gone. Then lead her back into the house and pop her back in her crate still without interaction.

In terms of her waking time in the morning - sounds quite reasonable for a young pup; Kilo varies between 0550 and 0630 now.

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Sleeping through the night is one thing I have had TERRIBLE trouble with my pup. The things that have been suggested and helped have been-

Breakfast preferably something warm and smushy. It is a long time for a little tum overnight, if it is all prepped the night before with just the kettle to switch on you don't even need to do much more than a squint to do this.

No talking at all apart from to praise the wee in the garden. This included me to OH including a wisper of are you awake.

A regular alarm time, the alarm signals it is ok to get up. All interaction only happens after the alarm (the dog should hear the alarm)

A chew or quiet toy to keep the pup occupied (when older and not needing the early breky)

Studious ignoring despite the howling! Obviously only do this when you are 100% that all needs have been met.

Other things to consider are any noises which might be waking her in the first place and light/vision. would covering the crate make anything better.

Consistency. Jess was sooo persistant she is 7 months and we still have days when she starts at 3am Thankfully rare now.

I hope some of this helps. Jess has been an amazingly easy springer in so many ways but this was THE real biggy for us so I can sympathise. its still early days and you could well have no problem this time next week.

Flo's 5 months old, and he too is crated downstairs in the dining room (Flo's playroom) overnight. He was doing 10pm-6am and but like you a few weeks ago this went out the window for some reason! I'm an advocate of leaving them to bark, but when 6am turned to 5am, 4am, then also 1am we began coming down, taking him to pee (no talking or eye contact - I know, I'm a meany!) then back in the crate.

We found it easier to kip downstairs in the lounge til he grows out of it, and have managed to borrow a fold out foam couch from my Mum. If we hear a whimper we can say "ah!!" and he quiets before a bark develops. He seems to sense us because we don't hear a sound out of him and he's dry to boot.

I know we'd all sleep better if we let him in the bedroom but that's not right for us - we agreed before we got him that some things must remain sacred! Don't get me wrong camping out in the lounge is barely ideal but I know that's temporary.

Are you increasing the exercise as your pup gets older? We realised a month or so ago that Flo was still getting the much the same as when he first went out, when he's actually now capable of much more. We also take his water up before bed - I was advised this on the forum and thought it seemed mean but it does help and he's fine.

We have a 12 weeks old pup at the moment and if we wake up before him it's a bit like winning the lottery sometimes! He is still getting up in the night to go outside about 3 - 4 times a week. If he cries in the night we take him out on the lead and don't interact with him too much. He then goes straight back in his crate and when he cried he was left until we got up. He doesn't cry any more and goes straight back to sleep or plays quietly. It's hard to leave them crying but once you have ruled out a toilet trip it is the only way unfortunately. Good luck.

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