Hi, I don't if anyone can help. We've had our 12-week old Cocker Spaniel for two weeks now and keep him downstairs at night in a pen, with a crate inside the pen where he can sleep. Outside his crate we have pads on the floor for any accidents over night, which there always are.

We generally put him to bed at circa 11pm and he wakes us up at 5am every morning (and our neighbors) with his barking until one of us goes down to let him out and clear up the mess (and him)....how can we progress with this as he seems to have fallen into a routine and we are desperate for him to hold himself for longer and for us get some more sleep!?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Sounds to me that you have done a pretty good job with him myself! twelve weeks is still pretty young though !! You could trying adjusting the meal times slightly! this may help! Is he on three meals a day?

To add! My two are waking around that time also! They are not barking but I can hear them moving around and playing about!! their body clocks a working with the light mornings me finks!

DT

Hi, thanks for your reply. I guess you're right, it probably is the early light, maybe we'll try feeding him slightly earlier each time (3-times a day) and make his room darker...fingers crossed!

I really think that when we get the longest day over and enter July things may start to continue! Altering the feeding times will probably help too!
regards
DT

11pm to 5am is a long time, it will get better as he get older