Suggestions needed, please as to how I can encourage my 12yr fn red cocker bitch to sleep/be quiet for a further hour each morning. Night time routine is that Millie is let out at about midnight for last wee and then given a biscuit in an open covered crate in the kitchen. No problems with this. The crate is where she gets all her treats. The kitchen blind is drawn. She is waking at 5am, whining to be allowed out of the kitchen.
The problem apart from my shuteye is that the kitchen adjoins my neighbour’s house. His bedroom is virtually above and naturally he resents being woken as early as this! Millie has access to outdoors via a dog flap. She’s happy to use the flap at other times of day and night.
Usually she is fed at about 6pm after a 40 min walk. I have tried feeding her later, about 7pm, but this doesn’t seem to have had the desired effect. Can anyone suggest anything, please? IS there anything I can do or give Millie? I’d be happy with a 6am wake-up call from her... I just don’t feel I can let her continue fussing and whining
when she wakes at 5am, due to annoying my neighbour as I do want to stay on good terms with him. I tend to come down and without saying anything let her in the lounge while I crash out on the settee!
Her history is as follows: I rehomed her in Sept 2012 from an elderly lady, who had allowed Millie to sleep on her bed and hardly left Millie on her own. Very very gradually I have weaned her off this and she will now stay quietly in the daytime for about 30 mins on her own, if she knows I’m around. Magic! Otherwise it’s a gradual crescendo of whining to banshee howling as she suffers from separation anxiety.
It is just novice me and the dog here at home! Thanks in hope!
