Help. Need. .....some.......sleep

[Murphys Law]

Sleeping has never come naturally to Murphy I am sure if he could he would stay awake 24 hours.
He sleeps in a crate in our bedroom and when we first got him he would sleep straight through to 8am. Unfortunately, this hasn't lasted. 

He has started waking us up earlier and earlier to the point where this morning it was 5.30am   I am pretty sure there aren't any health issues. The first thing he wants to do is play with his new found love, his tennis balls. Toileting isn't the issue. Sometimes he won't ask to go out for ages after getting up.

We have tried taking him out for a long walk before bed. Feeding more/less earlier and later. Nothing makes any difference. Last night I even switched the central heating off in case the sound of it was waking him up.

Because I work shifts my wife prefers him in the bedroom with her but things can't go on like this. I am starting to feel ill as my shift pattern means I can't really have an early night to make up for getting up soo early.

I am thinking of letting him sleep in the kitchen but as he has slept in our bedroom for four months I can't see this being well received.

How can we get more sleep

[Geordietyke]

Archie has been waking up between 4.30-5.30am recently too, not sure if it's because it's getting lighter on a morning.  It doesn't help that we've no curtains up either......  Not sure what to suggest.  He comes up onto our bed  at that point and he then sleeps till 6.45am when I get up.

[JamiesGirl]

Could it be the sun coming up thats waking him? Jamie is awake from whenever the sun shines through the windows  it is still possible for you to get him used to sleeping in the kitchen just start bit by bit, lots of treats when he settles down in there. does he sleep in a crate? could he sleep in a crate in the bedroom with the door closed? then if he wakes you up, give him a kong to quieten him down if he doesn't need to go out so you can get another half hour sleep.
I get up when Jamie does and i let him out, then i go back to bed for another half hour/hour before his breakfast at 8am sometimes he can be awake as early as 6 so being able to go back to bed and not have him disturb me is brilliant! some days though he does pester me so i just shut him out the bedroom and ignore his whines and he soon settles downstairs on the sofa

[Emilyoliver]

Could it be the sun coming up thats waking him?

Firstly i'd like to clarify that the sun is not yet anywhere near 'up' at 5:30am (I walk my dogs at this time and it's definitely still dark  )

I get up when Jamie does and i let him out, then i go back to bed for another half hour/hour before his breakfast at 8am sometimes he can be awake as early as 6 so being able to go back to bed and not have him disturb me is brilliant! some days though he does pester me so i just shut him out the bedroom and ignore his whines and he soon settles downstairs on the sofa

I do this with mine on weekend mornings when I like to stay in bed past 5:30am.  Pip wakes around 7, they all get let out, Pip has his breakfast, and then straight back to bed.  No games, no fuss.  And Pip goes straight back into his crate (by choice).

[Murphys Law]

It's pitch black in our bedroom so it is definitely not the light. He sleeps in a crate with the door locked but when he wakes up he starts whining which builds up to a high pitched bark and because I don't want to wake up our neighbours I have to let him out.

If he comes on our bed he just wants to play and it won't be long until he legs it downstairs with a sock or my wifes slippers

I will try a kong but they are not really his thing.

As I type this he is asleep in the sun in our hallway.  Try sleeping at night Murphy

[JamiesGirl]

If he comes on our bed he just wants to play and it won't be long until he legs it downstairs with a sock or my wifes slippers

He's simply just not tired. if he wants to play and you don't, tell him. take his toys or anything that resembles a toy to him and put it somewhere he can't get it. teach him a 'settle down' command then use it in the mornings when he wakes up. he thinks that mornings are the best thing ever because its time to wake up and play, well mornings can still be the best thing ever but its not time to play just yet. its time to settle. after he's settled down and you've had some more sleep then play with him as a reward for being quiet

[Lacie_B]

Lacie is now 19 months but last year when she was 7/8 months she was doing the same thing waking at 5- 5.30 am every morning.
She was in a crate in the kitchen, after trying all I could think of I would let her out sit in the chair so se could play and I would doze. After a week of this I tried letting her out when she woke putting her back into the cage without a treat and covering the crate with a large towel or blanket and taking no notice of her eventually she got the message but I was at my wits end as I was so tired I really feel for you but they just try it on.
Now when I go away and she is in a strange place she tries it on again so Now I shout at her and she knows she is just trying it on as I am sure she wants to be TOP dog
Best of luck you will get there I know at the moment it doesn't feel like it

[Murphys Law]

The settle command is something I need to work on, definitely.

Just a thought after watching Murphy sunbathing in the hall. Is it possible he is getting cold at night? He sleeps in his crate on a dog bed but nothing else in with him.

[MIN]

Gemma sleeps with us and poppy. she can be a  fidget but we learnt her to "settle" and she does. I can now sleep and say "settle" at the same time 

[Murphys Law]

I have just spoken to my son who looked after Murphy for 3 days whilst we were away. I asked him what time Murphy was getting up in the morning and his answer was "when I got up" He is 20 so it CERTAINLY wouldn't have been 5.30am 

"Did he bark to wake you up?"  "no didn't hear a peep from him"

Murphy slept in his usual spot in our bedroom while my son slept in his bedroom with the door shut. The earliest he got up was 7.30am when we got back from the airport, the rest of the time was 10am or later

Something for me to think about.

[*MaryG*]

i think it can be very difficult when they get into a new routine. we cover pepper's crate which is actually downstairs. it can be chilly at night so has has blankets as well as his bed in his crate. it is very cosy and he is sleeping in batter since we covered the crate.good luck , these spells can be exhausting.

[Geordietyke]

I woke up this morning around the time Archie has been stirring and the moon (it's fairly full atm) was shining right in my window so maybe that is the problem with him!

[lescef]

Is he being disturbed by you do  you think? (Turning over, snoring maybe!) He obviously can stay asleep. They learn very quickly how to press our buttons. I would say you need to get him out of your room but it will be tricky. Could he go on the landing? A cuddly fleece or towel to lie on might help him if you think he is cold.

[Murphys Law]

Is he being disturbed by you do  you think? (Turning over, snoring maybe!) He obviously can stay asleep. They learn very quickly how to press our buttons. I would say you need to get him out of your room but it will be tricky. Could he go on the landing? A cuddly fleece or towel to lie on might help him if you think he is cold.

it will be my wife snoring

The landing is his next port of call. I will see how that goes. Might have to close our bedroom door so he can't hear my OH snore ahem.

[kalami]

If me and hubby are in bed together and the dogs are with us. Bella is a pain in the butt and wakes at 6ish demanding
If I'm on my own in bed with them I end up waking them, last time it was 9am
If hubby's on his own with them Bella wakes him at 6ish

I put this down to hubby's work day starting at 6am everyday. Whereas with me I do nights / shifts etc so they are used to me sleeping at funny times. They rarely wake me even then it's only gentle like one lick on my face or sitting staring at me. With hubby it's launch themselves at him, snog him until he can take no more.

They now mostly sleep in the kitchen, it's only when I'm on my own they sleep with me.

I'm a bit strict with toys
No toys are allowed in the bedroom or lounge these are relaxing rooms not for playing in. Balls of any kind are for outdoor use only. And 'dummies' are for walks only