night time woe

[Blueberry]

He has a snuggle puppy EmmaRose, I bought it before we got him, thinking it might help him settle.  He doesn't seem especially attached to it, although I have it in his crate at all times.

[EmmaRose]

He has a snuggle puppy EmmaRose, I bought it before we got him, thinking it might help him settle.  He doesn't seem especially attached to it, although I have it in his crate at all times.

Aaaw bless him, he just needs you at the moment 

[daw]

No not every dog- as I said Blue will gradually detach himself. Every puppy.

Not even every puppy. But I know Henry was unusual in this respect. Never bothered by separation, but always delighted to see us.

Every puppy goes through the same developmental journey. Up to 14 weeks the brain is in a highly receptive phase, primed for new experience. A puppy given company and security at this phase will have a much better chance of avoiding 'unwanted behaviours' as an adult dog. Although no new work has been done post 14 weeks it would be unexpected if a puppy suddenly became the opposite of this. There's an uncontested study in which puppies in good homes were compared with puppies taken from their dams and put into a pet shop environment, caged, deprived of physical contact, restricted in movement and experiences. When followed up their outcomes were measurably much worse. If you were providing your puppy (Henry?) with a good environment and he had the choice of how much stimulation he subjected himself to, that's exactly what he needed. It's giving him freedom to grow at his brain's own rate. That's fine.  But it's impossible to tell if any single dog or puppy is 'bothered' by being left unless extreme distress causes problems. One in four dogs simply lapse into depression.         

[Londongirl]

All I was saying is that he's always been happy with his own company, as in making an active choice to leave our company, and it's not a typical cocker trait.

[Briggo09]

Charlie sounds a lot like Henry londongirl, when he's tired will often take himself off to his favourite spots in the kitchen or his crate to chill and sleep. Doesn't matter where we are in the house then.

Really hope things improve quickly for you blueberry, I only had 2 nights of no sleep and that destroyed me so can't imagine how hard it must be for you. During the early days I left the kitchen light and a radio on low, and I came down and let him out at around 3 to go to the toilet. Blue sounds a lot different to how Charlie was so don't really know what advice I could give other then doing what you feel is right for you  and your pup, maybe talk to your trainer about how to combat separation anxiety as there is always going to come a time where blue will need to be left on his own (even if only for your sanity  )

[Blueberry]

He had another good night with me sleeping on the floor at the side of his crate - not very comfy for me though, and my back is complaining this morning!  I let him out to toilet at 5.30 and he got straight down to it - brilliant!
For the SA, I'm working on getting him to snooze or play in his pen during the day, after meals and walks etc. whilst I'm in the house.  Hoping to get him to a stage where he's happy to play quietly in his pen without me being in the room.
The next step will be to leave the house briefly, leaving him in his pen, and build up the time gradually.  There's no huge rush, and most of the time one or both of us are around at home.

[daw]

All I was saying is that he's always been happy with his own company, as in making an active choice to leave our company, and it's not a typical cocker trait.

Actually all I was saying is whatever you've done it seems to have worked and you have a calm well-adjusted cocker. A result!

[Londongirl]

All I was saying is that he's always been happy with his own company, as in making an active choice to leave our company, and it's not a typical cocker trait.

Actually all I was saying is whatever you've done it seems to have worked and you have a calm well-adjusted cocker. A result!

Aw, thanks. I was giving credit to Henry for being a good 'un, but perhaps I can take a bit too!

[daw]

Yup!

[Blueberry]

Time for a little update on Blue's nocturnal habits, just in case this is useful for anyone else having puppy sleep issues.  I slept on the kitchen floor for a few nights, moving slowly further away from the crate until he could hear me but not see me.  Blue was fine with this arrangement, but I had a couple of very bad nights myself, with severe cramp and hip troubles, so it was essential that I got back to my bed sooner rather than later.
So 3 nights ago I waited until he was settled in his crate and then I went up to bed.  The first night I set my alarm for 4am, which is when he usually starts moving around.  I actually made it downstairs just as he was stirring, and it was perfect!  He went straight out to toilet, and then settled back to sleep with me on the sofa.
Second night, I planned to repeat the same routine, but he woke us first at half past midnight.  I got up to sort him out - he'd soiled and trod in it, but he went back to sleep within half an hour, and I went back to bed.
Last night, same again.  Up briefly at quarteer to one, I went down and settled him (no soiling this time  ) and was back in bed within 20 mins, and I got up again at 4.  Looks like this will be the new routine for a bit, maybe until the mornings start to get darker, but at least I am able to get some decent sleep in my bed, I'm too old for sleeping on the floor, that's for sure!

[daw]

I'm sure things will gradually improve as he's able to wait.  Puppies really want to stay clean- it's their natural instinct. But until their systems mature they often just can't do it. When they can't make it through the night it's important to let them have somewhere other than their beds to soil. Is he is a puppy pen or still crated?

[Blueberry]

daw his crate is inside a pen, so he has a toilet area with puppy pad separate to the crate, and also an alternative play/sleep mat area.  He had toileted in the appropriate place, but subsequently trod in it.
The soiling only happens when he gets distressed - if I'm not there or I don't get down soon after he wakes.  I suppose he just thinks he's been abandoned, poor little chap.  He sleeps a lot during the day, it's a pity he can't save it all until night time!

[daw]

Well he will be trying to be good- that's what to remember when he's not! It will improve gradually...and puppies do need to sleep a lot in the day- as for saving it up for night I bet everyone with a new baby thinks the same thing!

[Misty Roan]

I'm glad things are improving for you both. If it's any comfort I was advised that pups don't have full bladder control until six months so I got up several times a night to let Misty out (sometimes she had to be woken lol) but it was worth it. She was happy and soon started letting me know when she needed to go. The other really good advice from here was not to let her get overtired, easier said than done, but she definitely mouthed and nipped more when she needed a sleep.

[chien]

Was reading this and wanted to share my own experience.

I love my sleep and the constant getting up to check on the pup to make sure she got to the toilet was starting to affect me during the day. I was always worried about her soiling her bed area and i hated it when an accident occurred as it made me feel so guilty Also the constant whining broke my heart and i was worried about the neighbors!! From what i read they can only hold in 1 hour for each month they are old. I'm sure that's a very rough estimate.

We then decided we would try her sleeping on our bed, I was really worried at first that i'd wake up to a wet patch or a surprise on the floor.  My partner unlike your husband was actually all for this so I was lucky!! As a child I always allowed my dog to sleep on the bed. I know some will not be for this but each to their own

Since allowing her to sleep on the bed she is a lot more content and i think better behaved. She will wake me up when she needs the toilet, PERFECT! , it's usually a wet nose to my face and a slap with the paw if that doesn't work! I'd take her down , she'd go to the toilet and depending on the time I might choose to feed her again. Lately she's going to bed at 11/12 and not waking me until 5-6am which exactly matches the rough estimate about them being able to hold 1 hour for each month they are old! she's almost 6 months old, amazing! I thought at first i'd never get any sleep with her trying to play with us but she seems to understand to leave us alone when we're sleeping unless she needs something!

She will then sleep from 5/6 until 11 at the weekend or during the week at 9am.

For me having her sleep on the end of the bed makes us both happier!