Neighbours

[jaybee]

Bingley sleeps in our room so when he wakes up he just licks you all over until we get up 
Not for everyone though, I understand that!

[beanbag]

I know you said that he takes himself off at 9:30, is there anyway of seeing if he can stay up for any longer  that way he may sleep until later in the morning? I dont know if that would work or even if you should do it :S thought it was worth a suggestion.

[debbiedaywalker]

What does everyone else do? I can't have the only cocker in the world who wakes up between 6:00 -6:30 am?

I wish   Dylan (8 mths) wakes between 5 and 6 am, it used to be earlier, 2 - 4 am, but I didn't know if it was because he was in pain because of his sore elbows. So I would get up, let them out then go and sleep (or try to) in spare bed with them   so OH could get some sleep. He's my third Cocker and all of them have been early risers, but that's fine with me, we now get up 6ish anyway. Sherlock sounds like a good sleeper already, I'm sure he will eventually go longer and fit in with you.
I hope you are feeling better  

[Holmes]

Thanks everyone, I knew I could count on COL for some sensible advice 

There has been odd occassions where he has stayed up later, and it makes no difference; he still wakes at 6:30. He will often go back to sleep for another hour or so once he has had his breakfast, toilet and morning cuddle at 7 am.

Debbie, I too think Sherlock is doing really well, as Catie said, I'm not even sure if he is making a lot of noise during the day, as there is no evidence to suggest he is, other than her reaction to his whining this morning. The morning whine seems to be the main issue here, but i am down so quickly it is literlly only 5-15 seconds, whch I think is pretty good going from the neighbours perspective, it could be worse and we could leave him whining for  a lot longer every morning in the hope he stops. (I would actually quiote like to try this now I know his bladder is stronger, but don't dare after what happened this morning).
 
The only way I can see being able to stop it happenig is to pre-empt him by geting up at 5:30 every morning from now on, but he's a bright dog and will soon click and so probably start whining earlier. Argh, I don't knwo what to do.

I am feeling better Debbie, but will probably feel sick with worry come bed time. 

[twiceover2]

We have had problems with our neighbours complaining about the dogs barking.  At first we tried to work things out with them.  We left a tape machine running a couple of times when we went out and recorded nothing - no noise from the dogs.  We always leave the TV on for the dogs and close the curtains so they aren't barking at people going past the windows.  I checked a couple of times with the neighbours hwo said things were fine.  Then when Pippa came into season, I took Barney out for a short walk on his own.  We were gone no more than 10 mins.  A few hours later my neighbour asked if I had been out all morning.  I asked why and she informed me Pippa had been barking constantly from 8am until 12pm.  I told her I had been in the whole time except for the 10 minute walk with Barney.  Since then I have given up worrying! 

The dogs are quiet on the whole.  Pippa barks when someone comes to the door or when I am getting her lead on for a walk.  She also whines in a morning if she needs to go out (we too have experienced bangs on the wall and swearing because of this).  My attitude now though is that I will keep them quiet as much as possible but they are dogs, not robots and cannot be expected to be silent all day. 

If your neighbour reports Sherlock to the council, someone will have to actually come round and hear him making unreasonable persistent noise - not just a couple of barks or whines.  I hope your neighbours turn out to be more reasonable than ours, but if not, please don't worry unduly.

[Bibby]

Oh I so feel for you, these sorts of things make you feel really tense, which often the dogs pick up and that can make things even worse, so I guess my first bit of advice would be to try (and I know that's not easy!) to keep calm about the whole thing. I think really the best route might be through the husband, as he seems to be a lot more reasonable. Perhaps invite him round and go through your "training plan", explaining to him about the various developmental stages - maybe liken it to potty training a toddler as he should be able to relate to this if he has young children! Reassure him that this situation won't last for ever, and maybe they could even help you out by letting you know when the barking or howling occurs? At least then they might feel as if they are involved in your decisions as to what to do next? I think if you show them that you really are concerned about disrupting their family and will do anything you can to reduce the noise, they will come round and try to ride the short storm! Good luck x

[debbiedaywalker]

 
The only way I can see being able to stop it happenig is to pre-empt him by geting up at 5:30 every morning from now on, but he's a bright dog and will soon click and so probably start whining earlier. Argh, I don't knwo what to do.

I am feeling better Debbie, but will probably feel sick with worry come bed time. 
[/quote]

You could try that and gradually make it later each night also I think it may help you tonight knowing that you'll get to him before he wakes. Glad you're feeling better about it 

[Holmes]

Well I tried moving his crate to the kitchen but he started whining after about three minutes. I've now moved it back and he jumped straight in and refused to come out even for a biscuit, so I think he is happy now  Hopefully he won't whine during the night now it's back where it has always been. About to go to bed myself since I've set the alarm for five thirty. Please everyone keep their fingers crossed that he doesn't wake before then  Im leaving both mine and his door open so I stand a better chance of hearing him before she does

[BobnDot]

Friends of ours live in a modern mid terrace house, the type with paper thin walls.

Their dog is crated in their living room during the night and tended to whine and bark for quite a time after they went to bed. They bought a piece of hardboard about six inches larger than the top of the crate and a cheap high tog quilt.
The hardboard, placed on top of the crate, prevents the quilt touching the sides of the crate and getting chewed while the quilt, draped over the crate and touching the floor all around, is quite effective at reducing the noise and their dog, a rather yappie Jack Russell, seems to settle much more quickly in the complete darkness.

[debbiedaywalker]

Did you get to him before he woke up? My little darlings woke up at 4.30 

[Jenna]

Friends of ours live in a modern mid terrace house, the type with paper thin walls.

Their dog is crated in their living room during the night and tended to whine and bark for quite a time after they went to bed. They bought a piece of hardboard about six inches larger than the top of the crate and a cheap high tog quilt.
The hardboard, placed on top of the crate, prevents the quilt touching the sides of the crate and getting chewed while the quilt, draped over the crate and touching the floor all around, is quite effective at reducing the noise and their dog, a rather yappie Jack Russell, seems to settle much more quickly in the complete darkness.

Wow you have some very innovative and resourceful friends. Impressive!!

[Holmes]

Jenna, we had thought of ways to reduce sound fom the crate but were worried about air flow. I did place an off cut of a of thick wool carpet on top if it last night though  The quilt might be somewherefor me to go if all else fails.

He started whining at 5:00  but I think I got to him before it started properly, and he was sat quietly when I went down. He needed a wee and a big poo, he is still not back in a routine voter all his tummy problems. When I got back in bed I started to doubt that I'd heard him at all because I was so tired etc. and that maybe I'd dreamt it.

Fortunately after his poo he went back in his crate fairly easily and I didn't hear a sound from him til 6:15, or at least I think I heard a sound and so shot straight down before he has chance to start. Goes without saying that between 5:00 am and 6:15 I didn't get any sleep but just lay there listening.

I fear I will be so tired tonight I'll sleep through his noises until they are loud enough that they have already woken her next door.

He is doggy day care today though so maybe he will be so exhausted he will be better. I hope so.

[debbiedaywalker]

What a good boy Sherlock  there's no way mine would go back to their own  bed after being let out at 5

[Holmes]

Slept through last night   I had o wake him up at 6:16. I'm very happy, though very tired as I got hardly any sleep and kept waking up every hour   Hopefully a few more days of this will help me relax more and so sleep better.

Other related good news is that yesterday was the first 'business as usual day' regarding hs poops. Three beauties  

Thanks everyone. Just hoe I've not jinxed it by speaking too soon.

X

[Poppypuppy09]

What a good boy  , hope it continues