Waking up too early

[PupC]

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My 15 week old puppy is doing really well - sleeps well in her crate goes to be beds easy enough but will wake and whimper at 5-5:30 most mornings for the toilet. Once out and toilet done she is not willing to go back to crate.
Advice please
Routines & Feed times are areas we may need to adjust?

 

[JudyN]

When does she have her last meal of the day?

Of course, she still might need to wee (never restrict water in an attempt to help her sleep through) - or she might just think that 5am is a good time to start the day anyway. Blackout curtains, or a blanket over her crate (as long as it doesn't get too hot) might help. Or you could try waking her up and taking her out for a wee at around 4am in the hope that she will still think of it as night time so will settle in her crate again after.

Or you could see if she will settle down out of her crate?

 

[JoanneF]

And - where does she sleep - does she know a ”settle down”?

 

[PupC]

When does she have her last meal of the day?

Of course, she still might need to wee (never restrict water in an attempt to help her sleep through) - or she might just think that 5am is a good time to start the day anyway. Blackout curtains, or a blanket over her crate (as long as it doesn't get too hot) might help. Or you could try waking her up and taking her out for a wee at around 4am in the hope that she will still think of it as night time so will settle in her crate again after.

Or you could see if she will settle down out of her crate?

Hi Judy
Thanks for speedy response.
The room where she sleeps is without curtains ( due to renovate in coming months) and although her crate is tucked away with blanket on top I think it is still too light and this is part of issue
Her last meal is 6:30 but may alter this to earlier. She is fine with a wee as there’s a puppy pad which she uses as last resort.
She settles again quickly and sleeps once she has had a poo outside but then likes the company. This is probably the issue.
I will try to block the light with her blanket and adjust meal time and see what happens. Maybe a later walk too?
She is such a wonder I really don’t hate to be up at 5:30 but would like to have a sleep in now and again

 

[JoanneF]

It might help her settle better if you could have her crate in your room for a bit. It doesn’t have to be forever, but if you can train her to ‘settle’, it is a lot easier while she is beside you.


And a bedtime biscuit might be a good idea since it is possible she is waking up hungry.

 

[PupC]

It might help her settle better if you could have her crate in your room for a bit. It doesn’t have to be forever, but if you can train her to ‘settle’, it is a lot easier while she is beside you.


And a bedtime biscuit might be a good idea since it is possible she is waking up hungry.

Thanks Joanne
May try biscuit or a chew - we used to do that at the start whilst having a bit of a groom.
Thank you -

 

[Hemlock]

Puppyhood doesn't last long, and she'll be sleeping through once her body allows. It's not ideal to expect a puppy to hold on when it needs to empty itself, and all puppy pads do is teach pup to eliminate in its crate, which can make later house-training really difficult as soft furnishings appear to be large puppy pads. So I'd recommend ditching the pads and doing what you are already doing, which is taking her out when she asks, or else set the alarm for earlier as has been suggested and take her out then. I'd suggest settling her down with a stuffed kong afterwards, as she is likely to be very hungry - growing beings get astonishingly hungry. This isn't for ever, just until her body matures enough to allow a longer night.

 

[PupC]

Puppyhood doesn't last long, and she'll be sleeping through once her body allows. It's not ideal to expect a puppy to hold on when it needs to empty itself, and all puppy pads do is teach pup to eliminate in its crate, which can make later house-training really difficult as soft furnishings appear to be large puppy pads. So I'd recommend ditching the pads and doing what you are already doing, which is taking her out when she asks, or else set the alarm for earlier as has been suggested and take her out then. I'd suggest settling her down with a stuffed kong afterwards, as she is likely to be very hungry - growing beings get astonishingly hungry. This isn't for ever, just until her body matures enough to allow a longer night.

Thanks Hemlock
I tried to turn crate around to have back to window and face under something else and this worked last night - whoop whoop
She is a good girl and always asks for the toilet - the pad is only out at night and in another space close to where she comes out to call for us. It is quite rare now that she uses the pad and it’s usually when we don’t hear her or get there in n time.
I’m so pleased with her progress and yes you’re quite right just need a little longer until she can hold it. I love the idea of a snack/ Kong snack when back in as you’re right she’s probably hungry.
thanks again
Will keep you posted

 

[JudyN]

Sounds like she's doing really well!

 

[PupC]

Sounds like she's doing really well!

Thanks Judy
It’s our first puppy and we are super proud - just want to make sure we are doing the best for her.

 

[melb100]

Or .... you could always go back on all your promises never to let a dog sleep in your bed, and when she comes back in from 5am toilet you let her sleep on the end of your bed on a special dog blanket, never at the top of the bed, which you convince yourselves means you still have some boundaries. Speaking for a friend of course.

 

[PupC]

Or .... you could always go back on all your promises never to let a dog sleep in your bed, and when she comes back in from 5am toilet you let her sleep on the end of your bed on a special dog blanket, never at the top of the bed, which you convince yourselves means you still have some boundaries. Speaking for a friend of course.

Ooogh Melb100 !
The temptation is always there but we are holding out - he he!
We will keep tweaking current scenario - although adding a temporary curtain this eve to see how that goes - fingers crossed