How to get my puppy to sleep better through the night?

Question

My puppy has always slept with me. She used to wake up when she was very young and had to go out to pee in the middle of the night. Then she slept pretty good for awhile, only waking me a few times when she repositioned herself in the bed.

Now, she doesn't sleep well at all. She is awake every hour or so(and wakes me up!)and wants to crawl all the way under all of my covers! I let her, then she wakes up hot pretty soon and crawls back out. Even when she doesn't want to crawl under the blankets, she circles around the bed for a few minutes until she get comfortable again and then usually flops up against me to go back to sleep.This goes on all night!

She is not getting excess naps during the day, she gets regular 
exercise and eats fairly well. She is tired when we go to bed and she sleeps well for a few hours, but then her restlessness starts.

Please help! I am starting to feel as bad as a I did when I had newborn HUMAN babies waking me up all night and honestly, I am starting  to become pretty annoyed with the dog. I can't think of anything that has drastically changed recently that would upset her sleeping patterns. I considered getting her to sleep elsewhere at night, but that was half the point of getting a dog, so I would have a dog to sleep with me again. Plus, she has slept in my bed since the very first night. I would feel mean if I just all of a sudden kicked her out.

What should I do?

Corgisruletheroost · Accepted Answer

I am sorry to say this but you need to get her a crate...just big enough for her to turn around in and lay down.  Put it next to your bed, with her blanket in there. No toys.  Talk to her, and let her know you are there.  But, do not get her out of her crate.  She will whine for the first little while...but she will find out she is not going to get out, and will eventually lay down.  How old is she?  Does she get walked daily? When she gets up at night...make sure you do not want her to play around. Night time is for sleep.  That is why the crate comes in handy.  When she gets older then you will be able to  trust her again on the bed.  Put an alarm clock down there for noise.  And she is not going to think...or my mom kicked me out.  She needs to learn to keep her own self occupied.  My dogs (Corgi's), were never allowed to sleep with me at first....but right next to me in a crate...and it taught them no playing, or going outside to mess around either...now they both sleep with me, and are fine...I tell them place and they cuddle up and go to bed..I wish you the best of luck with your pup...but remember you are the boss...not her.

Anonymous · Answer

First lets start with things like your pup's food. Have you changed foods recently? How about allergies. Maybe your pup is allergic to the type of laundry detergent you use for your sheets? I wouldn't consider crating at night only as "putting up your pup as a doll". It is a place that they can call their own domain. 

I have to agree with roperlop's response to crating your puppy. We have a 1 year old pug who has been crated at night since we got him and I used a cheap windup alarm clock placed next to the crate at night right next to my bed. It will take some time to get your pup used to this. At first leave the door open and place your pup's favorite treat at the edge of the crate and try to let him or her go get it on their own will. Then with each successful attempt place the treat a little further inside the crate. Always leave the door open while doing this and let your pup get used to going in and out of the crate and praise the pup each time they succeed. I also tell my pug Spanky to lets go do Nite Nite and he has come to understand this as his time to go to bed. I choose not to crate him during the day as he is house trained and I block off any access that he should not be getting into. It will take some time and patience getting your pup adjusted to this. It is important to get the proper sized crate, one large enough to let your pup turn around and lay down comfortably but not too large as they will find that the rear portion of an oversized crate is ideal for going potty. Dogs by nature will not go potty where they sleep but if given the opportunity with an ample sized or oversized crate, they will see it as an opportunity.  If your pup has not grown to full size yet, you can purchase a crate a little larger and just block off the rear section. Some crates have this divider for this reason so that you won't have to purchase another crate in the future. Good Luck.

Kim · Answer

the dog probably feels the same way you do when she goes to sleep you are moving around you wake her up. Go buy the dog a crate and make her a bed in it, you can even put it in your room if she doesn't cry to much.I have a 5 month old puppy who has been crate trained since he was 6 weeks old.He goes to bed about 9 or 10pm and stays in his crate w/o crying until about 7am

sce · Answer

I think you should try this, 
Don't let her sleep in your room with you, or any one else, for about a week. 
(you may have some whining and barking during that time but it's only for a week and if it works, you will be thankful for it.)
After about a week, bring her back into your room with you, she'll be so thankful that you probably wont have any restllessness, and if she does start the restlessness again in the future, put her out for a night and let her back the next night, this teaches her that if she is restless at night she gets kicked out!

mandm68 · Answer

Laurieann..It sounds like a few of the five we have. I don't have a remedy, but you might try giving her a stuffed animal that doesn't have a squeaker in it, or maybe try laying a wind up alarm clock by her. The ticking of it might relax her more. We have two King Charles, 2 Lhasa's , and a Bassett. If you find an answer let me know. Good Luck!! Steve

Anonymous · Answer

let him poo before he sleeps

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How to get my puppy to sleep better through the night?

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