7 month old pup WON'T sleep!

[weldredge]

We have had alot of challenges house training our pup (already posted here once...). We are in obedience school and have had a behaviorist to the house once already. She is now 90% house trained.

We are having a different set of challenges now. She is crated from 8-2:30 daily. She gets lots of exercise when we get home, food and water gets taken up from her access by 6 p.m. and she is not even close to sleeping through the night. The few times we have let her fuss she has an accident in her crate. She is FINE during the day, but it seems her little bladder and parts are programmed to go all night long. She was up 1 , 3 and 5 last night and we are really struggling. Of course she goes out before bed ( around 11 p.m.) and goes to sleep just fine in her crate. We have tried EVERYTHING we can think of ...radio, TV on, or off, ticking clock, no clock, bedding, no bedding, toys, no toys...at wits end and jsut durned tired....

 

[musky hunter]

try taking away her water after dinner and walk her later at night.

 

[weldredge]

We already pull her food and water up at 6. Should we be taking it away earlier???

 

[weldredge]

Oh, and 11 is as late as we can go to walk her in the night time, since we are all an early rising house!

 

[weldredge]

UPDATE:

Last night we took her to her class (so she was pooped out) and she went to bed at her usual time. We committed together to let her cry it out all night to give that technique a try. Well....she did okay...she woke up her usual 3 times ( 1, 3 and 5) and fussed a bit and went back to sleep. Trouble is, she peed in her crate again overnight! She can make it for the day (which is roughly the same amt of hours and she has just had breakfast). WE LIMIT FOOD AND WATER AFTER 6 p.m. and she goes to bed at 11.



We love her something awful, but cannot keep this up!!!

All advice welcome! PLEASE HELP!

 

[gibbrishclown]

What breed is this little one? Sounds like a high energy pup to me. At 7 months, she should have been able to make it through the night... especially when she's not taking anything in in the 5 hours or so before bed. Is she just crying because it works for her? Where is her crate located? Can it be moved to where she can't disrupt the sleep of everyone in the house? Some dogs are really routine oriented, and that's why they insist on going out in the middle of the night... if she cries and you let her out, she learns crying is effective... This is one of the worst parts about having a puppy, my friend, but once you can get her past this stage, you're going to be really happy again...

 

[weldredge]

Thank you for replying. I was thinking no one was out there...

She is a rescue dog (a sato from Puerto Rico -- check it out...www.saveasato.org) and we believe she is a rat terrier/minpin mix. Here is a shot of her. She is about 15 or 16 lbs.

I'd love to know if you think she is what we think she is!

It is very discouraging how well she has US trained!
We are NOT getting up anymore and she can cry all she wants (mean mommy)! The crate is in a bathroom at the rear of the house and it is as far as she can get from us. Mommy and daddy can still faintly hear her.

I think she is crying because she has her days and nights mixed up...just a theory~!

 

[silverbest]

Maybe she is crying because it brings you to her each time. When that trick works once it takes twice as long for them to understand it won't work again.

My guy did this for days on end; here is what I did and it worked well

I bought a Kong and stuffed it with Peanut Butter and froze it
I bought a puzzle ball and stuffed it and froze it
At night those went in the crate, the crate was covered with a blanket and the door was shut. See you in the morning!

I stuck with it and after a week the message was clear!

Crate means quiet time!

Good Luck

 

[weldredge]

QUick question...what to do since she pees in the crate???

Stupid question..."do the laundry" is probably the answer!

 

[silverbest]

QUick question...what to do since she pees in the crate???

Stupid question..."do the laundry" is probably the answer!

I am not a trainer so keep that in mind.

How big is the crate? It should be only big enough for her to lay down, stand up, turn around and that is it.

How long does she have to stay in there without a bathroom break? I believe the rule is age in months plus one for the hours they should be able to hold it...until age 10 months. So she should be good for 8 hours no longer.


Pick water up at 5pm and make sure she is not getting into the toilet.

Maybe line the crate with newspaper, yup do the laundry but hey we all gotta do that.

A really good play session before bed time so she sleeps instead

Have you had her checked to make sure she is completely healthy? No infections or anything, this will make them pee more often.



I really wish I could help as puppies are hard to deal with sometimes. I just do not know anything really other then what I did with mine. He never messed in his crate and now he does not use a crate.

Good Luck

 

[weldredge]

THe crate is possibly too big, but we have the divider up in it. She only needs to be in there at night for 7 hours. She stays that long during the day all the time. Only at night are we &^*&*(^^^%!!!!!

Been to the vet sooooooo many times...she is fine. Just a pain!!!!!

I will move the water access back from 6 to 5 to see if that helps.

o woe is me!

Thanks...

 

[mamasobuco]

She is SO cute!
Have you tried putting her and her crate in your bedroom with you? It worked for all three of our dogs. She may be doing this because she knows you're in the house and she can't see you. As far as the peeing goes. Our dogs peed in their crates periodically until they were about ten months old.

 

[gibbrishclown]

I can see terrier and minpin, isn't there also like a manchester terrier (iirc) that has similar markings? I love the guess the breed game!! Just a thought, and I know it sounds mean, but if she were to have to sleep on her mess, might she learn not to make it in the first place? Its such a tough call with intelligent puppies, because they'll learn things that you didn't mean to teach... and if peeing in the crate gets her out... I'm not necessarily advocating making her sleep in her mess, just posing the question.

 

[gibbrishclown]

to add to my previous post, it looks like a very high energy dog. Maybe it needs even more exercise than she's getting right now while she's still a growing wiggling puppy. Maybe if you could induce a bout of puppy crazies shortly before you put her to bed she'd be tired enough... I don't know... I keep coming back to this thread because it's so frustrating an issue...

 

[otch1]

Hello ... took a quick look at all of your entries. I am a trainer. You're not alone in your problems concerning potty training, crate training, ect. (Especially with mixed toy breeds, they work a little differently) Sounds like you're still struggling with training 3 mos. after adopting pup, have seen a trainer, behaviorist and veterinarian, so you've made an honest effort to resolve issues. Reccommend you pick up canine behavior book by Dr. Ian Dunbar, veterinarian and behaviorist. Gives you detailed potty training schedule, feeding and exercise schedule, addresses behavioral problems during potty training, possible health issues/any possible damage to bladder during spay. (unlikely, but it does happen) and a lot of good information to referance from. Can get at any Barnes and Noble, order on-line. Good luck!!