My dog won't let me sleep!

[teefae]

Hi,
I recently found this forum and I hope someone can help me. I was given a little mixed breed, Peaches, about 2 years ago. She is almost 3 years old now, and she's part chihuhua and part yorkie. She had been abused by her owner, not exactly sure what happened, but she was starving when I got her. She is also very afraid of people.

I have done everything in my power to make her feel secure, comfortable, and not afraid. We also have a yorkie who is 7 years old, which Peaches does not get along with, and constantly provokes the yorkie, by taking her toys, hiding treats, and eventually they end of fighting with each other.

My main problem with Peaches is that everynight, I am awakened by her coming to lick my face, hands, pillow, etc. I do spank her with a paper that I keep on my nightstand, which I must do at least 10 times a night. I am hesitant in correcting her, due to her being abused but now I'm at my wit's end. She won't let me sleep! I eventually get up, and as soon as I do, she goes right into her "day bed" and sleeps. She does not sleep excessively during the day, as I am here all day and make sure of it.

I've heard of obsessive behavior, could this be the problem? I don't know what to do. Sorry this post is so long. I can't sleep anyway, so I thought I would try and get someone's advice.
Thank you
teefae

 

[lucille]

My dogs sleep in their cage/crate at night. If you are truly suffering from lack of sleep it seems that this would be a good solution for you. Please read over everything you can on crates.
I see this is your first post......please feel welcome and please take the time to read the many posts here on dog behavior.

 

[GlassOnion]

She may be restless. Does she have little toys that she can play with? Or maybe she needs more exercise during the day so that she sleeps through the night.

Or maybe she just enjoys your company. One of my dogs (the same one who's scared of everything) won't go to the bathroom outside (or even enjoy being outside) unless someone is out there with him. If you let him out and just go and do something else (or leave to go somewhere) then he'll stand by the door and whine until you let him in or (I guess) he gives up and goes and does something else.

She might be like that and afraid to be left by herself (even though you're physically there, you're not moving about and what not).

She might grow out of it though when she realizes that you're still there and haven't left her.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Please do not hit your dog.

It would be MUCH kinder to confine her near your bed in a comfortable space of her own, such as a crate.

Many dogs feel much more secure in their own area. There are many sorts of nice beds you can get to make it a cushy comfy area for her, and you can keep it right at your bedside so she does not feel she is too far away from you.

 

[coripc33]

My puppy does that sometimes during the night - well, she used to, until someone told me that they tend to lick your face/hands etc because they are thirsty. I thought - what a bunch of doo-doo! But, one night, being exhausted with her licking me at 4am, I got up and gave her a little water. She drank it and went right back to sleep. Now this is my trick for getting her to stop being restless during the night...
...however, I understand that this may not be the case with your dog, but you might want to try it. And I agree, please don't hit her with the newspaper, there's no way that this will help anything, except to be even more afraid of everything and everybody. Plus, if this doesn't stop the behavior (as it seems), it must be that she wants something else more than she is afraid of the newspaper, so I would definitely try something else.

 

[teefae]

thank you guys

You guys are great. I didn't expect to see any answers for days.

First of all, when I say that I spank my dog, I use a paper, and just kinda scare her you know. I didn't mean that I hit on her. Heaven forbid! I love both of them sooooo much, they are like my children. (Didn't spank them either) Ha.

I may try using a kennel at night, it's just that we love sleeping with them, but I guess I have no choice. I thought she would grow out of it, but it seems that it's getting worse. Peaches doesn't sleep much during the day, I don't know why she stays up at night.

Anyway, I really appreciate your help.

Thank you so much,
I will let you know what happens.
Teefae

 

[teefae]

corpic33 do you really think, that scaring her with the newspaper is not a good idea? I didn't realize it could do more harm.

She has access to water all night, so I don't think this is the problem. She may need something else though.
Teefae

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Spank = hitting. If you do not touch, you are not spanking.

DO NOT hit, spank, tap, pop or smack, with a paper, or not.

PREVENT her from this behavior since it annoys you.

And yes, she does need something else. She needs YOU to be the leader, and take control of this situation.

Get her a nice crate and a nice bed, and everyone can get a good night's sleep.

 

[Puckstop31]

DO NOT hit, spank, tap, pop or smack, with a paper, or not.

Why not? I have found that a little smack often gets thier attention focused on me. Then, once I have it back I can use the better positive methods.


Also, +1 on the crate thing. Every dog (in my humble, "non-expert" opinion) should be crate trained.

 

[Fran27]

I just wouldn't scare of if she was abused in the past.

Otherwise, why not just teach her not to climb on the bed?

 

[Doberluv]

I have done everything in my power to make her feel secure, comfortable, and not afraid.

I do spank her with a paper that I keep on my nightstand, which I must do at least 10 times a night.

Abused by her past owner? She's already afraid and now you hit her??????

You don't get a dog's attention that way or teach them anything. You teach her further...to fear you and all people when you do something like that. If your dog is driving you nuts, perhaps re-homing her to someone who understands dogs would be better.

Or....put her in a crate in another room so you can sleep. The only way she's going to have behavior which you find desireable is to teach her to trust you and hitting her is going to do the exact opposite. There is never any reason to hit any dog and here's one who is mal adjusted already and you're hitting her? I am outraged.

 

[Rhino]

I totally agree that making this dog feel comfortable and secure should NOT involve hitting or "scaring" her.

The best way to prevent a dog from being bad is to not set them up for failure. You are allowing this dog to fail. You have not taught her what is right.

You also says she provokes your Yorkie and steals toys and treats? I hate to break it to you, but that's what dogs do. I have three dogs and I have to supervise everything because there will inevitably be a "shuffle" of treats when I pass them out.

Instead of ALLOWING a fight to ensue, you'll be able to put her in the crate where she can eat her treat and not disturb the Yorkie, cutting down the problems in your house even more. I could give you a list of reasons you will like your crate.


Get a crate. Teach her to love her crate. Put her in the crate when you sleep. Leave the news paper for READING.

 

[Angelique]

Well, the discussion of what constitutes a "tap" as a form of communication, and a "hit" done to punish, is one Red and I will have to discuss! Open a new thread and I'll meet you there later!

On topic:

I would not allow your dog to indulge in any behavior which is not in their best interest, just because it feels good to you. This is a major cause of behavior problems many dogs, from what I've observed.

Your dog sounds both insecure and in charge of your household. Just by the fact you are using the newspaper to startle, 10 times per night, shows this is not working, and you are "reacting" to the dog, rather than the other way around.

Striking a dog with any object for any reason is an absolute NO-NO! I don't care if you are using a feather. It is viewed by the dog as an attack, especialy when backed up by anger or irritation on your part. Stop it! Baaad human!

I recommend working on your leadership skills and demeanor, as well as implementing the NILIF program. I'm sure someone here can give you the link.

A lot of times, when we deal with a formerly abused or fearful dog, our tenderness for what they've been through can actually be a roadblock to their rehabilitation. You can't comfort a dog out of this state of mind.

Crate training is an exellent suggestion. There are some folks here, who can help you with this.

 

[Doberluv]

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/nothingfree.htm

http://www.dogpatch.org/obed/obpage4.cfm

Your dog is mapiulating you because you're inadvertantly encouraging it. At the same time, he's fearful. When you are flailing around, getting angry, slapping at the dog, not teaching it what TO DO, the dog becomes extremely insecure because he does not know where it's leader is....he doesn't have a leader. He doesn't know what to do without a leader. He wonders if perhaps, he needs to lead. Somebody's got to be a leader. What you're doing is placing yourself in a subordinate position in your dog's eyes. Find out how to teach your dog in a kind way, how to show the dog what you expect. He doesn't know. He's a dog. Be confident, firm, but gentle and CALM. Hitting a dog is not what trusted leader does.

Read these links. They will help you to learn how to teach your dog where he fits into your family and will show you how to be a good leader.

When your dog is afraid, crying, shrinking in shyness, do not make an issue out of it. When you pay lots of attention to a dog who is doing this, he thinks it is what he SHOULD be feeling and acting like. There are ways to get around this, to build confidence in your dog. He must trust you in order to follow your lead.

 

[coripc33]

I meant that you shouldn't spank her with the newspaper. Scaring her with it - I don't know, but it doesn't seem to work, so why keep at it? I wouldn't scare her even if she was not a scared dog and previously abused, but in this case, why add to the things to scare her? Plus, if nothing changes, she either does not care about the newspaper, or she really wants something else more than she is scared of the newspaper.
I think you got wonderful advise - try to see if it works. Good luck!

 

[teefae]

I was just asking for help

Oh my God, I am not a baaaaad human. I have tried to calm her down when she licks me, by rubbing her and talking gently to her. That didn't work!
I have also tried giving her treats, water, food, etc. even during the night to calm her down.

Do you think that I would have posted anything at all if I hadn't tried everything, and didn't know what to do now?

I didn't mean to upset anyone, geez, I just thought I could get some help on why she is behaving this way, and what to do about it.

I explained in the second post, that I just scare the dog with the paper, NOT HIT HER. I do not go flailing around, getting mad, and slapping the dog. I never said that I would get angry at all. If I wanted to abuse the dog, I would not have posted asking for help. You made me feel so bad, when I had no idea that this would scare her more. I know now, and I want to thank you for pointing that out to me. But to say I'm a bad human, is not right. I love animals, and don't appreciate your catagorizing me with people who abuse animals.

I'm sorry that I even posted in here. You should read what you post before you actually post it. I'm very hurt that you feel, I'm not doing my job, but not EVERYONE knows EVERYTHING about dog behavior. I was just asking for advice. I will not bother you anymore.

Thank you for the links, I will read them.
Teefae

 

[lucille]

I'm sorry that I even posted in here. You should read what you post before you actually post it. I'm very hurt that you feel, I'm not doing my job, but not EVERYONE knows EVERYTHING about dog behavior. I was just asking for advice. I will not bother you anymore.

We appreciate the chance to help you and your dog with advice. Some here are more enthusiastic than others. Please give the board a second chance; we know you love your little dog and if you read through a lot of the posts here they will absolutely make you and your dog happier, and that's what it's all about.

 

[teefae]

Thanks Lucille, I really appreciate what you posted. I will read the post, because yes, I only want my Peaches to be happy.
Teefae

 

[Angelique]

Didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I'm glad you came here to ask for help.

 

[Doberluv]

I don't think you're a "bad human" at all. I was just shocked and in disbelief that you would want to scare or hit a dog who is already fearful. I apologize if I was too blunt, but it just plain shocked me... OK....back to the drawing board, if you want:

have tried to calm her down when she licks me, by rubbing her and talking gently to her. That didn't work!
I have also tried giving her treats, water, food, etc. even during the night to calm her down.

That can be part of your problem. Without meaning to, you're telling her that all that what she's doing; the licking or any other behavior which is either unpleasant to you or unhealthy emotionally for her (crying, being fearful) is good. You're rewarding her with the pats, soothing voice and treats. You're teaching her (without meaning to) that that is just the way you want her. She will become conditioned to feeling this way a lot of the time if that continues. What she probably needs are some confidence building games and exercises. You can look for that online. Obedience training using postitive methods....all motivational and reward will help to make her feel more confident. Gentle, rewarding methods help a dog figure things out themselves, make them think and that helps. Those links should really help.

Again....I apologize if I was too blunt. It never occured to me that someone would do that and not figure that it wouldn't be a good idea to scare an already fearful dog. Now that I know that it is possible, can we just get back to trying to figure this out and see if there's something to help you and your dog? Or....if you'd like me to butt out, I will.