Sleeping.....We are not getting any!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest Anonymous]

Hey all,

Need lots of help....I have a 5 month old lab that for the last few nights he has gone to sleep with us but will only sleep for almost 2 hours then will get up and constantly bark. The only thing that we know to do is take him and his kennel to the garage so we can sleep. He is a inside dog and this is just now becoming an issue...He doesn't have to potty because that is my first thought and I take him out and he goes....We just got nutered today so I thought we might get some sleep tonight but the drugs are wearing off and he is up and barking now.....

What do you suggest us to do....Because we are losing lots of sleep and I just love when he snuggles right against my back and I miss that!

Thanks,

Jessica

[DogPaddle]

I guess you could try haveing a very brisk 1/2 hour play session that ends 1/2 hour before bed. If that doesn't work you could try a spray bottle or Horsefeathers!' bitter apple method.

http://forum.dogomania.com/viewtopic.php?t=14721&highlight=bitter

[mouseatthebusstop]

where did he sleep before?
you should go back to doing what you did before

[Guest Anonymous]

he has always slept with us and no noises that I know of....I don't know if it might be a power nap or what not.....we have a high school across the road and he gets plenty of exercise there....


HELP.....LAST NIGHT WAS SOMEWHAT BETTER ONLY BECAUSE HE WAS DRUGGED UP FROM THE SURGERY.

[BuddysMom]

This has worked onece with a distressed older dog - actually it was Puppy on her last night, she got up in the middle of the night and couldn't walk on her own, so i 'duck walked' her outside and around for awhile, but then she wouldn't stay in her bed, she wanted to keep getting up and trying to walk.

I took a sleeping bag and pillow and cuddled next to her, stroked the ends of her ears and just talked softly to her. She settled down and went to sleep (I did too). Woke up on the floor but at least we got some rest.

(then we went to the vet) :cry:

[courtnek]

My guess is she is hearing something you are not. Is it the same time every night that she starts? or right about the same time? She could even be smelling something outside. some kind of nocturnal animal, raccoon or possum or something, that may be scavanging near your house. Make sure there is no trash or food remnants on your property - my old dog got skunked because my son left the trash on the porch instead of putting it in the container. as far as noise, you could try leaving a radio on...if you can sleep like that. give her some other noise to concentrate on. Even a fan might help. Something is making her bark, and my guess would be something outside she is alerting on.

[Guest Anonymous]

the problem right now is that we can't get him to go to sleep

he just got fixed friday on the 3rd of Sept.....we have a huge problem with him just looking at us barking....we got good sleep while we had to give him his pills....but now....no sleep...

My husband is to the point to where he wants him to be an outside dog but i don't want that...i feel and have seen alot of people forget about their dogs when they are outside dogs....the reason i got him was to have a companion inside....

He is a 5 month old Black Lab......

Please HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BuddysMom]

I'm sure the "advice" part got lost in the melodrama of my last post -

The point was that I may try to sleep with him ... although on second thought NO, especially with a puppy you need to establish yourself as pack leader and that's counter productive.

And now that I look at your first post it seems like maybe he was in the bed with you? This may be part of the problem because that's treatin him as a peer when instead at this age you need to be pack leaders.

Assuming you have ruled out any medical reason (like infection from his nueter?)

What about a big stuffed animal, hot water bottle, etc ... other things to comfort? I'm thinking maybe he's nervous ...

And what about holistic things like lavender (aromatherapy), rescue remedy (flower essence) ... things like that?

I think putting him outside would make it much worse and he soon would be completely out of control.

I hope you get the help you need!! Keep us posted!!

[Guest Anonymous]

i have had his since he was 2 months old...and now he is 5 months....this became a issue before he got fixed....we (my husband and I) did not get any sleep......

his nuetering area...looks fine and he does not bother it at all....

they have holistic things like lavender (aromatherapy), rescue remedy (flower essence) and you can use that with dogs/puppies?

[imported_Matty]

I have always slept with my pup's.
I found what worked for me was to leave a few toys on the floor (no squeeky's!) and an open crate for the pups den. That way the pup has the freedom to sleep with mom/dad and then if need be get down and play or go to his/her private den.
I always ignored pup when he/she tried waking me up in the middle of the night. Most pups learn that when they act bad they get attention :evilbat: even bad attention is just that, attention. I wouldn't baby him any more than usual after the surgery, some times we tend to feel badly for our babes and give them a little extra lovin and hugs.
Try to teach your pup that good behavior is rewarded with praise and attention. Bad behavior such as barking is going to get no attention what so ever :wink:

I highly recommend the book by dr Ian Dunbar called after you get your pup and any books by Jean Donaldson. Read, read read and go to puppy classes. This is very important for new puppy owners, and remember to socialize socialize and then socialize and do not spoil your pup. Although thats hard :lol:

[BuddysMom]

Yes many of the natural remedies that people use can also be used for pets (But not ALL of them, and obviously in different doses). A good natural food store would have books on the subject and staff who could help. You ca probably find some things on the 'net too.

There have been some posts inthis forum about using Rescue Remedy. It is simply flower essence and totally safe. It would be good for you and your husband to take some too! (usually you put a couple drops in a glass of water - it works sort of homeopathically.)

Good luck!

[DogPaddle]

Excellent advice Matty.

You can use most herbal remedies on dogs, you may want to check online before you try anything in paticular that you don't know people have already safely given their dogs. Age shouldn't matter for herbals so long as you lower the dose. People here have safely given melatonin, peppermint, lavender and Rescue Remedy. I would start by giving 1/3 of a tablet of melatonin if you are going to give it. Rescue Remedy needs to be given a few times throughout the day. If you were going to go with peppermint and/or lavender I think you'd want to give it 10 min before bed. Use less lavender than you would peppermint or mix them 5:1 or 4:1. BTW 5:1 peppermint:lavender in loose leaf makes a great "tea" for people too.

[Guest Anonymous]

Well, I have found a solution....

Doggie Day Care

I took Stealth yesterday to try it out. When he got home he crashed about 6pm last night and did not get up until 6 this morning and still wanted to lazy around. He loved it! I sent him again this morning and he was REALLY excited to go there.

What do you all think about doggie daycare?

Jessica

[DogPaddle]

If your dog has all its shots, its a clean place with reputable, knowledgable, reliable, compassionate staff and you can afford it - DOGGIE DAYCARE ROCKS!

[sarahmyjoy]

Way Cool!!! :P :P

[BuddysMom]

YES!
Doggie Daycare 3x per week cured my mom's 1 year border collie of chewing up the house.

[bk_blue]

Excellent- a tired dog is a good dog :D

[Guest Anonymous]

Today is day #3 for him. They make sure that all pets are up to date on their shots and everything. I had to show proof before they took him.

Each night he came home he was dead to the world...and Guess what...while we eat he barely barks at us....it is so funny.....that was all he needed...and we are going to send him 3 days aweek...my husband was going to make me have him as an outside dog....and i did not want that to happen so i got on the ball.

After day 1 that night my husband came him expecting Stealth to jump off the couch and start going wild...he just looked at me and said where is the puppy? kinda worried about him. I told him to go and find him...when he did he thought that he was sick or something. and i said NOPE! DOGGIE DAY CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and he was all for it...

We have had the best sleep in the last 2 days it has been awesome...

Thanks for all of your help!

Tim and Jessica

[DogPaddle]

Yay!