Puppy howling at night - need advice

Feral_Moon

bugslet wrote: »

Out of my four, only one of them occasionally sleeps on the bed - I feel spurned:rotfl:

I know how you feel! He much prefers sleeping on my son's bed even when he's not home! He'll come to bed with me for cuddles but after 20 mins he's off to my son's room.

But guess who he wakes up first thing in the morning when he wants to either go out for a pee or play ball! Yup, ME!!!

Without fail, every morning between 6-7am I get a cold wet nose in my face and a big sloppy kiss. If I pretend to stay asleep he sits by the bed, staring at me until I open an eye then leaps onto the bed to attack me :rotfl:

sheramber

Start to teach her 'swopsies' now. Keep a supply of small, tasty treats handy. For a small pup a tube of squeezy cheese is good as they have a lick of of a small amount without getting an upset tum or getting fat from too many treats.

When she has a toy call her to you and ask 'what have you got?' Most pups like to show off what they have. When she comes to you offer her the treat. When she drops the toy lift it up and admire it , cuddle it, stroke it, tell her how nice it is. then give to back to her.

This is to ensure she does not think you will just take things away from her.

Repeat this until she offers you her toy. You can they drop the teats by not giving one every time , just sometimes. But continue to admire her toy and give it back.

When she has something she shouldn't you do the same but instead of giving her it back you substitute a toy and have a quick game with her with it. That way she will forget about the forbidden article.

Of course, it is better to train everybody to tidy things away so she doesn't get them.

I found having a pup in the house was the best way to teach the kids to put things away.- and adults too.

If things get chewed then it is their fault for leaving it where the pup can get it.

Never chase her to get something back as that makes it more desirable and she will be more inclined to grip harder,

You will end up with a kleptomaniac who will bring you things , such as empty sweet wrappers or empty coke cans that she fonds lying about on walks but things will not get destroyed.

Also teach her to leave.

Have two treats, one in each hand. Keep one hidden on show the other one. When she reaches for it quickly close your hand so she doesn't get it, or lay it on the floor and similarly quickly cover it with your hand as you gently say 'leave'. You are not telling her off but teaching her to leave.

Repeat this few times and you should find she will look at the treat but move back or stand still but not try to get it. Then praise her and offer the one in your other hand telling her to take it. I use the two treat method as it avoids the pup getting the article it was told to leave so it doesn't anticipate getting it.

Once she has the idea with a teat you can use it for anything she should leave but always give her a teat as a reward for leaving it to reinforce the idea that 'leaving' leads to good things.

Start these sessions on the floor with her if possible or crouch down so you are on her level, not towering over her.

Feral_Moon

Before teaching them commands it's good to get their attention and gain eye contact. Get them to sit in front of you and hold a treat in your closed hand under your chin. Call their name, only once or twice, not repeatedly, and when you get the slightest eye contact give them the treat. Keep repeating but extend the time before giving the treat by a few seconds.

When you're teaching your puppy things like "leave" then it's good to wait until you have eye contact with them before giving the "OK" command. Same when you feed them, put the bowl of food on the floor but make them sit and wait. When you've got eye contact they can then have their food.

Extend the eye contact gradually from a second or two up to 10, 20, 30 seconds and more. When told to wait, no matter the reason, my dog won't move and will maintain constant eye contact until I give him the release command.

missbiggles1

bugslet wrote: »

Don't restrict the water at night, she needs to drink when she needs to drink. As her bladder gets older, she'll get better at holding it in!

I seem to be the odd one out here, I don't use crates much. As I have several dogs, when I have had puppies, I've used them when they were very young when I went out for a few hours, just to make sure the others weren't overly rough or whilst they were in the chewing everything stage.

They also all sleep in the bedroom with me, personally I think that dogs are pack animals and I'm part of the pack:o

I've never used crates but then I haven't had a puppy for nearly 30 years - all old(er) dogs and rescues.

They also all sleep in the bedroom, although only the longest resident gets to sleep on the bed - I've thought recently that we've become a pack which is rather a nice thought.

bugslet

Feral_Moon wrote: »

I know how you feel! He much prefers sleeping on my son's bed even when he's not home! He'll come to bed with me for cuddles but after 20 mins he's off to my son's room.

But guess who he wakes up first thing in the morning when he wants to either go out for a pee or play ball! Yup, ME!!!

Without fail, every morning between 6-7am I get a cold wet nose in my face and a big sloppy kiss. If I pretend to stay asleep he sits by the bed, staring at me until I open an eye then leaps onto the bed to attack me :rotfl:

I get up at 5.15 during the week, they don't understand the weekend is just DIFFERENT!:D. I believe their bladders are synced with the alarm clock.

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I've never used crates but then I haven't had a puppy for nearly 30 years - all old(er) dogs and rescues.

They also all sleep in the bedroom, although only the longest resident gets to sleep on the bed - I've thought recently that we've become a pack which is rather a nice thought.

It is, though slightly worrying when you feel more dog than human:rotfl:

arbrighton

Our dog is downstairs only and she'd NEVER be allowed to get up on the bed anyway even if she was allowed upstairs.

She was crate trained by breeder and didn't cry once or have any overnight accidents- think we were lucky.

Generally she's stayed in her bed (or on the sofa, she thinks we don't know as she hops down when she hears us!) until we go down. But she's been in a hotel room with us for a couple of days and we've had 6am whineyness (I can see you but I can't get to you?)

elliesmemory1

Don't restrict water, it is actually against the 5 freedoms in the animal welfare act. Water should be available at all times.
Do you try to tire her out before bedtime so she sleeps? A little walk or game to tire her physically and mentally might help.
She is young and its early days.
If she were mine she would be in the bedroom with me.
I'm not a fan of crates to be honest.
Make sure she goes out to toilet before bed.