4 month old waking at 5:30

[Julia]

Anyone have advice for encouraging our puppy to sleep in later than 5:30am? Her bedtime is usually 10pm. I've tried keeping her up a little later but it doesn't seem to help. I do get her when she barks (we have two small children), take her potty, then immediately put her back in her crate. But she barks continually after 5:30 until we play with her/let her out. I'm so tired!! :)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Instead of putting her back in the crate after you've taken her out, can you put a bed in your room and have her sleep there for an hour or two?  This is a good time to teach her "down" and "stay"....you may need some treats as incentive the first few days.

[Julia]

I hadn't thought of that! She is pretty active first thing in the morning, but I will definitely try it! 

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

My daughter got her little guy during her senior year of college. I remember her telling me that she brought him into bed with her after taking him out to do his business, so that she could get a little more shut-eye before getting up for classes. 

Whatever you do, though, I would not feed your puppy at 5:30, because she will certainly continue to want to be an early riser, if she knows that she'll get to eat at that time!

Can you give your puppy a small snack before bedtime? That might help, too.

[Julia]

good reminder (about the food) I have put it out first thing before just trying to keep her quiet. I'm wondering if I should push back her dinner time...I was feeding her between 5-6. Maybe she is getting hungry! Thanks for the advice! 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

That 5:30 wake up call is what won Finn a place in my bed. Even if I got up and took him out and put him back, he'd lay awake in the crate and stare at the door so how guilty did I feel lol. Now I have to wake him up .Yes I'm a failed bedtime crater :)