How do you let a doodle know that it's BED time and not PLAY time?

[Frannie & Callie]

While this isn't an issue with Callie, sometimes fosters and guest dogs I've had want to play when it is time to sleep. I'm ok with a few minutes of play (tired is tired!) but Callie soon becomes done with play and is ready to get her beauty rest.

 

Right now, this is happening with Bixby Foster Doodle, where bedtime is giving him a complete second wind. True to form, Callie will play for 10-15 minutes (the favorite being what I call "king of the bed" where Bix is on the floor, jumping on and off the bed, with Callie being the "King" and never leaving the bed). I try to separate them, give Bixby a toy in the dog bed (which is where he actually sleeps), let Callie lay on the pillows right above my head (FYI - last night proved this to be a bad idea, as Bixby pretty much stood on my face to get to Callie and he's no flyweight!).

 

Pretty much every other part of the day they are in complete sync...they play at the same time, trade antlers and toys like they have a written schedule, eat and drink together, etc. I noticed that when we had Bentley Foster Schnoodle, it was very much the same kind of thing.

 

I know I won't have Bixby much longer...he's pending adoption to a wonderful family, but if there is advice for this now, and that I can apply to future fosters, that would be helpful and appreciated!

 

 

[Frannie & Callie]

Callie does the same thing! She is very put out when I'm not headed upstairs around 10pm. Bixby runs on a different schedule entirely!

[Leslie and Halas]

Halas does the same to me, but I'm pretty consistent with my bedtime. When he's staying with my mom, who stays up a little later, he really gets weird right around bedtime, letting her know that it's time. And if you try to read in bed, he only gives you about 15 minutes before he starts whining at you to knock it off and go to sleep.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jack has something against reading in bed, too! He's usually on the bed when I get in; if I pick up a book or magazine, he turns and gives me a dirty look over his shoulder, then gets down on the floor to sleep! He's been this way since I got him, and I've never understood it.

[Leslie and Halas]

I used to think that having the light on is what bothered Halas. But I'm usually reading on my iPhone or laptop now, so I don't have a light on. And he still doesn't like it. It's like he's saying, "Hey, you're the one who says I can't play in the bed; I can only sleep; and here you are reading instead of sleeping."

[Frannie & Callie]

Callie has actually removed books from my hands before in a CLEAR message!

[Linda and Murphy]

lol. Murph gives me about 15 min of reading time. He either puts his duck on top of the book or his humongous head. Eventually I get it.