Will Vern Ever Sleep? UPDATE

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am so tired this morning. It is not easy staying up until midnight to see what is happening on DK and having to STILL get up with Vern throughout the night. Last night, I took them out about an hour before I turned the lights off. Vern came right back in and fell asleep. As soon as I turned the lights out and closed my eyes, Vern started walking back and forth from my side of the bed to my DH's side. I have been trying to ignore this a little longer each night, but with wood floors it is like having Michael Flatley dancing in our room. Our bedroom is small and if I put carpet down, it takes away their floor space to sleep. So, I got up and took them outside again and Vern IMMEDIATELY peed and pooped. This is why I hate to ignore him entirely. This happens a lot. On the second try a night is when he usually does his business. Then he sleeps a little longer and gets up again. Sometimes, we are having to get up 2 and 3 times a night and he is always the first one up in the morning. I have not crated Vern since he was very, very young at night and he used to sleep great.

My feeling is he gets hot and wants to sleep out in our cool foyer. I just am not sure he is entirely trustworthy to sleep all night away from our bedroom. Trustworthy in that he still chews. I guess maybe I am going to have to bite the bullet and just try.

He gets plenty of exercise and we always do something in the evening with the dogs. Even when I took him to the dog park on Sunday and he was zonked out, he still got up that night. He is one. Will this ever stop? Fudge could sleep 12 hours straight and still have to have me get her out of bed.

UPDATE: Well, last night was a bit better. I left my door open, giving him the option to sleep out in the foyer and he came back into our bedroom and laid on the floor. I went to bed around 12:15 am and sure enough, Vern was up about a half hour later. I took him out and came back to bed, and let him have free run of the upstairs and he did fine. No chewing, no pacing, etc. He did start barking sometime in the middle of the night and ended up in our bedroom and slept until 8:15 am. Not perfect, but better. I had made up my mind if he did not settle, he was being crated, but he settled fairly well.

Usually he is up around 6 am, so this is much better. However, my DH who is out of town, was nice enough to set his alarm to go off at 5:30 am, but even that did not wake Vern, just me. Thank you to all.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Yes, I was thinking of a way it could work. That was a plan too. We have to do something soon or I am going to start sleeping at a hotel :) Thanks.

[Lorraine Bromley]

Neely always starts his night on our bed. He never lasts that long in one place. He then goes to the floor beside me. then out into the living room(maybe leave your door open so he can wander) Then he varies his spots through out the night between the two love seats and behind the two love seats on the floor. Sometimes on his bed too. He eats at around 1 am we free feed. He never goes out and the only reason I know what he does is I am up and down all night. He could be saying jeez lady go to bed I can't get any sleep at night. We  think he does get hot after a while so changes spots. Now we did trust him too soon with the crate and have the baseboards to prove it. But that was when we left him alone. Not at night. If the free range doesnt work go back to the crate for awhile.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lorraine, I like this idea a lot. This sounds so much like Vern. I think a lot of the trouble is he gets very hot and has to change positions/places. He loves the cold and our foyer is freezing. We did stop crating them when we leave the house and after some great advice here on DK, they are doing great. Nothing has been damaged or chewed, so maybe I just have to give this a shot too. If it doesn't work, then last resort is back to the crate at night. Thank you!

It makes me feel better that there are some other roamers on DK.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

If Vern were a girl - I'd say its menopause.  I've been up since 2:30 a.m. for the 2nd night in a row.  Vern doodle - whatever your issue - I'm feeling your pain & your momma's too!  :(

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Maybe its doodlepause - lol!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

That made me laugh and I need a laugh today. Thank you!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

One word for you Jane.....hormones!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Jane - I just had "pellets" inserted under the skin last Wednesday - something new that I'm trying.  Synthetic hormones.  I'll give it a while and see, last night was better but perhaps it was the wine I had - lol!!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Fingers crossed that they work for you!  Hormones saved my sanity.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Geeze Mom, the world is much to exciting to waste away sleeping, get up, get up.....come on get up!

Besides if I get tired I will just nap later while you are too busy for me.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This sounds about right:)