desparetely seeking sleep -sound proof questions

[New puppy owner]

My fellow doodle lovers, you've helped me before.  don't fail me now.  last time, you helped get my dog out of the bedroom and into his crate in the kitchen where he now happily resides. until . . . he wakes up in the morning.   My  house has a completely open floor plan and no doors on the first floor so my puppy's bark is very loud and echoes through the house.  For reasons listed previously I want him to sleep in his crate downstairs and not in our bedroom.  He finally sleeps well in his crate until . .  he wakes up.  then he barks very loudly,.  sometimes this is 6am and other times it's 5am.  I'm exhausted but don't want him to bark it out as it is waking my kids (who are currently both sick!) and need their sleep.  btw, he's clever. he barks until he hears my footsteps on the stairs and then he stops so he's always sitting quietly when I come into kitchen.  Today I covered his crate with a sheet and made him wait another 45 mnutes.  he went back to sleep happy i was there, despite sheet.  this proved what I already know, that he can hold it longer, he just likes early morning company.    I'm thinking of sticking him in laundry room and using "sound proofing" blankets that I found online.  Has anyone tried this?  any other suggestions?  (sorry if this is incoherent but am so tired i can barely think straight, let alone articulate my thoughts).

[Mimi Linna, Lilly and Lolly]

I can't help, I am a bad doodle mom and I let Lilly sleep with me and only crate her when we leave.  Iam sending you hugs. It is hard being a mom and a mom with a puppy and a mom with sick kids and a puppy. If you were closer I would watch the kids while you take a nap..

[New puppy owner]

Just want to say this is very sweet.  I feel better already.

[Jaime and Barley Barker]

Hhmm. I'm of the theory that some dogs, like some people, are "morning" dogs that like to wake up early and want company. My Sheltie Max refused to get up before 8:00 am and was grumpy if you woke him up earlier than that. Our St. Bernard puppy wakes up cheerful and happy between 5:30 am and 6:00 am, even if he doesn't have to go out. He then pokes me in the face with his nose, bangs my head with his paws, and throws his 130 lbs on top of me. I now keep my bedroom door closed because of him. So, I think your plan of "sound proofing" the laundry room might be a good one. The problem will probably resolve itself when he gets older and he no longer sleeps in a crate...if that is your plan.

 

I'll also confess what I did which was a little evil and resolved my problem. I used to cover Barley's crate with a quilt so it was his private den, and also so he couldn't see me walking around. If I was up, he wanted to be up, and heaven forbid I have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. I was afraid to move. One night Barley started crying and whining because he knew I was awake. (I think I rolled over and he heard me.) In a fit of exhaustion, I banged my hand on top of Barley's crate. I didn't speak to Barley, just banged, and he couldn't see me so he didn't associate me with the sound. I never heard another peep out of him ever again during the night, except this week when he woke up with an upset stomach. I'll forgive any dog waking me up when he has an upset belly.

[shelly]

I have never heard of such blankets, but I will be following to hear more....It's time of complete exhaustion that  my theory is... "anything goes" - LOL... that being said, if you cover his crate at night... kind of like you would cover a bird cage, and just leave a small portion open... he will possibly feel more den-like and keep him from seeing out any windows that may be very visible to him in your open floor plan, or even the morning sun.  I didn't see where you live, but perhaps the season change and daylight savings may help with delaying the rise of  the morning sun.

I feel for you!  I do remember that exhausted feeling!  And now with TWO kids sick at the same time!  It's like when you have infants and they wake throughout the night... sometimes I would wake with a jolt, forgetting if I actually put them back in their crates uh...bassinets- LOL..... When they are better, my vote is take a day for yourself and sleep and watch tv in bed all day!

good luck!

[Susan and Sasha]

Hi...

Covering the crate is a great idea...and you can leave the portion of the crate uncovered that is against the wall for air circulation...

They even have special covers that have roll up sides that make it easy to roll up whatever side you want to...but of course you can just use a sheet too.

Another thought that would be helpful is to get a noise/sound machine...which would help block out sound for your Doodle.

This way he won't be disturbed by sounds or people walking...etc...

It's a really great thing to have!

Putting your pup in the laundry room isn't a bad idea at all...especially if you're having trouble keeping him quiet and the barking is echoing throughout the house and waking your sick children.

I wouldn't get the sound proofing blankets yet...untill I try the other options...just because you might not have to purchase them after all. (you might want to check the cost of the sound proofing blanket and the sound machine...and then make a decision) 

You can get an inexpensive sound/noise machine in a place like Bed Bath and Beyond...and don't forget to use the 20% coupon!  Lol...

Wishing you the best...and keep us posted...

 

[BRADY GOOSE MOORE (Mini Doodle]

Because we didn't own a crate when we got Brady (at 7 weeks old),  by default I had no choice but to try him in the bedroom.   I put his soft bed on the floor beside ours and to my amazement Brady just STAYED ON IT ALL NIGHT!    I didn't engage (talk) to him in the early (5 a.m.) morning and just scooped him up, took him outside to pee or whatever (still no talking except "go peepoo") and when he did pee (praise) then pick him up carry him to bed (this time with me hoping to sleep some more myself) NO TALKING and again, to my amazement - HE SLEPT UNTIL 8 a.m. !!!!!    I think this little guy is lonely and perhaps all he needs is to be near you.   When he's a little older and more secure he'll likely move to the floor as Brady often does now even though I let him sleep all night right in bed with me.   When he was about 10 weeks I started introducing his crate (placing it in a common area of the house with the door open.   Couple of times/day I'd put a really tasty treat in there and lure him in.   Eventually after a few days, I'd do it and close the door while staying in the same area making 'house noises', coughing, humming,  running the tap, etc.   He became quite fond of and relaxed in the crate and now we just use it if we need to leave him alone in the house.   I was told while introducing to never let him become anxious in there as it would set the tone for displeasure.    Could you just try him sleeping in your bedroom?   Brady does not wake up when my husband gets up early to go to work - he waits until I get up.

[Heather Martinez]

Teddy is the same way. He sleeps in the kitchen and when he wakes up, he barks once. Then he continues barking every few minutes to let us know he's awake. He sleeps until 6:45am. After that he will not go back to sleep, even after I have taken him outside.

When he was younger and slept in a crate, it was extremely helpful to cover it with blankets. I don't know why but he slept way better after we started covering it.

Teddy is not allowed to bark before 6:30am (unless he is sick) we know he can hold it until 7:00, which is usually when I take him on his walk, so it is not a case of needing to go out. We use a soft muzzle for a couple of minutes to correct barking before 6:30 and it happens very rarely anymore. He even sleeps through my husband getting up and going to work. We slowly worked up to this point, making him sleep later and later. I am hoping he will naturally sleep a bit later as he gets older (he's 10 months now).

[Carol Brand]

How old is this puppy?

[BRADY GOOSE MOORE (Mini Doodle]

We are wondering what your puppy's name is .... and, how old is he?

[Leigh & Allie]

I am with the train of thought that it is within the puppy to either wake up early or not...... BUT I have to say it is also a learned ability. Allie, at one time would not consider waking up up after 7 A.M., but now can sleep until 10:00 or later of I a am still in bed. Today we are on vacation and my brother is staying with Allie. He goes to work much earlier than I do and Allie would have nothing to do with going potty at 7 A.M. My mom had to come over at 10:00 so she could go potty. I promise your puppy will work with your schedule eventually. He just needs to grow a little bigger.

[shelly]

YES!  same with tori... she has adjusted to our schedule.  and now that everyone is back to school and work.... it's hard to get her up and out before we leave too....but when they get older you can 'mess' with their schedule and they readjust quickly.  I don't remember why you don't have the puppy in the crate in your room, but perhaps he needs some "visual" company when he opens his eyes. Do you think you could try that (moving him to your room) again?    unfortunately, he has trained YOU to come down and do 'something' with him when he wakes so early... I KNOW it's so hard - especially when we worry about the effect on our kids.... and now it's worse for you b/c they are sick.  HOW did the last couple of nights go?