She has us trained - how do we change that?

[Deb, Buford & Smokey]

We have an 11 week old Labrador puppy, Smokey, that is barking (not whining) several times during the night.  We want a good night's sleep so any help is appreciated!  I know that the issue is likely something my husband or I are doing so please tell us what to change. 

Here are what I consider to be pertinent facts:

1 - she was separated from her litter at 5 weeks old and given to us (no control over that)

2 - She has a Snuggle Puppy

3 - She is in a large "airline" (plastic) crate. 

4 - During the day, she is only crated for 3 hrs at the most. Very few accidents and lets us know when she has to go outside.

5 - Buford is her big goldendoodle brother (about 3 and rescued through DRC). They get along famously.

6 - Food and water picked up by 6.

So here is a typical night:

11:00 PM  Hubby takes both dogs out for their last trip of the night

2:00 AM  Smokey barks.  She will continue for over an hour if we let her. One of us will get up, open the kennel and let her walk straight outside.  Buford comes with us.  She will pee (always) and sometimes poop (but rarely).  She definitely wants to play but we take her back inside and put her back in her crate.  She is wide awake and "rompy".  Once back in the crate she usually barks for under 5 minutes (and we ignore). 

Repeat on most nights at 4:00 AM and again at 6:00 AM.

I am willing to try anything although it would be difficult to keep Buford from accompanying us.

I got more sleep when my twins were babies than I am now so any suggestions would be appreciated (I take criticism well so be blunt if you have to)

(And I wanted to post this in the Puppy Group but couldn't figure out how to direct the post there if anyone wants to let me know or move it!)

[Adina P]

A few thoughts:

Although she has 'trained' you to a degree, she's still really young and it's not hopeless. Think of it in stages. Instead of expecting one long stretch from bedtime to morning, start extending those wake up times. Push that 2am to 2:30 and the 4am to 5:00 and so on a few days at a time.

[Deb, Buford & Smokey]

She is young (11 weeks) and the stretches have gotten longer than they were when she was smaller.  I think we have been spoiled with our other pups through the years as neither of us recall these night trips being so frequent for so long. It is very hard to remember how young she is when she starts her routine!  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Where is the crate in relation to where you sleep? Where does Buford sleep? Are you all in the same room? If not, you might consider that. 

(I know this is OT, but I am also very curious as to how she came to be taken from her litter and given to you at 5 weeks.)

[Deb, Buford & Smokey]

The crate was Buford's until we felt she needed a larger space than the small kennel she was using.  So now Buford is not crated at all (and surprising us with how well behaved he is when we are gone or sleeping!).

The crate is downstairs and we sleep upstairs.  Typically Buford will sleep on the floor in our room or on the stairs.  I can move the crate upstairs - there is definitely room - it is just a longer trip to get outside. I will try it!

   

And how she came into our lives... we used to have a black lab, Pepsi, who died 3.5yrs ago.  She was a FAVORITE of our dogsitter and very special to us as well.  The dogsitter came across a lady who was giving the puppies away at 5 weeks because they were in her barn and it was cold.  The dogsitter picked Smokey, brought her over and asked if we wanted her.  She was adorable, the kids had seen her and we said sure.  It was not without reservation given her age, the unknown parents and not being prepared but in the end, here we are...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I do think it will help a lot if you move the crate upstairs so that she can sleep near you and Buford. Your presence will comfort her.Many dogs don't like to sleep alone, especially small puppies. You might consider getting a second crate so you can have one up and one down. 

[Adina P]

I agree with Karen.  Just being able to see/smell you near might help him relax.  Then just pick him up and put him down when you're outside.

[F, Calla & Luca]

A year ago both doodles had diarrhea. Calla more so then Luca. But given a week or so they were completely better. Calla had developed the habit of waking me to go out at 5AM. We usually sleep late. Since I knew she was now fine and didn't have to go out, I put her in her downstairs crate when she woke me the next night and told her to go to sleep. By the next night we were back to normal. So if you know Smokey can go longer I would tend to try to ignore her as long as possible even if it means putting the kennel further away. Luckily Calla never barks to go out but she moves, sighs etc if she needs to go out when Ill. I am lucky that the dogs don't wake me when they are well. Otherwise she just parades by a door and gives me the look. I would try to discourage barking at you for most things.

[Deb, Buford & Smokey]

Thank you!  We had two labradors who passed away within a year of each other so for a decade plus, we were in the same situation - very few night interruptions and usually when they were ill.  

I can just picture getting "the look" you describe... LOL

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

To post a discussion in the puppy group, go to the group and find the add a discussion lettering - it is right under the list of discussions.  Let me know if you need more help.  Nancy

[Deb, Buford & Smokey]

Thank You, Nancy. I see it now!

[BG and Gavin]

I agree with putting the crate in your room so that the whole pack is together.  I would also at this stage invest in a more open crate (the wire type).  I think Gavin still had to get up during the night at this age.  If I remember correctly I set my alarm to wake up part way through the nights to take him out (before any crying) and then I just kept extending my wake up call a half hour per night until we lasted all the way through.

[Sally S Miles]

Definitely put the crate in the room with you, other than that time is on your side.