Whining Early in the Morning

[Marlana & Amos]

Hi everyone, we could use some help!

We got Amos at 14 weeks and he was a nightmare getting him used to staying in his kennel at night--whining for hours and waking up at 4:30-5:00am to whine again. We give him a few safe toys to chew on/play with, have a radio on for background noise, and cover the kennel with a blanket. Over time he has gotten used to it,  and for about a week he slept until we got up at 6:00am. 

Suddenly, this week he has gone back to his old ways--whining when we first put him in the kennel and waking up at 4:30am to whine until 6:00am, when we get up. We haven't done anything different this week, and we continue to ignore his whine until WE get up at 6:00am. 

Any tips on getting him to sleep through the night...or at least not make any noise?  He is 6 months old today! Is this an "adolescence" thing?  

Thank you! I'm one tired momma! 

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

I am just throwing this thought out based on my experience with Hurley.  He was very restless in his kennel at night but as soon as I started putting him on the bed at night he was just fine.  He simply did not seem to want to be in that confined space.   

[Gayle & Hunter]

We had a Lab that had closterphobia and couldn't take being in a crate. We also just like what Diane did putting her on our bed resolved the problem. Could I ask what food are you feeding him? Sometimes I have researched that food can definitely cause issues just my thought. Wishing you luck hopefully you will be able to get some sleep soon.

[Marlana & Amos]

He definitely likes laying on the bed! We just don't really want him to sleep in the bed with us at night, especially if he is going to be 60lbs haha! I also get nervous about leaving him out of the kennel at night without supervision--as far as chewing on things he's not supposed to and the risk of having an accident in the house.  :( 

He is fed Fromm (whitefish and potato). Last feeding is 6:00pm and water is up at 7:00pm. We go to bed at 10:00pm.  Is 10:00pm - 6:00am too long to expect him to be able to sleep at this point?

Also, how long do you wait in the morning before feeding? We typically let them out to go to the bathroom and then feed them when they come back in, so we have wondered if he gets hungry and is ready to go potty and eat. Hmm...

[Kaitee and Orwell]

Is your laundry room big enough for him to sleep in on a bed? I know you don't want him chewing on things, so this could be a good solution. That's what I do with my Orwell and it has worked. 

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

We taught Hurley 'BED". That meant it was bed time (8:45).  He would go jump on the bed for the night.  He is 55 lbs (just turned 3 years old) now and has not slept on the bed for at least 1 1/2years.  He likes the tile floor in the kitchen but he still goes to his determined sleep spot at 8:45 and dozes off.  I know that seems early to many be I am up at 4:30AM so I like to be in bed between 9 & 10PM.  As for Hurley, he seems to like to sleep except on the mornings he goes for a run with me or a long walk with my brother.  

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

I would agree on letting him sleep out of the crate.  Can you keep him contained in your bedroom....give him his own bed to lay on and see how he does.  Certainly worth a try, for a good nights sleep! 

  Enzo was out of her crate by 4 1/2-5 months.  We still let her sleep with us, and she has no desire to be up on the bed.  I think it is too warm for her.  She sleeps next to my side of the bed...sometimes on her own bed, sometimes on the cool tile floor. 

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Yarrow slept better on her dog bed out of the kennel. I had to puppy proof the bedroom and put up a baby gate to keep her from wandering, but she was quiet and content on the floor beside my bed. i always made sure she had something to chew is she was teething in the night.

[Marlana & Amos]

Maybe we will just have to take a leap of faith and go for it! It will be easiest on all of us in the long run. Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Good luck! Let us know how it works out! He may be nervous the first night, not understanding the change. Maybe leave his crate with the door open.

[Kelly & Zoe]

+1 for  letting him sleep out of the crate.  Had the exact same experience and once we let Zoe sleep out of the crate, no more whining in the AM.  He's ADORABLE BTW...