Kenneling--5am wake up calls

[Glenn and Beth M]

Sam is our new Goldendoodle, 12 weeks. The first week he slept until 6am. Now, he insists by 5am that he is getting up, going out. He gets into the kennel fine at night, hardly whimpers, but by 5am, he makes his presence known. Should we just shut the door and let him howl, teach him 6am is correct time, or let him go out, put him back in kennel until 6am?

[Tamara & Giada]

I'd let him out for potty and put him right back in, it isn't unusual for a puppy at this age to need to get up early. Every few days push back the time 10-15 minutes, until your at the time you want. It will work out. GL : )

[Glenn and Beth M]

Great advice, and thanks!!

[Adina P]

I would either:

A) Let him whine in there and put in ear plugs till 6am (risking that he may need to go potty).

OR

B) Put a leash on him and without any interaction (other than to praise/treat if he goes potty) take him outside for a 5 min potty break. Then immediately back into the kennel and put in those ear plugs. Then over a few weeks gradually let him out later and later until you are pretty sure he CAN hold his potty until 6am. The point is merely to give him the chance to potty if he really has to go...BUT TO NOT engage him in play so that it becomes a ritual he looks forward to. Keep it strictly business.

[Glenn and Beth M]

Great advice, we will do that! Thanks.

[Yvonne, Riley, Murphy and Luca]

What time are you putting him in at night?

[Glenn and Beth M]

The first week, like 9-9:30. In have tried stretching it to 10, moving it back to 9, does not matter, he is up at 5. Thoughts?

[Yvonne, Riley, Murphy and Luca]

Well if you are putting him in at 9 and he is up at 5. That is 8 hours, that is about as far as you can push it with a puppy that little. I have a 16 week old and he is out the last time at 11 and is up at 7 on the nose, everyday. I would push back the last time you take him out and see if that helps.

[Eileen Ross and Cody]

I feel for you as Cody who is now just about 8 months old has been getting up at 5:15 EVERY morning to pee and EAt.
I made a major mistake by feeding him because his hungry bark is VERY loud and my husband needs to sleep later than 5. But he does go back to sleep for an hour or two so I nap on the couch. He sleeps in our den not our bedroom. It was worse when he was in our room. Good luck.

[Glenn and Beth M]

Thanks Eileen. He actually made it to 5:30am this morning so I felt like I got a new leash on life. Great site, friendly people. Glad I joined.

[Debbie and Thomas]

Oh gosh-5 am is harsh! Our pup at 8 weeks old slept until 730 am, and now at six months, he waits until he hears us moving around which is great on the weekends. Mind you, we do not put him to bed until 11-11:30 at night. We are just not morning people and he has become that way too.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

When Ned was at the early morning potty stage I was really lucky - the Olympics were on and coverage began really early! By the time the Olympics were over, Ned was able to hold it til a more reasonable time.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I too let my pup out --actually push him out at 6am to go outside. He comes in and goes back to sleep.
My other dog at around 12 years of age was suddenly waking up at 4am on the dot and insisting on going out. It took me awhile to realize my neighbor had a new job and left for work at that time. Another time cats would wake him. They were an acre away but he could still hear them. Possibly he is hearing a noise you don't and it is waking him.