Bonkers at Bedtime

[Lori]

I think I'm onto something. Leo is 12 weeks old, we've had him for one month. I have noticed that he gets really wound up and just out of control at bedtime! I don't crate him for punishment, but I have been so tempted on so many evenings. Finally his bedtime arrives and I put him in his crate and bam! His head hits the pillow (figuratively speaking!) and he's out like a light. I think his wild behavior may be a signal that he is overly tired. Tonight as a sort of experiment I put him in his crate an hour early, when the crazies started, and he fell right to sleep.

[Deanna Marsh]

Sounds like your on to something. Just like children, trying to stay awake they get hyper-active. Cute little guy.

[Sandy]

Toby still gets like that, and he's 13 months! But...I do use his crate to settle him down during the day if I need to, especially if there is company over. I compare him to an overtired toddler - he just can't settle himself down, but put him in his crate and he gets it. I let him out 5 minutes later and he's fine all calmed down.

[Julie Savolt]

Barley gets the same way about 9:00pm most nights! We think it's funny and love to watch him. After he's done we take him for a walk and then crate him for bed. We thought it was just extra energy he needed to burn off. How funny your puppy does the same thing. Barley has also started panting in his crate in the night and it wakes us up. We don't think it's related to his "hyper time" because he won't start panting until after midnight.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Peri gets this way around 9pm also (she is 6 months old!). Even if she has a big zoomie, she knows that 10pm is bedtime and when she goes inside the crate, it means nightnight. Sounds like you have a great plan - if it works, keep doing it!

[Mona & Lilly's Page]

I noticed that Lilly was getting all wound up last night and I put her in her crate just to calm her down and BAM! She was out like a light. They really are like human toddlers... LOL

[Lori]

Leo had to go to bed early tonight. He was ultra wound up. And again....OUT like a light! He really does act like a little kid - he gets aggressive with our Shih Tzu, who he adores.

[Lori]

That is SO like Leo! He charges Tai Chi and totally clobbers him. And then our Pekingnese gets mad and tells Leo off and he slinks away because he does whatever she says. She set the record straight on day one. :-) It's amazing how consistent their little personalities are, isn't it?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Same thing with Taquito and Peri. Sounds like the little toyish dogs are on the same page with our doodles! Adore them, but have no problem putting them in their place! Last night Taquito barked so loud at Peri, she got scared and fell off the couch! Saying "back of lady".

[Leslie J]

When Cocoa (11 weeks) gets too wild- jumping, biting clothes, barking at the kids, etc.- I pick her up and nonchalantly put her into her crate. I am always calm and neutral when I do it, because it is not a punishment, just a break. Cocoa is pretty calm 95% of the time, and when she is good, she is very, very good... but when she's doing badly she can be terrible! By teaching her to settle down we are helping her become a calmer, more enjoyable pet.

Some people may like all the adorable, wild behavior... but I have 3 boys (2 of whom are four year old twins) so I get enough wild behavior in the human department- and of course I can't put my boys in a crate when they are too wild!