Need help breaking bad sleep habits in 8 month old puppy

[doubledip1]

Just popping in to say I agree with Labradorks! And I would really rethink crate training. Crates are AWESOME. Luna puts herself to be in her crate every night. The door isn't shut. She goes in there on her own after her last bathroom break and sleeps really soundly. It's her "room". She loves it. Dogs are den animals.

[CraftHer]

Don't beat yourself up over this. Make a plan (with all the good advice here) and stick to it. That'll be the hard part. Especially at the beginning. You're not being mean or hurting their feelings by sticking to your plan. You're doing you and the dogs good by sticking to a routine.

Here's Mocha's bedtime routine. 10:00ish is bedtime (which is also my husband's bedtime). Mocha gets a couple tablespoons of yogurt in his "bedtime" kennel in our room. When he's finished, we take out the bowl and he knows it's time to lay down. My husband goes to bed and turns out the light. Then Mocha circles a time or two, lays down, sighs and off to sleep (he added this to his routine ). In the morning, my husband gets up first and lets him out and feeds him. When DH goes to work, Mocha goes in his "daytime" kennel. I get up about 8:30-9:00 (I work from home which is EST and work is PST so I stay up later and get up later). Mocha knows I'm there, but he's quiet in his daytime kennel because he knows he's not getting out until I get up. It's the routine. At first, he would whine after my husband left and I was still trying to sleep. I never gave in and he learned that whining doesn't work. But I really do believe he can hear my eyes open

[WhoopsaDaisy]

Just popping in to say I agree with Labradorks! And I would really rethink crate training. Crates are AWESOME. Luna puts herself to be in her crate every night. The door isn't shut. She goes in there on her own after her last bathroom break and sleeps really soundly. It's her "room". She loves it. Dogs are den animals.

I want to add my agreement... Crate training is really important and can be fun. Look up "crate games" and you'll find fun games to play using the crate.

[coopersmom]

I want to add my agreement... Crate training is really important and can be fun. Look up "crate games" and you'll find fun games to play using the crate.

I don't have much to add seeing as Cooper is our first dog . We crate trained him, it was very easy. At that time I hadn't stumbled across this forum, but googled the info and we went from there. Cooper loves his crate, he will even go and stand in it when he realizes we are going out, without us even saying anything to him, or he will nap in it even when we are home, with the crate door wide open.

[Labradorks]

I probably would not recommend bonking a dog on the nose or jowl grab, and I just don't see you (from what you said in your posts) being as strict as xracer4844. I think it's more effective to remove the dog from the "good thing" or the "fun thing" by saying, "too bad - you're done" and then they are to get off the bed/furniture, or are leashed up and taken out of the fun, etc.

But, I'm a bit unclear as to what your older dog does when the younger one gets on the bed that makes you think she's so upset? Your first post sounded like she became protective and your next one sounds like you and your husband just sort-of projected those feelings onto the dog. I'm not sure how to address it or if it even needs to be addressed.

Maybe the time that your pup begins to get upset is her bedtime and she wants to sleep with your husband. Perhaps she figured out that if she freaks out she won't have to sleep alone. I would suggest that you have your husband take her to bed with him at night. If she truly has anxiety issues, then being direct, having clear leadership and rules, and upping the training sessions will help tremendously. Does with anxiety need that structure. They do not need to be coddled, which just reinforces the anxiety. What makes you think it is anxiety versus being spoiled and throwing fits to get her way -- your husband, being let out of the crate, etc.?

Also, in order to be truly effective, your kids should make sure that the dogs sit before being pet, going outside, getting food, etc. It doesn't have to be more difficult than that (I know it's hard to get everyone on board). Think of sitting as saying "please".

[Tanya]

I probably would not recommend bonking a dog on the nose or jowl grab, and I just don't see you (from what you said in your posts) being as strict as xracer4844. I think it's more effective to remove the dog from the "good thing" or the "fun thing" by saying, "too bad - you're done" and then they are to get off the bed/furniture, or are leashed up and taken out of the fun, etc.

But, I'm a bit unclear as to what your older dog does when the younger one gets on the bed .

I agree wtih all of Labradorks post this especially this part. you can be a leader WITHOUT being physically forcefull or using negative physical punishment like bonking on the nose. You can be a fair leader and control ressrouces without doing that.

To improve self confidence - boundaries, training and rewards. Obedience classes then other classe are wonderful as they learn all kinds of new things. I you haven't taken a basic obedience class start there adn keep going. IF you have already, take the next level or something fun like agility or rally-o or scenting. anything. Teach her new things, to touch things, to stand on things. It is a slow build.

Teaching her you have things under conrol will help. That she can't nag you to get her way (teh whining and hubby sleeping downstairs with her). Again wtih boundaries (enforcing thinsg that she can't do that are not safe for example).

Nothing in life is free is as great way (which is waht Labradorks is getting at I think). It doesn't mean not letting your dogs have praise, affecttion, ect. It mean you ask for something (a sit, a down, for them to be quiet) before they get it. That cuddles are on your terms not whent hey go bug you for them. Sit and wati for their meals. This will go into structure as well.

Agree with the bed thing. I didn't meant to say your older dog was mean or aggressive but your first post said he kept your younger dog off the bed, which means he is guarding the bed (if that is what he is doing). and the dog should not be allowed to do that. ever.

[Lauranj]

I crate in my family room for pups. They are not in my bedroom. They have to earn their freedom by not being destructive, by following house rules, by obeying basic commands prior to sleeping where we are sleeping so if they get a little playful, I can give a command to down or to bed and they go lay down. At night- we are sleeping, they are sleeping so it is fine if they are in a different room. I also think it is ok to give the older dog a break from the younger, untrained, wild one.

[Lauranj]

Sorry, can't make paragraphs so I am doing another post. What do you do when your young one is barking in the den with you? Are you body blocking her- giving her a firm NO or Ahaha and then directing her to go lay down? Or are you just allowing the barking? I would not allow the barking, that is just obnoxious and your husband should not have to get up to deal with it since you are already in the room with her. You need to establish you are in charge and make the rules, not her. I would give her a NO, body block her from the gate so she can not hit it or push on it. Wait for her to be quiet and settle down. Run her through some very basic commands that I knew she would obey- like sit, down, etc. Then take her out, bring her back to the den and tell her to go to bed or whatever words you use that means she is to go to sleep and be settled. A dog can become anxious from lack of leadership, training, and rules. I think an obedience class would be a really good idea to help you establish who is in charge and to get hands on advice.

[xracer4844]

Sorry, can't make paragraphs so I am doing another post. What do you do when your young one is barking in the den with you? Are you body blocking her- giving her a firm NO or Ahaha and then directing her to go lay down? Or are you just allowing the barking? I would not allow the barking, that is just obnoxious and your husband should not have to get up to deal with it since you are already in the room with her. You need to establish you are in charge and make the rules, not her. I would give her a NO, body block her from the gate so she can not hit it or push on it. Wait for her to be quiet and settle down. Run her through some very basic commands that I knew she would obey- like sit, down, etc. Then take her out, bring her back to the den and tell her to go to bed or whatever words you use that means she is to go to sleep and be settled. A dog can become anxious from lack of leadership, training, and rules. I think an obedience class would be a really good idea to help you establish who is in charge and to get hands on advice.

I guess the OP has not really explained the behaviors with enough detail. As Tanya wrote - it sounded to me like the older dog is guarding the bed...I would absolutely jowl pinch a dog that is aggressive towards any dog over space. I'm also not referring to a bonk on the noggin to be forceful - just a slap on the head to show that dog that you are taking care of the situation - it snaps a dog out of it. To me it's just a bad pack arrangement. In my opinion you should show your older dog that YOU will deal with the puppy. It's not up to the older dog to discipline the pup for wanting on the bed - that was the whole point of my post.

[Archie]

To me it's just a bad pack arrangement. In my opinion you should show your older dog that YOU will deal with the puppy. It's not up to the older dog to discipline the pup for wanting on the bed - that was the whole point of my post.

Is this really a thing? Disciplining an older dog for rightly putting a pup in its place, and thereby taking away the older dog's ability to stand up for itself? wow - some people's interpretations of dominance theory/the whole pack leader thing are just as wacky as some people's interpretations of the bible.

OP - you've gotten some great advice. Judging by your posts, you won't go overboard or resort to physical punishment. Best of luck to you!