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| Power giving me " the look" when he yips to get me out of bed |
Night before last, we went to bed at the usual time with the usual routine. I read for a while then turned out my light. Just as I was drifting off to sleep, I heard a "yip" and Power was making his request known. This has lately become a habit for this boy. He's perfectly happy when I am in the same room or even if my bedroom reading light is on. But when the light is turned off, he seems to think that he needs to wake me, and he will continue to do it every two hours at the bare minimum. I have tried to make him settle without a trip outdoors, but it doesn't work. I've tried taking the water bowl up at 8 pm--it did no good, so I took it up at 7 pm--that didn't work either, so now I'm taking it up at 6 pm. I will report on the results as I know them.
Twice, I was so desperate, that I went to the living room and slept on the Laz-e-boy recliner. Power was very content with that! Fleur has never had a problem with my being in the bedroom, thank God!
When I capitulate and let him outside, he goes through a routine of 1: a long slow pee 2:sniffing around the yard. 3: standing in the pool, and drinking if there's any water in it. 4: wanting inside. 5: standing in the doorway for a long, long time and letting heat out, cold in, rain in, flies in, etc. 6: when I go out to urge him inside, he does a whirling dervish dance and smiles so very big, more dervish dancing, and faking entering the doorway. 7: If I reach for his collar to help him come inside, he plays "keep away". 8: I try bribing him with a treat, but he's too smart for that! He's having fun, and he's got my attention, which seems to be what he wants.
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| This is a daytime picture of the same happy craziness Power does at night! If any of you have suggestions, please share them! |
I feel your pain! We should check to see if he's related to Flattery! I will give her credit that when she's taken out, she takes care of business very quickly, but the 2:00 am wake up is a pain in the rear. One thing I'd recommend is just taking him out on a leash so he can't pull all his other shenanigans, or take him out a little before bedtime for a long bout of playing, then see if he sleeps better. I hope he decides its not such a good idea.
ReplyDeleteThat must get so tiring. Would he be any better if he slept with you in the bedroom? It sounds a bit like Bridge who gets seperation anxiety if she doesn't sleep in the bedroom with me.
ReplyDeleteLynne
Recently, one of my guys has decided that 5am is good time to get up and go potty. Of course today I had to get up at 5am to catch an early flight, and she decided to just stay in bed. Hmm.
ReplyDeleteI've trained competition dogs in most venues for 35 years and this is a hard one to break. If he were my dog I would get a good e collar that goes from a soft tickle to a hard shock. It usually only takes the soft one to make them think twice and you must get the one with the remote so you have control and not when the dog makes a noise. This makes you in complete control. So when he starts the first noise you push the remote (always starting at the softest to get his attention). If doing that every time he does it doesn't work you must move it up once ect. That would be the easiest and best way (that I would do). And.......since you are using the remote he won't know you are the one making him uncomfortable (very important). Anyway that is what I would do with my dog if one of them does that.
ReplyDeleteI have trained competition dogs in most venues for 35 years and this is what I would do if he were my dog. I would get an e collar with a remote. At the first noise or two you use the least number that is usually only a tickle. If after a couple more noises you can go up to the next level. That usually does the trick because it doesn't really hurt but is uncomfortable. And the best thing is that he doesn't know you were the one making him uncomfortable because you used the remote and never had to get out of bed. That is what I would do.
ReplyDeleteHello, well if this was my pet - I would first of all take him outside ON A Leash, before my bed time. Then if he does this as you say still, take him out, ON A Leash, let him pee and then straight back to bed - he'll soon learn that outside at night is just for potty breaks! I have had many dogs and they soon learn who is the boss! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteOh, does he have your number! These little pup kids - they know exactly how to get what they want. The problem is, we're afraid to wake up to a big puddle in the morning, so it's hard to ignore them. But you know he can last all night because he's done it many nights, so unless he has a URI or something else wrong, he just wants your attention, like you said.
ReplyDeleteWhat I would do is: if you sleep with your door open, I'd get up and close my door when you hear him and just ignore him. Kind of like when a baby cries and you're trying to train him to sleep alone in his crib in his own room. It might take three or four nights, but that would be worth it to me. Better than getting up every night. and that's a routine you're establishing.
But if you take my advice and and wake up to a big puddle... I can only say, I'm Sorry!
Oh dear, this would drive me crazy! Only thing I can suggest is more exercise so he's really tired at night? What about a night light for him? Or have him sleep in with you? Wow, I came up with 3 suggestions :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I first got Asher he didn't have any idea about having a last pee before we all go to bed. I spent a lot of time standing out on the lawn waiting for him to do something before we went inside! Thankfully he seems to have worked out that routine now :)
That Power knows how to work things. Smart boy. Looks like you got some good ideas to try out from the other comments.
ReplyDeleteTraining a dog is very difficult in my experience. They want us to be with them and have attention on them always. You know they come and lick me in the morning to wake me up.
ReplyDeleteHope Power is soon content to just settle down and sleep.
ReplyDelete