Waking up Early -More Advice Needed

[Rachelwhitehead]

Hey Guys,
Chloe is now five months old and continues to wake up too early. She can hold it all day long while I'm at work (eight hours) so I feel this is now a behavior problem rather than not being able to hold it. She wakes up every morning at 4:30 regardless of when we put her to bed (at 10:30 or even midnight). My husband and I are going to squirt her with a water bottle and say "NO!" when she barks at night in her crate. Any suggestions or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Someone suggested adding vinegar to the bottle -how much? Someone else suggested binaca spray. How long will this last for? We've had for for two and a half months and I NEED MY SLEEP!!!
Rachel

[Meemoo]

a little more information here. Is she does whining, barking for attention or does she really need to go out?

If it is because she needs to go out that early in the am, you might want to reduce the water intake after 7pm or so, give ice cubes instead. If it is just a whine, let me in bed, then you could try a few things. You could get a empty soda can and fill it with a few pennies. When she starts shake it and say NO! As soon as she stops praise her. You could also use the water, I have a spray mister near my bed in times when Chief just gets a little too rambunctious and needs to be reminded on who is boss. ;) I used to squirt it right at him and say NO BARK. Boy did he not like that one bit. A few squirts and all I had to do is pick up the bottle and he was quiet. Now all I have to do is say NO bark. The most important thing is NOT to give in to her. Once you start, they have YOU trained.

You might also consider giving her something to entertain herself with, like a buster cube, a nylabone, or a kong. SHe is quite young.

Good luck!

[Rachelwhitehead]

She starts out with whining and then goes into barking getting louder and louder. I am very good about the water. She gets her last drink with dinner at five o'clock and that's it. If she is VERY active, I will occasionally give her a few lapfuls but that is very rare. I will try the water sprayer. I don't want to give her toys/food to keep her busy because then she will be barking for food. I really would like her to sleep.
Rachel :)

[Jennie]

Could it just be her routine now? My boys have gotten into a very strong routine of getting up between 7:15 and 7:30 every single day, regardless of when we go to bed. Once they wake up, they want out to do their business (both kinds). Then, they run inside, straight back upstairs, and if it's not a work day, we crawl back into bed (OK, me in the bed, them in their crates) for up to an hour longer. Then, they want up and their breakfast. As soon as they've had breakfast, it's back to sleep for a while longer. I really believe that it's just become their routine and it's hard to break. Unfortunately, I can't provide any suggestions on how to break the routine, as I've had no luck myself. I've thought about the water bottle but 7:00 really isn't all that early, so I just go with it. I sure would feel differently about 4:30 am though! Hopefully others will have some ideas for you!

[TessieMom]

I wish I had an answer for you, but I would try the advice you have been given and hope that it works. Mine wake up whenever it starts to get light. Not a problem right now, but in the summer, they want to get up early!

[Meemoo]

to me. A whine, and then if you are ignoring her she gets louder with barking right? You don't give in to her in any way do you? Like it's ok type thing? If so...you need to stop that. If not, Try the water spray.

Good luck!

[Schnitzel's Mom]

Schnitzel did the same thing. One of the things our trainer told us to do was to put a blanket over her crate and then make a loud noise--like with coins in the coke can. The trick was to make sure she didn't see you because that sort of reinforces the "if I bark, someone comes to see me" syndrome. It worked, she stopped barking, but it still happens in the mornings sometimes. She used to wake us up at 530a, but she has now delayed it an hour, to a more acceptable 630a (we take her out in the morning at 7a). It's not every morning anymore, thank goodness. She doesn't need to "go" and she's not hungry or bored, she just wants to be with us. Like the other 23 hours and 30 minutes of the day. :) Hang in there, I know how it is to be woken up by a pint sized dog with a big bark/whine that breaks your heart, and your sleep patterns.

I also want to know, how many parts water to parts vinegar? She thinks the water squirt is a game. :bounce:

[Meemoo]

Hmm...I did it when he least expected it and in the face. He didn't think it was a game for sure! As for parts...add 1/4 vinegar to water. Don't know if that will do the trick, but it's worth a squirt. :D