5 month old will not go to sleep at night

[k&s]

I am writing for a co-worker who has a spaniel of some sort. She is 5 months old. He has had her for about a month or less. Apparently, she puts up a huge fuss when they put her in crate to sleep at night. She fusses for hours, and even if she falls off to sleep, she then awakens sometime during the night and fusses more. If they let her outside, she does not have to go to the bathroom. It is like she is on some other time schedule.

Recently they tried keeping her awake and active most of the day, and she still did not sleep at night.

I feel badly for them because they are actually considering having to return her to the breeder if this does not get resolved, becasue they are not getting any sleep. The dog is crated in their bedroom at night.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Judi W]

Do they like her otherwise?

Well, she might be getting her reward for catterwalling simply by waking people up. Although we usually recommend that a baby pup sleep crated beside the bed, I'd find the room farthest from the bedroom, crate her there and close as many doors as possible and not go in until morning. At five months she is old enough to go all night without a potty break (assuming she has one just before bedtime). They might find that after a couple of weeks of no response, she will settle down nicely.

[k&s]

Judi W-

Thank you.

They really do like her otherwise. But I think they are at their wit's end with getting no sleep. She is a Sussex spaniel.

I will suggest they put her in a separate room far from their bedroom at night. And that it might take a few weeks to resolve.

[Judi W]

Don't forget to also tell them not to respond to her hollering or she will still be getting her reward for same.

[k&s]

They had a good night when she was tired from playing with a neighbor dog, and then they have had a couple of bad nights again when she did not get all that playing.

I suggested they put her far away so they can't hear her, but it does not sound like that is an option; their house has a fairly open plan, and the sound will probably carry.

I feel badly for them because the lack of sleeep is making it difficult for them to do what is necessary (tough it out) with her crying.

Would you say that ignoring her for a few nights should solve the problem?

I have been thinking that perhaps she is a 'dominant', pushy dog, and is used to getting her way. I suggested to them that they put her in crate sometimes during the day when they are not too tired, and then if she puts up a fuss ignore her and (or) try a shake can (can with pennies to make noise) to dissuade her from this behavior. Would that work?

Do you think some of the problem is that they got her when she was 4 months old, so some habits have already been ingrained and might be more difficult to get rid of than if she were 8 weeks or so old when they got her?

[Michael C.]

I think it will stop once the ignore the dog. The dog knows if she crys, she gets attention. Also sounds like the dog may not have enough exercise. Maybe a walk or a game of fetch before bed time will help.

[Emily]

What worked for my dog was to cover him up like a parrrot. They have to be careful and not cut off all the ventalation. I think that when my dog couldn't see us anymore he finally understood we weren't coming back. We only had to cover him for a few weeks now he loves his "night-night" Also they may want to put chew toys like nylabones or something else that is safe in with her so if she wakes up and is bored then she will have another option than to wake up her family. also no matter how hard it is they can't answer the dog for crying. Jack was rewarded by us just saying "shut-up" because we talked to him.

[rottiegalC]

My rottie was the same way when he was a pup, and I was pregnant at the time which made it extra tough! All we did was let him sleep in his kennel at the end of the bed where he could see us and know that we were there. That helped a bit, then the other thing we did was give him a special bone everynite when he went to bed, and he would fall asleep chewing!!

[k&s]

thanks for all of your suggestions.

They tried having her sleep outside the crate in the bedroom. She does not have any accidents in the house anymore, and can hold it in all or most of the night. Apparently, she just tries out a few spots in the room and then settles down fairly quickly and goes to sleep.

I guess this particular battle with the crate at night was just not worth the loss of sleep. I think they're the kind of dog owners who will hold firm on other training and behavior issues, though.