vicarrieous
Well-known member
(previous post for background info)When we first got Kipling (10 weeks old) he was doing well at night in his crate. He barked/cried a little when we put him to bed but made it through the night. That lasted about a whole 2 weeks then he started having accidents in teh middle of the night. We would listen carefully and at the first sign we would take him out in the middle of the night but the problem was he only barked after he had peed in his crate. Now we are setting an alarm every night for 3am to take him out. I am afraid now that we have programed him for this. He is 4 months now and I am wondering how can we get back on track? It seems that as soon as we start to push the clock back he then pees in his crate before we take him out. Currently his crate is upstairs while we sleep downstairs. Would it be better if we moved it down with us? He definately barks in the morning around 6ish before we get up (6:30) which I know my husband doesnt love but we need to get him to sleep throughout the whole night.
I posted earlier about Kip's bedtime habits. Per everyone suggestions, we moved him downstairs next to our bed, removed his food/water atleast 2 hours before bedtime, and made sure he was tired out before bed.
(For those who arent aware, Kip is 18 weeks old and cant seem to make it through the night)
We are making sure he is worn down before bed but he is STILL putting up a fight by barking, scratching, pleeding to let him out. We have been hiding treats in his crate, feeding him in his crate, and giving him a treat before bed to get him accustomed to it but it doesn't seem to make a difference.
Since we have moved him downstairs, we are no longer setting an alarm to take him out, instead he is waking us up which is good. BUT before he was making it until 3ish in the morning and we had been moving it back little by little every couple nights. Now he is waking up around 12:30-1am and continues the whole barking/scratching routine again. Lately (The past couple days) he has been waking up at 5-5:30am crying and whining to go out. (Normally he goes to bed about 10 -10:30 and we are up by 6-6;30). Last night it was up at 12:30 then at 3 and again at 5:30!
By no means are we angry with our little guy, but we are so dissapointed in ourselves that our training isnt seeming to work/stick. It is very frustrating and saddening to hear him cry and know that we have been dealing with this for the past 2 months and we feel like failed parents.
My husband has been great in saying that he is still a puppy and it could take a lot more time (even though I know he is tired and gets frustrated by the barking, scratching, and whining), but here on the boards it seems like puppies should have it by 12-14 weeks. I dont want my Kip stressed out, I want him to love going to sleep and feel calm and relaxed. Sometimes I wonder if he is even sleeping at night, or if he is up all night chewing on his bed in his crate.
Please any help, suggestions, or reassurance would be great....:cry*ing:
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