Will these sleeping habits change?

[Cheerful1]

We've had Joey for six months now. He's six years old.

He has not slept a full night so far. He wakes up around 2AM. We had thought this was because he needed to roam around, then go back to sleep (he did that with his former owners).

Now we think it's because he has to go out (his last going out is around 7:30PM).

So he wakes us up at 2AM, I take him out, then feed him, then we go back to sleep. Husband's retired; I still work (wake up at 4:30).

This morning he woke us up at 1AM. I took him out, then fed him, then we went back to sleep. He woke us up again at 3AM. We told him to relax a few times, then he went back to sleep.

We love Joey to pieces, but it would be nice if we could get a good night's sleep.

[Emoore]

Sounds like he's got you well-trained to give him a midnight snack. Why are you feeding him in the middle of the night? He's getting rewarded for waking you up. If he legitimately needs to go to the bathroom, it's up, outside to pee, no roaming around, then back inside into a dark room to go back to sleep. Maybe put him on a leash so he can't be rewarded by wandering around and sniffing. He goes out, he answers nature's call, he comes back in and back to sleep. I would also try to take him out around 9:30 or 10pm instead of 7:30pm if possible.

I think this regimen will greatly reduce the waking you up at night over a little while, once he figures out what's going on. If it doesn't, he may need to see a vet if he physically can't hold it at night.

[kiya]

Originally Posted by Cheerful1

We've had Joey for six months now. He's six years old.

He has not slept a full night so far. He wakes up around 2AM. We had thought this was because he needed to roam around, then go back to sleep (he did that with his former owners).

Now we think it's because he has to go out (his last going out is around 7:30PM).

So he wakes us up at 2AM, I take him out, then feed him, then we go back to sleep. Husband's retired; I still work (wake up at 4:30).

This morning he woke us up at 1AM. I took him out, then fed him, then we went back to sleep. He woke us up again at 3AM. We told him to relax a few times, then he went back to sleep.

We love Joey to pieces, but it would be nice if we could get a good night's sleep.

I agree with Emoore, he's got you well trained and now it is becoming a habit.
When my girl, Kiya, started having seizures and was put on meds she started waking up several different time during the night. I felt bad for her and felt the meds were the culprit. After a while I was starting to loose it, I have to be up for work at 5am and didn't have a solid nights sleep in a long time. I went to my vet in tears, he gave me the best advise I ever got "practice tuff love, tell her NO, roll over and go back to sleep".
Thats what I did and it worked like a charm.

[Cheerful1]

I agree, he does have us well trained.

We go to bed at 8:00 because I have to get up early, so 7:30 is the latest we can wait.

We tried just taking him out and going back to bed. He wakes up an hour later.

[doggiedad]

your might have to go in the middle of the night.
if my dog woke me up at 2:00 am to go out i would take him
but i wouldn't feed him. feeding at that time could be encouraging
your dog to wake you up so he can eat. your dog goes out
at 7:00 pm for last call. if my dog goes out at 7:00 pm he's going out
again before i go to bed (10:00 pm to midnight). what time do you
get up in the am??

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by doggiedad

what time do you
get up in the am??

She said in her OP she gets up at 4:30.

You know, your other option would be to have him sleep in another room for a week or two so he can't wake you up, and gets out of the habit of going out at night. I'd only do this if his housebreaking is reliable, of course.

[kiya]

Originally Posted by Cheerful1

I agree, he does have us well trained.

We go to bed at 8:00 because I have to get up early, so 7:30 is the latest we can wait.

We tried just taking him out and going back to bed. He wakes up an hour later.

Just say "NO", he's playing you. I wouldn't take him out until its time for you to wake up. I go to bed at 10pm wake up at 5am. Kiya will start asking to go out anywhere between 8-9:30 pm just to get her cookie, I try to wait until 9:30. On weekends I like to sleep a little later. Lakota used to wake me up at 5am on weekends until it started staying darker later in the morning, now we ususally get up around 7am on weekends.

[Cheerful1]

Thanks for these suggestions. Just spoke to my husband, and we will start the "tough love". For the time being, we will bring him out if he wakes up at 2AM, but no treats or meals, then back to bed.

The hard part will be ignoring the whines, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

I wish I knew the difference between his actual hunger, and just wanting to eat all the time.

[Emoore]

No dog needs to eat at 2am.

[Bismarck]

when he does go out at 2am, go watch him.
see how much he pees.
a lot of pee would be ok, a little bit/few dribbles would equate to he's playing you.

he's a big dog i assume (not a chi or anything tiny), and his bladder is big enough for him to last the entire night.
it's possible he could have a urinary problem, have you verified he's ok with a vet?