Sleeping Through the Night

WHEN WILL MY PUPPY SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT?

Create a bedtime ritual -
a pattern of behavior
that is consistent

"Barking from distress when left alone in an unknown place increases from 3 to 6-8 weeks (maximum) then decreases until 12 weeks. The rising curve reflects a progressive attachment to a familiar place (attachment location) while the descending curve after 7-8 weeks is a sign of emotional maturing (more than habituation) and motivation to explore the unknown.

When a puppy is acquired at 7 weeks and left alone at night it will bark in distress. This barking disappears spontaneously after a few days as it becomes familiar with its new home (with reassuring significance), unless its behavior receives positive reinforcement from its new masters (who come to pet, calm or scold the distressed puppy, or take it into their room, all signs of attention - thus positive reinforcement)." - Dr. Joël Dehasse, DVM (Belgium)

Will I ever get a full night's sleep again?

The bladder rules.
All parents of brand new babies are at the mercy of their tiny baby's sleep patterns and immature bladders. For the first few weeks of being a puppy parent, you will be as well. Put the crate next to your bed and be ready to scoop up a fussing pup up and whisk her out for a pit stop in the dark of night, often several times a night. Run her up and down, then stand still and watch, praise for results. Then take her in and put her directly back in her crate and go back to bed. [Do not take her back to bed in YOUR bed, or she will surely wake up just to get to snuggle with you instead of sleeping in her own bed.] The frequency will become less as her bladder control increases with maturity.

The evening ritual.
Set in motion a predictable bedtime pattern. You will note that your pup will be ready for bed shortly after a round of the "puppy zooms" - that frantic burst of energy right before your puppy crashes for the night. This craziness will pass with age, but for now, this is your signal to take note of the time and decide how your puppy's circadian rhythm fits with your evening ritual. Take your pup out for a last potty break right before you put her down for the night. Make it a predictable evening pattern; part of brushing your teeth and locking the doors and turning out the lights.

Just one more glass of water ...

read me a story ...

The older your puppy gets, the better her bladder control. By 4-5 months, she really should be close to being able to sleep through the night. Unless she's loaded up on a bunch of water right before bedtime or has a bladder infection, upset tummy, or some other contributing factor, there is no reason for a puppy to be up and down all through the night.

What if I've already contributed to the delinquency of a night time monster?
If your pup has figured out she can get you up at any hour AND get you to sleep on the couch or take her to bed with you, you might very well get a healthy "extinction burst" before she gives up this newfound power. Ride it out. Better to lose sleep a couple of nights than every night for the rest of her puppyhood!

If you aren't sure if she's just fussing or really has to "go", take her straight out, no playing or fiddling around, hurry up and go and go back to bed - no treats or cuddles, all business, one chance. After that, unless it's been a good 4 hours since you took her out last, I'd tell her in a no-nonsense voice, "That's enough, go to sleep!" and roll over and ignore her. If she persists, you can toss a blanket over the door so she can't see out. Remember, if you cave, you teach the puppy that persistence pays. The longer she yells, the more likely she is to get out. Unless your goal is to create a long duration tantrum monster, do not reward the noise by opening that crate unless the puppy is quiet.

IF you give in and get up earlier than you intended, there is no breakfast til the appointed breakfast time.
Just because she got you up early, doesn't mean the diner is open. Be careful to NOT feed your early riser immediately upon waking. At our house breakfast is between 8:30-9AM, even though dad gets up at 6 and mom a bit later. The dogs don't even get up when dad gets up - he doesn't feed them! Mom makes coffee, showers and answers emails before dog breakfast happens. As a result, the dogs lie patiently under her office chair, quietly waiting for breakfast. Younger, impatient dogs may postpone breakfast for the group if they pester, nag or fret about their impending meal. Waiting patiently makes meals happen.

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