Hi guys! I got my little puppy Libby last Friday. She is so awesome and smart. And I love her to death. But for love love of GOD, let me get my sleep!! lol

She goes into her crate at night fine. And begins whining at about 2-3 Am every night to go out. So I let her out and stick her back in. She may whine a little but not to bad. Then around 5 am she whines again. I take her out. Now she is fully awake and NOT wanting to be crated again. When I put her back in, she goes crazy, barking and whining. It's gotten to the point where my husband has to sleep in the spare room because he has to sleep for his job. I feel so bad that he can't sleep in our own bedroom now. I was thinking of getting a little water bottle and spray her when she starts barking. But I don't want her to associate her crate with bad experiences. What should I do???

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I'm no expert (we haven't even brought our puppy home yet!), but maybe 0500 is unfortunately her wake-up time right now? Perhaps some playtime and exercise would help tire her out a bit. I wouldn't use the spray bottle, because as you said it may make her associate her "den" with punishment. Does she have a variety of toys in the crate with her?

Hopefully others with more experience can chime in, and I'd be interested in their answers. I'm sure we'll be in your same situation in just a few weeks!

Well, to be honest, I think that isn't too bad of a schedule for a little puppy. One time out at night and then wanting to get up at 5 doesn't seem too out of the ordinary. My latest pup is 11 months old now, and his schedule as a little pup was to bed around 10 or so, at least one time or more out at night and then up around that time in the morning. He had some stomach issues and still does at times, so once in a while he still needs to go out at night. Soon your little pup will start sleeping a little later in the morning, but I think some dogs just have an internal clock that gets them up early.

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I'm no expert, I don't have my pup home yet, but I have raised 5 other dogs, different breed and here is something that worked with us with one of our pups.

First 5am is pretty good in my book...our non sleeper liked 3-4am. We ended up using an xpen. When she woke at 4 I took her out and when I brought her back in she went into the xpen with toys and a kong with some treats in it...if the toys didn't work the kong did. We could usually go back to bed until 6am. Maybe this isn't the best solution but it worked for us. Puppy was protected in her pen from getting into stuff and didn't have to be crated so she could play. She would cry sometimes because she wanted us, but I figured that she needed to learn how to amuse herself some...and she was out the rest of the day with us for the most part....Eventually she slept till we got up, took a while but it did happen

When is the last time you feed her at night? She might just be hungry. My girls are fed 6-12-6, so in the weekend I always have to go out early, feed them, do the essentials, and back to bed. At the moment the whole proces takes me 20 minutes, with two dogs.

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I think she definitely may be hungry. As she is always wanting more food!! I feed her about the same time 6-12-6. I give her 1/3 cup each time.

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Please don't spray her.
Keep her up a little later each night, cover the crate with a sheet, take her out and play for 1/2 hour after she goes out to pee, then she'll probably be ready for a nap.

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Shes a puppy that's what they do. Your lucky she isn't waking u up every hour like my boy did. She could be waking you up for anything hunger, bored, having to use the bathroom. It's your job to find out what it is so you get to know her pattern. At first I was like you frustrated I couldn't sleep and I had exams the next day but that's what you must do with puppies. I'm glad you didn't spray your puppy because he or she hasn't done anything wrong. Have you took her out for potty at that time? When is your last feeding time? My boy would cry every hour just to go outside because he couldn't hold it. Now he holds it through the whole night and waits for me in the morning at 8:30 since I have class. On weekends he's
The one crying to wake me up so I can walk him at that time. Good luck


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I can't remember - it's been months - but is that enough food to be feeding her? 1/3 of a cup 3 times a day - or is it 1 cup and a 1/3 each time?

For the keeping quiet - I'd use food as well - kong with peanut butter or some kind of chew she can work away at til you are ready to get up.

the xpen is a great idea - and ear plugs.

Well that's what I read at least. It's part of a slow growth plan, supposedly its better for their joints?

And believe or not, she doesn't like the kong toy.. nor peanut butter. But I will try feeding her an hour earlier and see if that helps. Thanks for the suggestions!!!

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