Not sleeping

Just wanted to grizzle about Koda (about to turn 3) sleeping on our bed and keeping us awake half the night !! He gets up anywhere from 1am-3am and begs to be let out, let him out and he does a wee then a big patrol of the yard, this process sometimes takes 20 mins (while one of us 'patiently' waits at the door to let him back inside), comes back to bed then anywhere within half an hour to an hour later he's back up doing the same (this morning he decided to add eating his dinner to the routine, which added another 10 mins!). Ignoring him does not work, no tough love for that boy. He sleeps ON our bed, won't accept any other option which I don't mind but being awake for lengthy periods during the night is killing me (us) especially as I am gone for work 13 hours a day and get only 1.5 hours in an evening to eat dinner, clean up & do anything else I need to. I'm tired !!! Does anyone else go through this each night, or have we rocks in our heads ? If we tire him out enough before bed he MIGHT sleep through (rare), and of course he's put out for the loo before bed. Sorry for the rant !

Argh... My nightmare scenario Bek.

When Flo first came to live with us we tried her on the bed with us but quickly discovered that she's a fidget and would keep us awake half the night so we decided very early on that she would have her own space away from us... Two floors down

This is something everyone that sleeps with their puppy should bear in mind because, as you've found out, a 20kg adult Staffy can and will keep you awake at night.

Now I don't see that you have many options left, you tire him out with walks, make sure he's fed & he goes out last thing to do what he needs to do but still wakes up! I think you can only give him his own sleeping space outside of your room and persevere with the tough love, it may take some time as it did with us but you can crack this sleep deprivation thing.

Just worried he'd eat my house !!! You know what a ridiculous chewer he is I don't mind him sleeping on our bed (quietly I LOVE the extra body/warmth/snuggles) but I can't handle being woken regularly. I know, I'm my own worst enemy !! Fingers crossed I get a decent sleep tonight !!

How long did you try the ignoring for, Bek? It's the way I'd go, but you have to stick it out night after night. The other thing is to teach a command that means 'lie down and be quiet' (I tend to use 'sod off' in the middle of the night ).

I've never tried this with a dog, but one thing I've advised horse clients that has worked is to pair waking up in the middle of the night with something less fun. In the case of a horse, you do some training or something that comes under the banner 'work'. I'm not sure what would work with a dog, maybe putting a lead on and walking round the living room or something boring. The theory is that they get something that's not what they want, or rather that they don't want, in response for the unwanted behaviour. At the moment, a 20 minute snuffle in the garden's a great reward, thanks mum!

At the very least, I'd pop him on the lead if you do need to take him out, so that you can be sure that he doesn't need a wee (Koda, you're big enough to go through the night now) but without the fun of the snuffle.

Thats good advice thank you Liz! I love the idea of the lead but its not practical (he doesnt wear a collar at home & if he saw the lead he'd be dead excited for a walk I'd never get him back to sleep!!). He needs to spend less time sleeping in front of the fire so hes tired when he goes to bed, he doesnt carry on like this in our 40c+ Summer. As i write this its 3.30am, however am grateful he went out wee'd & back in within 5 mins, phew!!

I feel for you Bek the trouble is if you ignore him & he does really need to wee, that's always on my mind if Katy wakes me. She quite often wakes at night but usually wants to patrol the house (doesn't take too long) but occasionally she does need to go out but then we have the bed fight as she's on my side when we come back in

To be honest, Bek, I'd rather have the odd wee than be constantly woken up in the middle of the night. I personally would stick it out until you break the habit at least. Take him a good walk last thing and make sure the tanks are empty and he's tired, and he should be able to sleep through.

You could look into a slip lead for nights only. He'd soon get to learn that it didn't mean anything exciting.

I'd also switch the computer off. You might well find he's just getting up to check on what his pals are up to

You might be right about the computer Liz !!!!! I will keep an eye out !

I didn't think about the computer thing

is there a female n season nearby hen? remember apprently a male dog smells or senses a female in season in a 3 mile radius this is what i read . . just stick t a routine hen as iz said take him a longer walk in the evening mia sometimes wakes at 3am i say beddy baws too early she goes back to bed god luv our staffies and their nightly routines