hi, i have two shit-zu/bichon puppies, one is a male and one is a female, they are brother and sister and were the only two in the litter. both are a year and a half old. they have been sleeping in two separate kennels since we got them and each kennel is equipped with a pillow, a thin blanket and sometimes a toy. the kennels sit right next to each other facing a window in our kitchen. both puppies know when it is time to go to sleep and after being taken outside a final time they go into there kennels without being asked. sometimes the male will have restless nights where he makes a great deal of noise scratching at the door of his kennel. my parents have threatened to get rid of him and for me that is not an option, how can i discourage him or calm him down on these restless nights? i would prefer that they did not sleep in my room.
My dog is restless some nights?
- Posted:
- 3+ months ago by Ladyandtr...
- Topics:
- dog, sleep, night, female, sister, puppy, brother, bed, puppie, veterinary, litter, scratching, veteran, kennel
Answers (1)
There's a tonne of different techniques for you to try.
1) Use a squirt bottle whenever the dog makes too much noise (this requires you being ready to squirt instead of asleep though. I've been there, not fun...)
2) Tire the dog out more before going to bed. A good long walk or some time throwing around a ball. Not right before bed though because that'll wind him up, do it some time before so he's just tuckered out and wants to actually sleep.
3) The kennel has a door on it? As in locking the dog in for the night? I don't know about that, I let my dog roam the yard as much as he pleases before he goes to bed. The choice to get up and wander around when they're not tired might help. Or crate training them. Getting them used to being quiet in the kennel, not just at bed time, to reinforce the good behaviour.
4) Sharply shout your displeasure at your dog, get the alpha male/female of the family/pack to do so. Shuts my dog right up if he hears my Mum shouting at him.
5) Invest it some professional in-home training. My Dad threaten to send my dog to the RSPCA every time he barks (totally unreasonable) so I understand how important a dog can be to a person. Sometimes you just gotta pay the big bucks for some real help.
6) DO NOT let your dog sleep in your room. It is very good that you know this and stick firm to it. Yeah, it might shut the dog up, but then the dog always has to sleep in your room or it'll start fussing again. Better to just fix this behaviour now and not compromise.
7) Have you thought of letting the dogs sleep together? Sometimes dogs with a strong bond just wanna snuggle at night.
And countless more I can't think of right now as it's 2:35 in the morning and last night was New Years :P lol
I hope it all works out for you! :)
My dog recently ripped holes in the NEW fly screen (he destroyed the old stuff as a pup) because I went to a New Years party and he wanted in, the little bastard, just wait 'til my parents see. He's sleeping in my bed this one night because I think I'd murder him if he complained all night tonight (he barked from 8pm to 8am my brothers report) nah I love the bugger. He's been an outside dog since he was a tiny little thing and he loves in 99% of the time.