[Yukirin]

I just recently adopted a 1 and 1/2 year-old black labradoodle (I know that the color, and probably age was not needed. Just wanted to say), and she continuously (SP?) wakes me up in the middle of the night. I've only had her for a week, and after I pet her, she goes back to sleep, but it's getting on my nerves, and I'm beginning to get the symptoms of "sleep deprovation". Her name's Dori for all of you to know. Like the fish in Finding Nemo.

~Please, need help before I start halucinating (SP?)

Yuko

[fromteri]

doodle is probably just trying to figure out what is going on and needs a little extra assurance right now. Is your dog in a crate at night? Can you put the dog in another part of the house so that she doesn't wake you up?

[seazr]

Crate her and start wathching the dog wisperer . . .
Diane and Dakota

[Yukirin]

Dori isn't in a crate, and we tried, but she claws at it, and that keeps me awake more then ever (usually 'til the sun comes up), and I can't put her anywhere else, 'cause she comes into my room. When I shut the door, she wakes me up and keeps pawing and scratching 'til I open that; I have dark, black scratches all over my door.

Like I said, I can't crate her, nor can I watch the Dog Whisperer, because I don't have cable/satellite (SP?) TV.

I also have another problem; Dori leaps on the furniture (not often, but occasioanlly, which I why I can't ignore her at night when she paws at me; her next thing to get attention is to jump onto the bed!) Now, I've read all the books, watched all the movies, and I simply can't find a cure for this one. Another thing! She had puppies about 5 months ago! Could this be a sort of side-effect from missing her old home, or puppies?

[CHARLIE_DOODLE]

Dont have any suggestions for this, but I l0vvvvvvvvve The Dog Whisperer! Ceasar Is my HERO! I suggest anyone that has dog problems to watch it!

[lovemydoodle]

hmmm....I dont know what to really suggest. You have only had her for a week so thats still kinda early in the game. You said she will scratch at your door ...so why not let her come in? Or keep your door open so she can go in and out. Maybe try buying her a dog pillow and put it somewhere in your room. It kinda seems like she wants to be where ever you are. Do you know how she slept with her previous owner? Maybe they allowed her to sleep in the bed or in their room. I dont crate my doodle at all. At night I leave my bedroom door open, if I close it he will cry at the door. But he will sleep on his pillow which is next to my bed or he will sleep on the end of my bed. At first I had a problem with him in our bed, I was kinda not into it but I got over it. I really dont mind him in it, I just have to wash my sheets more often! Also...my grandma's dog jumps on her furniture so at night or when she leaves for the day she puts newspaper on her couch and chair and he doesnt go on it, thats just a suggestion to try

Good Luck...and I hope it gets easier for you!
_________________
Brooke

[Yukirin]

Thanks for the advice, LoveMyDoodle. ^^ The problem is, I, my friends, and my family all agree that the furniture-thing is bad... And, yes, I do have one of those pillows, right next to my bed, the door's always wide open... and I kinda found something out yesterday; I took Dori for a 3 - 4 mile run (yes, complete sprint) and she let me sleep all through the night... until 7:30 AM. ^^ Good girl! =) I just don't wanna do that every single day. I do get tons and tons of excercise, but not a full, 3 mile sprint every day... still need help, though I now know one way to solve my problem; tire her out until she can't run anymore, and sleeps all day.

[Jannie]

this might be too simple, but you could try making sure she is really tired at night - i.e. don't let her sleep in the afternoon or evening, or take her for a long walk before bedtime

[Yukirin]

Thanks, Janie. That's a great idea. =) I'll try it, and let you know how it works out. ^^

[Jannie]

OOps I didn't see your last post - you have the exercise thing figured out - I would just give her as long a walk as you can every evening and don't let her sleep during the day

might just be taking her a little while to settle in to her new home as well

[Yukirin]

Okay. Cool. Thank you.

[Jac]

Hi,
I understand how frustrating it must be for you...but I do believe that since
Dori is older, she is very lonely...in addition, she is trying to find her puppies and may be wanting you to help. She is probably extremely lonely...it is such a close bonding experience for a mother to have her puppies around.
Have you asked your breeder what conditions she was kept in? I suspect that she was around other dogs, perhaps humans, and is missing the nighttime cuddling.
It sounds like she may not have been well trained by the person who has had her and you may need to start at the beginning. She needs to be in a good training program. She needs to feel secure and loved in your home and she needs to know the rules. She will learn, but you are in for some rough times until she does. I'd ask the breeder exactly what she has been living like...what conditions, when were the pups weaned, where did she sleep, how was she socialized? And I'd check with her vet...her past vet...to see if they can shed some light on it.
You may need to take her to a trainer for one-on-one training.
Most importantly, you will have to do a lot of work with her to train her and teach her that she is loved and yet she has rules. She just needs structure, but she is old enough that it will be a challenge for you.
You might want to get a "Snuggle Puppy" for her...they are stuffed animals with heartbeats and a warming pad inside.
I would definately crate train her. I know that the scratching is hard for you, and for your doors/furniture...but you are going to have to go through that with her...so it is best to find out how to get results.
If she is free to roam the house, she will be on furniture, she will try to be with you. That's what dogs do. They need to be part of a pack...and she is trying her best to fit in...the only way that she knows how.
You have been patient and I hope that you continue to be...she is just lost, and probably very lonely...and she is doing what she has been "trained" to do...either by lack of training or by neglect or by an owner who just didn't know how to teach her.
I'd get her into training right away...I'd get her crate trained immediately...and I'd give her so much love and attention that she would feel secure in knowing that you (her new pack leader) accepts her into the pack.
Here is a good link:
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html
_________________
jacque.bayley.lexie.chase.rosie.nitos.amelia.dupree.madison.sherwood.gerry www.backporchlabradoodles-jacque.blogspot.com www.backporchlabradoodles.com

[Cinsmom]

Hi Yuirin,

Cinnamon (my doodle) does this when she doesn't get enough of us during the day. One thing we do to help with this (waking up and thinking it's time to do something) is to play with her in the evening. Cin loves her Kong frisbee and a good tennis ball or old raquet ball. That's a workout for her without killing me. We play hard with her right after supper and she'll calm down for us at night. We have to keep our door shut (with her inside the room with us) to keep her from roaming the house at night and barking at shadows, but she will settle down and sleep now. She still has nights that she wakes up but she will settle down again when she sees we aren't getting up with her. She sleeps most nights all night now.

I haven't used a crate since Cin was 8 months old or so (she's 1 1/2 yrs) and I don't have one now. I will admit it was a valuble tool when she was in the chewing everything stage and the potty training, but she stays off the furniture even when other "guest dogs" get on it. We aren't much for dogs on furniture. I imagaine yours will pick up on the "not on the furniture" rule soon enough.

Hope this helps!

Cin and Mom

[seazr]

They do need lots of love, but they sure return it! Dakota (since he has been behaving well, has not been required to be in his pen at night--although it is open and available to him, and he often chooses to use it) likes to sleep on our nice cool marble bathroom floor or by the open sliding door. I have not been feeling well the last couple of days and, most certainly sensing that, he is now choosing to snuggle and cuddle with me in our bed;--to make me feel better, I'm sure! It works! Doodle hugs are wonderful!
Diane (and Dakota)

[Yukirin]

Thank you so much for the replies and help, everyone! All of you have done your part to help me out with this problem, and for that I thank you... Now, unfortunutly, I need more help...

Dori has stopped waking me up, and started sleeping all day, and when I try to take her for a walk in the evenings, she pulls back, and if I pull to hard, she whines and moans and complains. Now, I understand what to expect, since we just got her spayed 2 days ago; but her vet told me that she DEFINETLY needs to keep getting excercise, since we've found out that she's half lab and half poodle, but has more of the Lab characteristics; Loving water, and a high, HIGH energy level. Dori scared me really bad last night. Here's what happened;


My family and I have a backyard swimming pool. Not very big, but at it's deepest, it's 6 feet deep, and that's pretty deep; MY feet don't even touch the bottom... Anyway, we were having our annual swimming party (happens once a month, usually), and my little sister was cold, so she got out; Dori was asleep and the door of shut tight, so she wouldn't get out. She had to go dry off, and when she went to open the screen door, to go and hang her towel up inside, and the supposed-to-be sleeping Dori ran SUPER fast out the door,past my sister, and towards the pool; the instant the stitches were to touch water, they'd probably start to unravel and un-do... Thank GOD my Dad had gotten up and run out of the pool, and then came to the rescue; he grabbed Dori around the chest and stumach just as she was flying in mid-air... I'm so happy we made that night, but I'm afraid of it happening again... Please help? Also, Greenies? What's wrong with those? I mix them up in Dori's food all the time, and she loves it. ^^

~Sorry, but I suppose I'm in need of more help now...
Yukirin & The Swimming Dog, Doria