Crying/Screaming overnight

[BellaToyYorkie]

Really need some help as we don't know what else to do about this. Bella is around 10 months old and just recently she has started shrieking overnight, and she does not stop. Every single night! She sleeps downstairs in the living room, she always has done and she's always slept through the night, but for the past two months she has cried every single night without fail, all night long. It is keeping us all awake to the point where my mum has had to take days off work due to not even getting an hour of sleep over night. We have tried ignoring her completely (which is what everywhere online seems to suggest) and we're all using ear plugs but it is not working. We've tried letting her sleep upstairs; we thought maybe she would stop crying if she was closer to us, but no, she will only stop crying if she's in the same room as us!!

We're currently trying using a spray bottle to spray her with water when she screams overnight, which does stop her crying and screeching for about 20 minutes, and then she pipes up again!! Plus we feel quite mean actively punishing her for crying. Really need this to stop; we only really want her to make noise overnight if she needs to be let outside for the toilet! She used to be so good, why has she started doing this overnight?? We all need our sleep back

[tjdmom]

Well why can't you just put her in the same room with you? I always remind myself that yorkies are companion dogs and they want to be wherever you are. Mine are all very quiet at night with me...

[BellaToyYorkie]

Originally Posted by tjdmom

Well why can't you just put her in the same room with you? I always remind myself that yorkies are companion dogs and they want to be wherever you are. Mine are all very quiet at night with me...

Yeah I want to have her in my room but my family are worried about separation anxiety; they're worried that getting her used to that might make it harder for Bella to deal with being on her own when we go to work, or if we go out for a few hours without her etc. So that's why we're pushing for to get her to sleep happily on her own again

[Juliealfies mum]

Is she in a crate down stairs , or is she confined to one room ? If she is in a crate could you move the crate into your room, it sounds as if she is lonely , I would not spray her with water as I think that would be more upsetting to her and stress her more. We tried to have Alfie sleep down stairs and had the same problem, we gave in and he now sleeps upstairs in our room but he does sleep in his own little bed. If she has to sleep down stairs try putting something that smells of you like a jumper in her bed and try giving her a really good walk just before bedtime to ensure she is tired, but please try not to get angry with her , as this will break your bond with her , I know it's hard when no one is getting any sleep but think of her, she is probably with someone all day and then at night is left alone, they are social creatures and love being with you so she probably is crying just to be with you, I hope you find a solution.

[matese]

I have to agree, she is lonely, at 10 months she is still a little baby,she needs to be close to the ones she loves. As she gets older her needs are greater, She loves her human family and needs to be close to them. I am against spraying with water, this can cause her fear if she crys to go potty, fear if she crys she will get sprayed. If she is crated at night, can you not bring her into your room where she has the comfort of the scent of you and not fear she is alone at night. These are loving little critters that needs to be close to the ones she loves.

[Harrysmum]

Totally agree with everyone else....

It's strange, because Harry used to sleep very peacefully and happily in his (huge!) crate in our bedroom...and then, at about the same age as your little one, he started the crying/shrieking/digging performance that you're going through.

So we decided to try him on our bed with us (not the crate, though ) - and we've never, ever looked back. He curls up and goes to sleep when we do - and he wakes up when we do, be it 6.30 during the week, or 10 a.m. weekends

Is there a reason that she's not allowed to be in your room?

[Cherie6446]

I tried to put Zoey in a crate next to my bed when we got her at 10 wks. She cried so that I put her in bed with me and that is where is has been ever since. I LOVE having her furry little body next to me.

[Yorkiemom1]

Please dont punish her for this....it is pitiful....she wants to be with you, as Yorkies are "programmed" to be! If you are sure there is nothing physically wrong with her (I would be a little worried if she has never done this before and suddenly at 10 months old, this is a nightly occurance), move her to your room! Mine that sleep with me, know that we have a schedule here, so they know generally what events take place and the general time they occur. They know when I leave for work, I will be home at a usual time. When I go out that back door, they know I will be back, and they all listen for my car to leave, and they just get in their beds and wait for that car to come home! Poor little soul, put her in bed with you....or at least in your room!

[tphan74]

Had the same issues with my 2 dogs. Ended up doing like everyone else did, let them on my bed. Worked like a charm. As for separation anxiety, 1 of them has it and the other one doesn't. He'll bark when I leave but will quiet down after 5 minutes. I just have him lay down, toss him a treat, and then casually leave and that controls his barking.

[ironmike86]

Yorkies need to be with you when home. The crate needs o be in your room. The dog needs lap/ play time other times. Separation anxiety . When you leave just leave don't tell the dog bye. When come home give it a minute before you greet him. Just don't make a party out of leaving and coming home. When I leave my dogs are conditioned to just stay put. They do get excited when I come home but I make them sit still. A litle excitement coming home is better then crying all night

[buddybear]

When we got buddybear my dh said he couldn't sleep next to our bed.....I'm up and down several times a night in pain and he was afraid of my tripping on his crate. To help with anxiety I put my robe that needed to be washed over his crate. It works!
Best wishes for you and your precious baby.

[JadeD]

I would move the crate to your bedroom and let the dog sleep there.

I have a 9 year old Yorkie that sleeps in bed with me. The female 12 week old Yorkie puppy sleeps with my 17 year old daughter at night. The male 12 week old puppy sleeps in a crate next to our bed at night. He is very good. We had him upstairs the first 2 nights but he whined several times during the night so we moved him into our bedroom and he is very good. When he is housebroken better and our 9 year old is more used to him (they are getting there) he will be sleeping in our bed.

I am home most of the day, but when I do go the puppies are in a huge crate upstairs and the 9 year old is loose in the same room as them and then we have an english setter who sleeps upstairs loose in the main rooms of the house so he is either loose with the older Yorkie or he is in the next room, he can jump that gate if he feels the need.

I suggest putting the puppy in your room at night and keep your routine during the day and the puppy will be fine. If you aren't home they probably won't bark as much because there is no one there to answer they cries. If they know you are home though they will keep it up.

I hope you find a good solution. If they can hold it all night I have them sleep with me. It is great for bonding and I think they are better during the day having slept with you at night.

Good luck.

[Harrysmum]

Originally Posted by BellaToyYorkie

Yeah I want to have her in my room but my family are worried about separation anxiety; they're worried that getting her used to that might make it harder for Bella to deal with being on her own when we go to work, or if we go out for a few hours without her etc. So that's why we're pushing for to get her to sleep happily on her own again

But getting her used to you being out all day is a totally separate issue from your little one being alone at night? Surely she should have SOME of it with you...Sorry, but I can't see how you're making it work by her dealing with it on her own?

[SirTeddykins]

Originally Posted by BellaToyYorkie

Yeah I want to have her in my room but my family are worried about separation anxiety; they're worried that getting her used to that might make it harder for Bella to deal with being on her own when we go to work, or if we go out for a few hours without her etc. So that's why we're pushing for to get her to sleep happily on her own again

We did exactly what you did for exactly the same reasons and it was a mistake. My dog already had separation anxiety (haha - but, he did and still does) and leaving him away from everyone at night AND day was just mean to him. He cried all night and all day for six months. However, when I put him in our room in his crate to sleep at night? He was quiet and happy and SLEPT instead of barked and whined. Over a year later, that's where he still happily sleeps.

[chickensmith]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

Please dont punish her for this....it is pitiful....she wants to be with you, as Yorkies are "programmed" to be! If you are sure there is nothing physically wrong with her (I would be a little worried if she has never done this before and suddenly at 10 months old, this is a nightly occurance), move her to your room! Mine that sleep with me, know that we have a schedule here, so they know generally what events take place and the general time they occur. They know when I leave for work, I will be home at a usual time. When I go out that back door, they know I will be back, and they all listen for my car to leave, and they just get in their beds and wait for that car to come home! Poor little soul, put her in bed with you....or at least in your room!

I totally agree....Winnie slept in her crate in our room for the first two weeks....and then one night my husband brought her to bed with us and that was that. She has never had any separation anxiety issues because we do not make a big deal out of leaving the house. We say bye bye and cruise on out the door. Granted, It's very rare for her to be left alone since 99% of the time someone is home....but she has shown no signs of being upset at being alone. It does sound like she's having issues being left alone at night poor thing! I would just take her to bed with you!