Having been up much of the night with Tallulah having digestive issues (she's ok this morning) I can sympathize with your sleep deprivation anxiety and anger. But sympathy is not going to solve the problem for you.
We still have some bedtime problems ourselves, but we have a routine that's beginning to work. I got a DAP (pheremone) diffuser that is plugged in right next to Tallulah's mesh pen and my bed. That has helped a lot. We go to bed a half hour early now, and use that time for her to settle down and fall asleep next to me. Once she's been sleeping a few minutes, I get her up, cuddle her in my arms a little, and put her in her bed, all the time telling her in my best whisper what a good girl she is and how much I love her. She usually goes right back to sleep and stays in her bed until I get up. I really believe staying calm myself helps soothe her anxieties.
As hard as it is, you're the grown up in this situation and you have to let go of the anger and frustration if you're going to solve it. You can't blame the dog for behaving like a dog -- you have to figure out how to help him with the anxiety issue on his terms, not yours. And especially do not punish him or yell at him for his behavior - that's just going to increase his anxiety and he won't understand why you're doing it. The others have given you some good suggestions so I'm not going to repeat them. You're experiencing what a lot of us have gone through (or are still going through) so trust me, we do understand what it's like to go without sleep. |