deprived sleeper
 

First of all I am excited to have people to talk to about my yorkie so hello. I have a 1 1/2 yr. old yorkie and technically it is my first dog that I have had on my own. I have definately made some mistakes thus far and don't know how to correct some of them. When we first got reagan as a 12 wk old pup she was very ill. She had a bad RI. My boyfriend and I wanted to keep a close eye on her so we kept her near us in bed (I know, a horrible mistake) but, since then she has stayed up with us and believe me has loved every minute of it. Lately she has been waking up so many times a night and is not going outside to potty or seems to be hungry. She just sits at the top of my boyfriends pillow and does that ever so cute but annoying whine. He or I wakes up and tries to figure out what she wants. We finally give up and tell her no and try to go back to bed. She is in a kennel while we are at work so, probrably about 6-8 hours a day and then we take her on walks or play with her in the house. My question is what can we do to make us sleep through the night without Reagan waking us up 10 times a night? Is anyone else had this problem?

WELCOME! Don't have any advice for ya, but glad that you found us!

Welcome to YT. :wavey:
I have never had that problem so I sure don't know what to tell you. Maybe she is just wanting more play time. I would probably tell the vet about the problems to make sure there is nothing medically wrong making her whine. when mine are whining there is something they are trying to tell me.
I, for one, don't have a problem with them sleeping in bed with us. it might not be the proper way to train any animal, I don't know, but i let mine sleep with me. I am the one who insisted they sleep in my bed not my yorkies. (I'm bad :rolleyes: )

Wish I knew what to tell you to do. My pup sleeps very well at night - however, we go to bed late - around midnight.

When mine was a pup, the vet told me to give it some cottage cheese before we went to bed. He said that it was high in protein and would stick with him longer - allowing both of us to get a better night's sleep. I don't know if being fed before bedtime would work with an older dog.

I don't think you have done anything wrong. My pup has slept with me since the first night I got him. And a lot of people here let their dogs sleep with them. This, in itself, should cause no problem. And, in fact, often dogs sleep even better with people.

It's hard to say that your dog sleeps too much during the day - because I work and my dog sleeps the day away - and then sleeps at night too.

I hope some people come on with ideas for you to try. Good luck!

Carol Jean

Welcome to yt. :wavey:

I would try to tire her more during the day. Can she have a larger area during the day when you are gone? I'd also try even more playtime when you are there and trying to keep her awake during the day.

It sounds to me like she just isn't sleepy.

Loki is about the same age and when he DOES wake up in the middle of the night (usually to go outside) he tries to initiate play. He will grab and toy and run around me in circles until I'm standing at the door with the leash and then he gives in and comes. When he comes back in I shut all the lights off and head right back up the stairs. I don't even give him a treat any more for going outside at night I just tell him he's a good boy and go straight back to bed. He always shows up within 2 mins and gives up and goes back to sleep.

When he wakes up early in the morning (like now! 5:22am) and won't go back to sleep he is usually hungry. Have you tried feeding her later in the day so she won't wake up hungry at night? I feed Loki breakfast and dinner.

My guess is that she's not really tired and wants attention. She is getting it too, since she doesn't KNOW that you are just trying to figure out what she needs. You get up, turn the light on, talk to her, etc. You have to ignore her. It's OK to put her in her crate when she whines as a time out. My husband is home with Loki during the day and he said he sleeps a good 6 hours. So even when someone is home he sleeps all day and is active at night. Your girl is probably like this too, but if she needs more activity can you try a doggie daycare or a dog walker? If I send Loki to daycare even once every 2 weeks it takes the edge off his hyperness. They just run around and chase each other for 8 hours and come home and sleep for 3 days. It's great.

We also have a rule around here, no naps after 7pm. It's kind of a joke, but not really. If we are watching TV Loki will curl up and nap, and then not sleep at night. So even if WE are couch potatoes one of us sits and plays tug with him or throws his ball. Sometimes I will give him a kong to keep him busy. Anything to keep him awake. He doesn't get to nap before bedtime!

Thank you all for the warm welcomes! :) I will try playing with her more during the evening. I just don't understand her. We take her for walks when we get home. The only time we really aren't playing is when I am cooking dinner and eating. I just don't how much more we can play with her until bedtime. I am pretty sure she wants to play but, I just can't wake up in the middle of the night and play. How do I get her to understand that it is bedtime? I do know for sure she is not hungry. We have tried and tried to set an eating schedule for her but she just eats when she in hungry. She sometimes eats as late at 10:00. Is that bad?

Welcome! Cali sleeps through the night but I had a male yorkie who would get up at least 2-3 times a night until he died at 13. He would go pee and go right back to sleep. The vet never could find anything wrong with him. It is very difficult having adog that won't let you sleep at night. Good luck.