Grumpy Sleeper

[Nikko's_human]

I know lots of folks on here let their furballs sleep with them with great success but I have tried and failed. Here's why: Nikko is the grumpiest, barky sleeper around!! Hubby and I like to watch the 10 o'clock news in bed every night. We tuck in and usually fall asleep right after the news. Usually Nikko will be in bed with us but then I would carry him to his crate at the foot of our bed when it was time to go to sleep. Lately, he falls asleep even before and I feel so sorry for him curled up next to me that I have tried to leave him there. Things go ok for a few hours. Then at the slightest noise, the little demon will pop right awake and bark really loud, scaring hubby and me out of our wits!! He does this every time. He hears something or we turn and make the slightest noise and he will open his big mouth and scare us right out of our sleep. Ugh!! He is the grumpiest sleeper alive!! The weird thing is that once I put him in his crate, he falls right back asleep and won't make a peep for the rest of the night. Could it be that he doesn't like sleeping in our bed? Are we too disturbing of him? Has anyone experienced anything similar? I thought dogs loved to sleep with their owners but I think mine prefers his crate.

[Kobesmomma]

Kobe also sleeps in a crate right next to me in bed. I have tried letting him sleep with us but he will not lay down. But, when I put him in his crate he curls right up and goes to sleep. It's funny because every morning as soon as I open my eyes he is sitting there starring at me. He also will not let me sleep past 6 am. If I'm not up by 6 he will start growling and barking at me.

[sneri13]

Mac & Mellie sleep with us. We really don't have any problems unless like last night they both decided it was playtime around 2am. There they are hopping all over my husband, on his pillow, jumping over him, walking on his face. I am trying to tell them to stop because if they wake up dad their will be h**l to pay. It was kind of funny watching them with him sleeping the whole time.

[Jaxon's mom]

I think maybe Nikko is actually protecting you (in his mind). Jaxon will wake up and growl or bark sometimes too - especially if the window is open and the blinds are moving around. It's the same during the day - he'll bark at all kinds of noises outside.

[Nikko's_human]

Originally Posted by Jaxon's mom

I think maybe Nikko is actually protecting you (in his mind). Jaxon will wake up and growl or bark sometimes too - especially if the window is open and the blinds are moving around. It's the same during the day - he'll bark at all kinds of noises outside.

Yes, I've thought about that too. It's just that he has such a piercing, shrill little bark that my heart feels like its going to explode out of my chest!!

[Katys mom]

That's funny!

Originally Posted by Nikko's_human

Things go ok for a few hours. Then at the slightest noise, the little demon will pop right awake and bark really loud, scaring hubby and me out of our wits!! He does this every time. He hears something or we turn and make the slightest noise and he will open his big mouth and scare us right out of our sleep. Ugh!! He is the grumpiest sleeper alive!! .

[abbie's mom]

I was so pleased that Abbie didn't seem to be one of those "yappy Yorkies".....until recently! And, she only seems to go into yapping mode around 11:00pm. Whether she hears real or imagined, seems things that go *bump* in the night bother her only after 11:00, and before she's put to bed. She's scared the bejeebers outta me a few times!!!

(What is a 'bejeeber', anyway?)

[chestermama]

Chester has been sleeping with since 8 wks, he would sleep all nite after playtime, he never peed on the bed except for 2 times when I didnt get off the bed quick enough. Chester hates the crate from the first day I brought him home, He only barks at nite when he hears something, not real often.

[Dougal&Little]

Originally Posted by Nikko's_human

Yes, I've thought about that too. It's just that he has such a piercing, shrill little bark that my heart feels like its going to explode out of my chest!!

My little Dixie dog (Evil Wee) has that bark too. It sends my heart racing too. One dog trainer that we met said it's her blaspheming voice. She does it more when she's unsure of a situation or feels she has to protect her daddy (Mama is the alpha doggy). Your puppy might feel more secure in his crate. (Four walls and closed door might feel safer than those darn humans that keep moving around and snoring and stuff.)