Another Sleepless Night!

[Baby Bella]

Yeah Toby!!

Yeah Toby!! I am so glad to hear things went better for you last night. I'll never forget the first night we got sleep!! It is the same feeling you get when your skinbaby sleeps for the first time!! I think the nightshirt may have had alot to do with it. It sure worked wonders on my Bella, it must make them feel much closer to you! I also leave the TV on, just loud enough for her to hear it and so she can see the light. That seemed to help her from feeling "alone". Congratulations and I hope things get better and better every night!

 

[Toby's Momma]

So Proud!!!

Things are have gotten SO MUCH BETTER!! On a side note, we have friends that just built a house and moved in last week...they've been asking us to come see it, but we haven't wanted to leave Toby home alone. So, last evening, we decided to brave it and take Toby with us. We had him go potty before we left, and potty before he went in (it was about a 15 minute trip). He was so scared and shaking when we brought him in, but I sat on the floor with him on my lap and just petted him and held him and soothed him. After about 10 minutes, he had gone to sleep, so I put him in his new travel crate with his pillow from home, and he slept in there for 2 hours! We woke him up to potty before leaving, and he was fine for the ride home. We got home and lavished him with love for about a half an hour, took him back outside and went to bed at 11pm. I left my sweatshirt that I had worn in with him. He never made a peep. I woke up at 3am in a panic! I had forgotten to set my alarm for 3 hours! So I tore off downstairs, only to find him nicely snuggled into the same spot I had left him in! I took him out, he went potty, and I put him back to bed. Again, not a peep!! I first heard him around 6:20, so I jumped up and got him before he had really even whimpered at all. He went outside and pottied and then had breakfast. Now he is cuddled up here on my lap after tearing around the living room for 15 minutes. What a great boy!!! I feel so rested, I don't know what to do with myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bers]

Oh WOW! Great puppy! We knew you could do it, and Toby too! Sounds like all is going well now.

Just a suggestion: if your pup is scared and shaking you don't want to soothe and comfort him. It's the natural thing for us to do, but in a dog's mind it reinforces the behavior and makes him think it's right to be scared, or at least to act scared. It's good to get him out and about, and if he shows signs of fear or being shy it's best to ignore that behavior. If he's really out of sorts, he can take a timeout someplace he feels comfortable like his travel crate. Otherwise, encourage him to calmly investigate new situations until the fear has gone away.

Good luck, you're doing great!

 

[pinkpuppy]

aww little Toby .... Well, Chloe cried too; every puppy has. We did have her in a crate in our bedroom (she had 2 crates) & the little monkey still fussed... I think between midnight and 6:30 a.m. we had her out 3 times; and she would go potty each time... (we got her at 9 weeks of age). I would carry her out, put her down on the grass and after she went potty I would carry her back in - not to get her excited... - then put her in the crate & just rub her back a bit... I miss those nights It did get better - and our neighbours were glad ...

Here is my thought however: I remember that when we just got Chloe, I took time off work - and her first day at home I didn't get to eat till Mark came home: the reason - if I moved she would wake up and follow me like a little shadow (& she slept a lot)... When she was awake we played and interacted; so it wasn't time for myself. I figured out however that it's slightly insane to continue on down that path. I also figured that in 10 days, when I had to go back to work, Chloe would be very stressed; so crate training begun. She was in her crate in the kitchen and I would go outside; out the back door, the front door - whichever - and I timed her; and waited for her to settle down. She wouldn't at first - but she eventually did: we started with 10 min., 20 min. and so on....

The point I have in mind though is that perhaps you give the puppy too much attention in the day & he misses that at night? Maybe let him play little bit on his own; so he can build up his confidence... Or maybe he sleeps too much during the day - Chloe sure did; she was awake for 10 minutes and slept for 40 min.... Maybe you should engage him more actively later in the evening so he can get more tired, and will have an easier time falling alseep?
Also, try the t-shirts like others suggested & maybe leave the radion on low volume for him? Have you tried giving him a small kong? That might not work - CHloe wouldn't eat treats in her crate if the door was closed: but maybe that can keep him occupied...

And lastly, what worked well for us - was getting to Chloe before she started to cry (and that was easier because she was in the bedroom right next to me); but if I heard her stir and get up - I would pull her out and carry her outside: that way she didn't soil her blankets & did have a reason to cry.

Oh - silly question; when you get Toby - is his bed wet? do you then change the sheets/ blankies? Chloe cried - as babies do- when she peed in her crate (needless to say - we had lots of puppy laundry!)

Good luck - it will get better

 

[Toby's Momma]

Oh - silly question; when you get Toby - is his bed wet? do you then change the sheets/ blankies? Chloe cried - as babies do- when she peed in her crate (needless to say - we had lots of puppy laundry!)

He has never had an accident in his crate (knock on wood!) That is why I've been so stressed about the crying - how would I know?? I would set my alarm for every 3 hours, so I'd make sure to take him out at those increments, not when he was crying. I also carry him out and back in, like you did. But the last two nights have been remarkable, so hopefully we're rounding the corner on the crying.