Help I cant sleep!!!!!

[Christian Harding]

Well here is the scoop.... I CANT SLEEP!!!! No it is not a problem with insomnia... It is a seven week old Boxer named Karma! She just will not sleep at night by herself! I have tried many things... A tick tock clock, A waterbottle filled with warm water.... I even have spent $30.00 on a stuffed dog that has heat and an artificial heartbeat! She has no problem sleeping while we are here and around her... But when we go upstairs to sleep, and she is in her very spacious, luxurious Karma area...SHE CANT SLEEP!!!! (needless to say she does not just sit there in the dark... whiiiiiine whhhiiiiiine!) please I need a trick! Please!!
Thanks all,
Sleepless in Arizona
macrocosm60@home.com

 

[nanabear]

Christian, you answered your own question! "She has no problem sleeping when we are here and around her......."
I'll bet you a dollar, if you move her crate (or use another) next to your bed, where you can reach out your hand when she fusses, and she can hear your voice of comfort - she will settle down and go back to sleep. She just wants to be near her pack. It is very normal behavior for any puppy, especially a Boxer - who is first and foremost a companion dog.

 

[Christian Harding]

We have not tried this.... but we are trying to establish a place where she can go, with lots of room. So we have decided to use our halfbath downstairs. It has a tile floor(you know why that is important) and her food pillow toys etc... We are trying to make that "her spot". We have wood floors throught our apartment... Yes an apartment... so a couple of accidents are ok. BUT IF UNNOTICED....you get the idea. OK now on to the reason we chose not to crate train.... NO ROOM!!! She has much room to run around in the living room... and three bedrooms to frolic in... but out "bedroom" is the loft and there is enough room for a bed and a tv! So needless to say... now there is room for a small crate.... but in the near future there will not be enough room. The loft is only seperated from the ground floor by bars that are two far apart (Karma could get threw them and fall) Plus we are afraid that she will pee or poop up there. Yes I think a crate next to us would be a great idea.... I just dont think it is possible, or smart to do so only for a little while.

 

[Christian Harding]

Just a thought.....

I just thought of something... Another reason that the crate may be difficult is the fact that she is still a puppy and well she pees quite a bit. When she pees in her downstairs area she crys to let us know ( very nice of her I think). If she was to pee in her crate she will cry and thus I am back to the "Help I am no sleeping" part. I am sure that when she gets older she will be able to control her bladder but for now it is reeeeeaaaaaly hard! Please help!!!!

 

[nanabear]

Christian, it does not have to be forever.............
my male, Mack sleeps in the family room - his own choice. And we did not crate him in the beginning - we did it for about a year, starting at 6 months when he started jumping up on the kitchen counters cruising for tidbits!
But when we brought him home, we went to a furniture store and got a big cardboard box with high sides - made it warm and comfy and put it next to the bed. Actually, it was right next to us for only a few days - that is all it took for him to figure out Mom and Dad were "right there" if he needed anything. We then moved the box to the floor of the closet for a few weeks, until he was big enough to knock the box over when he reached up.
It was about then - he started getting left in his bed in the family room (already asleep) and we went to bed in our room.
But once you get past this "sleeping all night" issue - there are going to be other behavior problems that come up - and you might wish she had been introduced to a crate. Is she left alone during the day?

 

[TClarke]

New at this too... but...

I really feel for you. Trixie is now 11 weeks, but she was seven weeks when I got her. The first night, cried for about an hour next to my bed in her crate. I had to get up five times during the night to pee her. The second night, she cried 20 minutes next to my bed, fell asleep, and then woke up about 3 twice during the night to pee.

When I took her out, though, I didn't talk to her (as the book I was reading suggested). I took her from the crate, swept her downstairs and outside, ignored playful behavior (it was easy to ignore this at 3AM!), and then praised her when she peed. Then right back inside and in the crate.

She would cry, but when I offered her a finger to sniff she was fine.

By the third night she was sleeping the whole night through, but had to PEE first thing in the morning. Now it's a routine and she knows the scoop. That is, crying in the night gets a finger or a pee, no play, no food, no fun.

If you really HAVE to have her in another room, then you'll have to deal with the crying until she learns it's not going to get her anything. Every word you say to Karma reinforces that crying gets her something. You have to be the one to decide what crying results in and then she'll decide if it's worth the effort.

Another thing I've observed through this forum and reading is that boxers need their pack in a major way! Perhaps teaching her to sleep in a high box next to the bed would be possible, and then upgrade to a dog bed later?

I wish you luck in finding sleep again... I didn't anticipate what a rough ride having a puppy would be, but I've found (so far) that it's worth the aggrivation!

 

[jrhodes]

HI we have three female boxers and the youngest is 11 weeks today. THe first ones we never tried the crate or boxes they just slept with us on the bed. Now with the pup and a crowded bed we tried the crate and she cried all night long. She was in our room with us and Daisy (our four year old Boxer) would wake us for us to let her out. So we tried the box and she climbed out of that. My hubby who is a softy took her out and put her in bed with all four of us, now making it five. Needless to say we have a kingsize waterbed and it is crowded. But to keep her on the bed through out the night, Cuddles would lay at the top of the bed so she couldn't or wouldn't fall off the bed, Daisy laid across the foot of the for the same reason and my hubby and I each took a board we slept like that for about two weeks and she never went potty on the bed or even tries to get off the bed, but first thing in the morning I swoop her up and with the other two we all head out side. Now we still sleep with them all and she is catching on to Daisy's habit and that is sleeping under the covers. Gotta love them.
Joyce.
mom to Cuddles, brown brindle 9 years old, Daisy, fawn 4 years old, and Ellie 11 weeks old Fawn, white and black.

 

[CRE72]

Christian, I just wanted to add that for the first few weeks you can get Karma a pretty small crate. The one I have for Bruno (8 weeks old) is the size of a small box and he still has room to grow in it. You don't have to get the full grown size for her. Actually, you won't want one that is too big because she will probably go the bathroom in it. Use the weight charts for an idea of which size to purchase. I would be really nervous about a box. It's surprising what those little teeth can do and they sure are clumsy at first. I wouldn't take any chances on the possibility of a fall. I think the crate will be a fantastic investment. The cost is well worth the sleep and most importantly, the safety. Plus, I forgot another added bonus, the crate will be a tremendous help in potty-training. Let us know how it works out.

 

[Christian Harding]

It is Working

Well I am happy to say that the idea you all have is working...Karma is still a little figity at night but she is not whinnnning as much. Last night we found another thing that helps to put her to sleep...sex. Believe it or not she was winning and my fience and I had .....well you know... and BOOM just like that Karma went to sleep! (very considerate if I do say so myself! Well I just wanted to let you all know that I am thankful for all of your advice!! e plan to get her an actual crate when we can . You have all helped to save my sleep and renew a little passion in our lives! thanks!

 

[nanabear]

OK Christian - you have found the winning combination! Maybe you should make a recording You can sell it in pet stores and make a million dollars!
I'm so glad puppy is near her family and you are all getting some sleep.