NATIONAL issue...
I seem to be bringing various 'issues' for you to help me with....and now here is another... I have been up since 3:15 AM for the last 3 nights... (normally she gets me up at 4AM EVERY morning) ----- please keep that in mind as you read this as some of it may not make total sense--- I have contacted a couple of people on the forum to try to find a solution, but nothing has seem to work................now it is getting ugly!!!!!! I know I have told you all that Heart has a sleep problem. That she gets up very early...what I haven't told you is that once my feet hit the ground she begins to bark and jump around very excitedly...VERY excitedly.. it has been a little problem, but with us going to NATIONALS, being in a room with strangers all around us--??? sheer chaos!!!! Since I have never been to NATIONALS, and don't know what to expect, I will be a little anxious too which, I know , won't help the problem.... I have tried many, many different remedies--ignoring her just prolong the agony...she will bang the bed...whine..go to the mirror to watch me in the reflection .if I don't get up ..the ritual is repeated...again and again..... ..I have tried to tire her out so she sleeps...does not work, sometimes makes it worse. ------tried having a leash by the bed so I could tether her and walk her out calmly. ----tried yelling, screaming--tried getting Dino to yell and scream --tried to take her out, let her go wet, go back to bed --no words--no play- --- and a couple of others I just can think of right now????? ---poor Pearl and Cos walk around all morning with bloodshot eyes from lack of sleep, but at least they can sleep when she goes in her crate when I leave for work.... Please realize that I am not joking or making this 'SEEM' bad...It IS bad!!!!! I find myself nodding off at work many afternoons....I think my body is getting used to sleeping 5 hours a day!!!! and I'm OLD!!!!!! Since we are sharing a room with another person/sheepie I am really afraid that once she starts up...the other sheepie will get riled and we will have a mess at 3AM.....I am afraid of the reaction of the other person AND the rest of the people which I can't blame them AT ALL!!!! I have suggested my own room but to be honest, as we all know money it tight all over and I don't know if I can swing it solo.... This is so stupid!!!! A dog who has a sleeping problem...How about me getting ambient for MY DOG????? ... You know in the midst of sleep deprivation comes sanity!!!!! Maybe I will call my vet and ask about this?????? I am at a loss as to what else to do!!!!! |
|
|
| I know some people use melatonin for a number of issues with their dogs - I have no experience with it but it is supossed to help with sleep patterns in humans - might be something to research. |
| Cosmo has started getting up around 3am everynight too... Mind you, this is new and has only happened for maybe a week. He has to go potty. But when sleep is interrupted, grown-ups don't always get to snooze later the way our furry friends do. Please post anything you find out... I fear we may end up needing that info! Yikes. |
| What about Rescue Remedy? Maybe for both of you actually? Or those DAP things? I have no idea if it works but I'd give anything a try that might help calm her down. |
| Oliver used to wake us up at 4am every morning too. I don't think it was quite the extent that Heart goes to, but he wouldn't let us go back to sleep either. We tried the ignoring idea, but after an hour of hearing him whine and having him jump on and off the bed, we just gave in and got up.
So, we trained Oliver to get up when the alarm goes off. He would wake us up at 4, we told him to lay down, and if he didn't do as he was told, into his crate he went. At 6, the alarm went off, and ASAP we let him out. We had a few rough mornings (whining for 2 hours straight), but he soon got the idea that Mommy and Daddy weren't going to magically disappear and the beeping noise meant play/walk time. Like I said, I think Heart's case is a bit more severe, but I totally sympathize with you! Good luck! |
| Mine know about the alarm too.
I am not a morning person and I have a love/hate relationship with the snooze button. They hear it go off, or me start moving in the bed and Simon and Chewie start whining and pacing outside the bedroom door. I have a baby gate on our bedroom doorway and usually the door is shut at night. They do listen to "quiet" yelled out at them - for a bit! But it is at a time I really do need to be getting up, so it actually gets me up on time for work. Just a question though Val - if she behaves like this every day, why do you let her stay in your bedroom???? No wonder she keeps doing it - she always wins by getting some reaction out of you. If that happened more than once in my house, the dog would lose bedroom priveleges and be gated or crated in another part of the house. I am very cranky if my sleep gets disturbed! |
| This is all a moot point since we are going to be sleeping in the car at the show site after Harry gets us thrown out of the hotel room for what he thinks are the necessary growling sound effects that go with the incessant playing he will be doing.
In the end we will all be sleep deprived and without a hotel room. When asked how many bitches and how many dogs we have in our group we will be able to answer honestly three bitches and one incredibly stupid dog! At least we will have an excuse for why we are doing so poorly in the ring.  |
| OH!!!! How I am looking sooooo forward to this 5 day adventure...
It's kind of like deciding to bungee jump when you are 60~~~ But I agree that we will be spending a lot of time with hats and sunglasses on...there may be a lynch mob wanting to know who the heck is responsible for a 3AM wake up call and the rooster-like barking coming from Judi and Val's room!!!! I will of course "blame it on the boy"!!! As will Heart.  |
| got sheep wrote:
Quote: Just a question though Val - if she behaves like this every day, why do you let her stay in your bedroom???? No wonder she keeps doing it - she always wins by getting some reaction out of you.
If that happened more than once in my house, the dog would lose bedroom priveleges and be gated or crated in another part of the house. I am very cranky if my sleep gets disturbed! because I am nicer than you??????? 
I don't know why I still let her in..maybe because when we go to bed at night, she just snuggles down and falls fast asleep and I am hoping the little bugger will sleep the whole whole night???? OR maybe I'm just dumb and don't want to have to take THAT many steps back in her/my developement. As I have said..It hasn't been a real problem until now with us going to the Nationals...I certainly don't like getting up at 4AM--- but--- hell...it's just an extra cup of coffee or 2..??? I'm such a pushover...the thing is, I was a very strict parent..... and now this fluffy, no eyed, no tailed pup comes into my life and I turn to MUSH!!!! I'M DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(RON...digusting emoticon, please!!!!!)  |
sheepieshake wrote: got sheep wrote:
Quote: Just a question though Val - if she behaves like this every day, why do you let her stay in your bedroom???? No wonder she keeps doing it - she always wins by getting some reaction out of you. If that happened more than once in my house, the dog would lose bedroom priveleges and be gated or crated in another part of the house. I am very cranky if my sleep gets disturbed! because I am nicer than you??????? I don't know why I still let her in..maybe because when we go to bed at night, she just snuggles down and falls fast asleep and I am hoping the little bugger will sleep the whole whole night???? OR maybe I'm just dumb and don't want to have to take THAT many steps back in her/my developement. As I have said..It hasn't been a real problem until now with us going to the Nationals...I certainly don't like getting up at 4AM--- but--- hell...it's just an extra cup of coffee or 2..??? I'm such a pushover...the thing is, I was a very strict parent..... and now this fluffy, no eyed, no tailed pup comes into my life and I turn to MUSH!!!! I'M DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(RON...digusting emoticon, please!!!!!) LOL - you are killing me here!!! with your fluffy no eyed no tailed pup.....that may have worked, but she is a big girl now!!! And, I don't care for coffee, so maybe that is the difference. ........Or maybe I just am meaner  |
Do you have a safe enclosed yard? when panda goes stir crazy, usually between 4 and 5 am..EVERY MORNING, i just put her out in the yard till i wake up at 730...now mind you, once i do that, she barks to let the neighbors know that she is awake.....  but she quiets down after a few minutes....
we do have a 7 foot block fence though with a padlocked gate though! |
| Val.......what in the world is that white mess on your icon?
And that smile? Luv ya. Julia |
| I agree with got sheep, she has to loose bedroom priveledges.
It sounds like it is definately a habitual habit with her now and you need to go back to square one or you will never get a chance to sleep in to a decent hour in the morning. You are rewarding her behaviour by paying attention to her when she wakes at that ungodly hour. What I would do is TOUGH LOVE, I am not a morning person and that would drive me insane that it has been going on for so long. I would start her in the room with you and IF she wakes at 3-4 in the morning, have a lead handy, no stimulation what so ever, no acknowledging her, have a crate ready in another area of the house or a room away from you, pop the lead on her and take her straight to that area and put her away and go back to sleep. Let her carry on somewhere else, she will soon learn that waking so early and disturbing mom and dads sleep she looses your company till an appropriate time in the morning when you are ready to wake. She might carry on a lot for a few early mornings, but you need to break this cycle and get some normality back with decent sleep for you. If you don't then she will continue this as she is on a good thing at the moment and she knows that when she is awake mom and dad pay attention to her, so this needs to be broken for your own wellbeing and to be able to function through the day without dropping off to sleep because heart has had you up so early.  |
 Good job Lisa.
That is exactly what I told her on the phone this morning. Hopefully she will not be a darned MARSHMALLOW and cave. |
| I would crate her in another room Val. She has to learn...and she can hold it 'till you get up.
Nigel will sleep until I roust him out of his crate. Bella will only start to bug me when the alarm goes off. If she thinks it is time to get up she will jump onto the bed and lie between us until someone moves...then she is in your face. Nigel will even go back to bed after the alarm goes off...lazy boy. |
SheepieMommy wrote: That is exactly what I told her on the phone this morning. Hopefully she will not be a darned MARSHMALLOW and cave.
Let's hope the MARSHMALLOW Turns into a Tough Cookie
Otherwise it will be 10+ years of REALLY EARLY starts to the day
Heart needs boundaries now, she is not a baby pupper anymore and they are CLEVER they know when they are onto a good thing and will take full advantage of it if you allow them too.  |
sheepieshake wrote: As I have said..It hasn't been a real problem until now with us going to the Nationals...I certainly don't like getting up at 4AM--- but--- hell...it's just an extra cup of coffee or 2..???
You better not be next to our room!!!!  If so, she's going to learn the hard way not to do that anymore!!
Which hotel are you staying in? Might have to change the reservations! |
VerveUp wrote: sheepieshake wrote: As I have said..It hasn't been a real problem until now with us going to the Nationals...I certainly don't like getting up at 4AM--- but--- hell...it's just an extra cup of coffee or 2..??? You better not be next to our room!!!! If so, she's going to learn the hard way not to do that anymore!! Which hotel are you staying in? Might have to change the reservations! SEE???? Verve.....I PROMISE...you will not hear her.. 
I will stare at her ALL night just waiting for that first yip!!!!! 
I will stuff a sock in her mouth and hoist her on my back... run (softly) down the hall...down the steps and jump into Judi's car... We are starting tonight with the wise words of wisdom from Harrington's MOM and Lisaoes...BOTH sound remedies to this ugly problem. I have 10 days to whip her into shape... (whip as in get...NOT HIT!!!) and... we will get'er DONE!!! I would like to thank all the sound advice that I always get from you guys.... ONE more thing...I am NOT a marshmellow...thankyou...just a very sensitive girl..... I don't see Heart as trying to show me whose boss.... She is just your average TEENAGER who has gotten a little too big for her bitches...  ooppps!!!! bRitches.....
|
sheepieshake wrote: I don't see Heart as trying to show me whose boss....
She is just your average TEENAGER who has gotten a little too big for her bitches... ooppps!!!! bRitches..... Just remember, I'm the easy one... You might have to suffer the wrath of fierce Mandy, , my hotel roommate that week. ...AND who's making me go to the NJ OES Specialty in a few hours, an outdoor show, in the middle of HURRICANE HANNA!! |
| yes...mam'............maybe I don't really want to go to the Nationals this year....maybe I'll wait till next year..... |
| Rufus used to wake us up at 4 every morning too. We put him to bed in his crate downstairs and he used to start barking at 4, we tried him upstairs but it was MUCH worse, he had to be crated because he won't let us sleep at all, he jumps on our faces with both front paws anytime we try to sleep
So we bought an electronic bark alarm, you just plug it in and when the dog barks it lets off an ultrasonic noise to put them off barking. This acts as a firm "NO!" and stops the noise. We still use it every night in case, but we sleep soundly now because he has learned to keep quiet at least until we are up. HOWEVER... the slightest thing can put him into one of those hyper things where he becomes a kangeroo and jumps up nipping and does the sheepie 500. Including giving him any attention when we le him out of his crate. He has to be let out, have his toilets, have a drink, he walks about a bit, has another drink and then lays down. THIS is when we stroke him, if we do it sooner he turns into a monster. Also, he goes hyper when I sneeze. EVERY time. I've taken to having one hand over my mouth and holding the other one up to protect myself as he launches at me  it's not easy when youre sneezing. I keep telling him no- he only does it when I sneeze it's not fair!
I have no answers for you apart from crating & the alarm. Hope it all works out at the Nationals, I'm sure none of you will sleep anyway with all those sheepies about  |
| thank you for your comments---I have taken steps, as of early this morning...
Heart started about 4am..I slapped her leash on her and walked her to her crate, she went in...(I think I was really confusing her), walked away and went to bed. Put my earplugs in and waited.. She barked ALOT..and not the big girl bark...she did the high pitched bark. I think she knows that earplugs only block out low pitch (snoring) sounds ---the high pitched yap pierced right through to the ol' ear drum!!!! But Dino and I were strong.(Poor Dino didn't get home until 1:30 after working from 7AM~~~~ we have a restraurant...need I say more?? He was exhausted..) Finally she quieted down and I slept until 5AM. I went to get her and even though she heard and saw me coming, she didn't say anything. I opened the crate and let her out to wet. She immediately did her thing. I checked the crate and she HAD peed on her blanket(which she has never done---her face was sopping wet..poor baby..She was really upset at one point.......BUT hopefully tomorrow morning will be better... bgirl.nemesis..., using a shock collar isn't something I am comfortable doing, but I do appreciate your input. I am glad things are working out for you. |
| B.girl nemesis,
Someone else with a sheepies that freaks out when someone sneezes. I thought I was the only one. We are working on it though. Nigel runs up to you and gives a little boy growl at the first sneeze, starts barking at the second. Geez!!! Val, I think the ultrasonic collar is sounds only, not a shock collar. BE strong...you will win and it won't hurt her to cry...she NEEDS to learn YOUR schedule.  |
| The sneeze...I can sneeze all I want and nothing...2 Sheepdogs and 1 Tibetan Terrier and everytime my husband sneezes the sheepdogs barked, the TT runs and hides somewhere. My husband must have a special sound...we have teased him for years about it. We are thinking my OES taught the TT...the hiding is easier than the bark! |
| thanks for clearing up about the collar...sorry bgirl.nemesis ..I misread..it happens when you're sleep deprived...
(I will the sonic collar in mind..IF ...we continue with this problem..I suspect tomorrow morning will be MUCH better... |
| I don't believe it is a collar of any kind.
I think it's something like this: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... 2&keepsr=0 Hope you find something that works! |
| Now it's crystal clear....Thanks, Elissa..... |
| How'd it go last night? I am also of the opinion she should probably sleep away from you . . . sorry!! I would imagine it would be much less traumatic for her to start and stop sleep in one place than be moved to her crate when she wakes up too early in the morning. Only time will tell, though, and hopefully she's on the road to a long nightly nap!!!
Good luck! |
| This morning she began her ritual at 6:20...even though I would normally get up at that time, I placed her in her crate and went back to bed ...for 15 minutes. When she stopped her barking, I went in and let her out.
SOOOOOOOOOOOO.......the question is....was this morning a FLUKE???? ...or has it only taken my very smart girl one time of banishment to learn...????????? (not likely..) I think tomorrow will be the real test... |
| Is it possible that something you are doing in your sleep during those hours triggers your dog to wake up?
If she wasn't in the bedroom, then she wouldn't pick up on this? Just a thought. |
| I really don't feel banishing her to the family room where her crate is, is the answer at this point. If Dino or I am doing something that is waking her up...I guess she needs to figure out that if she doesn't go back to sleep, she goes to her crate...... but I appreciate your input and will keep it in mind if she continues to do what she has been doing.....
The problem is --- The other 2 dogs have always slept with us. When Heart was younger,we tried her crate in our room..didn't work at all....then she was in her crate in the family room and that didn't work because I was told by forum members that she is with her pack all day and then at night when everyone goes to bed and she is alone she is confused as to why she is not with everyone else. We let her in with us and everything is fine, except she has gotten in the habit of getting up very, very early. If it were not for Nationals, I would not be as concerned. I am an early riser getting up at 5-5:30...(NOT as early as Heart)...we're talking an hour or an hour and a half. I think I am handling it and Heart seems to be responding---tomorrow morning will be just another milestone...
Again..I DO appreciate all the input ----thanks!!!!! |
| Val, I hope my room is right next to you gals! I'm so excited I won't be able to sleep anyway!
Shirley and I traveled to Quincy, IL this weekend and she did great! We now have a Quincy fan club! I don't know if she is a fluke, but my girl is just a lump. I get such a kick out of hearing about the Sheepie 500 and such. And I never heard her bark till she was almost 2! When the alarm goes off at my house, she hops up for 10 minutes of spooning, then steals my spot when I head for the shower. She is however, terrified of white garbage bags... Brenda |
| Brenda....
I hope your are next to us TOO!!!!!
(Although I REALLY think she will be fine by next Monday evening.) Shirley sounds like a sweetie. Her, Heart and Harry will get along great!!! Harry will teach her how to be 'bad'...Heart was a joy before she met the bad boy Harrington. She didn't know how to play before. Now she plays like a gladiator!! (just like Harry!!!) What are you and Shirley doing??? Rally, Obedience? Agility? How old is Shirley??? Heart is only 15 months old.... well, if you can't sleep, like I told sneakiesheepie...just go down to the pool or where ever there are benches and me and Heart will probably be watching the sunrise!!!!!!
....and by the way Brenda...Heart is terrified of garbage bags tooo.....they can both be terrified together...those mean old white trash bags.... |
| Shirley is 8 so we are just coming to gawk. And have fun, fun fun!!! When I win the lottery and fill my new hobby farm with sheepdogs I'll need to have a couple of you recommend me for OESCA membership so I figured I better come meet you!
Brenda |
| ...............................Today, I got up first..................................................................BEFORE............Heart!!!! |
sheepieshake wrote: ...............................Today, I got up first..................................................................BEFORE............Heart!!!!
Wooohooo!!! But, what time was that??? |
| 5:30.............(MY normal time)
|
  |
sheepieshake wrote: ...............................Today, I got up first..................................................................BEFORE............Heart!!!!
  |
sheepieshake wrote: 5:30.............(MY normal time)
OK - I was worried when you said you got up before her - thought it could have been something crazy - like 2am!! I'll let you keep that room next to mine now........ |
Quote: I'll let you keep that room next to mine now........
AWWWwwwww!!!!!!Dawn....what a sweetie you are...Thanks!!! with you being right next door, we can really party!!!!!! I am really confident..IF you hear a dog barking...It will NOT be sheepie HEART....or sheepie HARRY.... |
|
Don't worry either if you are next to Marty...he sleeps right through all the barkers! Even if he hears em.....he won't care cuz he is so darn happy to be in a sheepie world! |
| I think this will be my last post on this.....
5:30 again this morning... I woke first... BY GEORGE....I THINK SHE'S GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! again...thanks for all your help and support...and your patience..... ........ |
| Woohoo!!!
That is great news. I can't wait to meet the new rested and refreshed Val....... |
sheepieshake wrote: BY GEORGE....I THINK SHE'S GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good news! We won't have to kick you & Heart out of your hotel room now! |
| NOPE!!!!! maybe there will be someone else that will have to go...but it won't be Heart, Harry me or Judi!!!!!!!!!
Dawn....I will be refreshed and rested....until Tuesday night, when my nerves get to me and I start worrying about being in that ring for Obedience and Rally.......
I told you, VerveUP...I told you I'd get 'er done!!!!!!   |
| I am so excited
I am not even going to be there but, I hope to hear awesome reports on all the pups and peeps in attendance! Murphy should at least get a ribbon for miles traveled. |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|