Early Risers

[Jeepin' Rob]

Moby is now 7 years old. When he was a pup I was working full time and was up at 5:00 am which meant breakfast for Moby. He never did catch onto the weekend / sleep in idea. Lately he has moved his internal clock (tummy?) an hour earlier and starts the low woofs around 4:00 am which if not acted on will be the loud woof by 4:40 am. We have tried feeding him later for dinner, keeping a portion of food until later, dragging him outside (out of a sleep) to pee and nothing seems to make a difference, still 4:00 am. The other frustrating part is by 5:00 am he will be sleeping soundly again.

Have others run into this? Suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Angela]

Have you tried a definate NO, go back to bed?

 

[Jeannie]

Ignore him. He is wanting attention whether it be positive or negative. Don't talk to him. Don't look at him. Turn your back to him. It may take a few days to change this behavior.

 

[Jeepin' Rob]

Thanks for the tips, will work on it. My initial concern was as Moby eats on our covered deck outside was his call for food or bathroom issues.

 

[victoria1140]

We're lucky here ,we have to be up at 3amfor work so not an issue for us

 

[Jeannie]

We're lucky here ,we have to be up at 3amfor work so not an issue for us

Me either. My morning routine is like this: up, dressed and out to the kennel by 4:20. Let the boarding dogs ( and our dogs) out to potty. Bring them in and feed. I meet my friends about 4:45-5:00 a.m. to run 5 miles. Back home, shower, make the bed and open the business at 6:45 a.m. Whew! That is all before 7 a.m. I cannot wait to retire!:shocker::shocker:

 

[2newfs4now]

My Lab did that after Max, Charlie and my husband died (within 3 months). I was already retired and when he woke me at 4:20, I was done! If I didn't get up with his woofs and whines, he would jump on me to wake me. I started setting an alarm for a reasonable time (7 am). Any time before that, I would get up and let him out to do his biz, bring him in and crate him. I went back to bed It took him about a week to learn that the alarm meant food. Now I know that if I hear him before the alarm, he needs to go out, now!

 

[NinaA]

I teach ours to "go lay down" and it doesn't matter what the reason, if I say that it's what they're supposed to do. And food doesn't come until after I'm up and have read the paper. So, my current girl cues on the newspaper.