HELP! Dog won't sleep all night.

[Pearlulm]

HELP! This problem is about to drive us crazy. Our 2 1/2 year old mini schnauzer won't sleep all night. I am home with them most of the time so she isn't in her kennel that often. We go to bed about 9:30 and by 11:30 she is scratching at the door to go out. My husband goes out with her and he says that she doesn't do anything. She wants to go out about 3 times a night. I am on medication for a series of illness (lets not get into all that) and I am in what I call a drug induced coma at night. LOL My poor husband who has to get up at 5:45 am to go to work so to say the least, this isn't working out for us! She has had some health problems (pancreatitus) but seem to be recovering. Her last bout was in December. This problem started about 6 months ago long before any health problems and is only getting worse. I think that she is just bored! I know that she can hold it because we have left her in the house for 8 hours without any accidents!
Does anyone think that it would be a good idea to kennel her at night even though she has always slept in the bed with us? She does stay in the kennel when I run my errands during the day. I am up for ANY suggestions. Please if anyone has any ideas let me know.

[elegy]

how much exercise does she get? a tired dog is a good dog.

[Pearlulm]

She gets a good bit of exercise. We have two younger dogs that help to keep her busy (they sleep at night). We have a 1 1/2 year old poodle and a 4 month old schnauzer. I also take her out several times a day to play ball with her. I just don't know what to do. My husband tried ignoring her but she just comes downstairs and barks to get out.

[Pearlulm]

I wanted to add that the exercise thing might be her "problem". Even though I try to play with her during the day...when we go to our "country home" with a doggie door and lots of visitors coming over she seems to sleep alot better! When we are in Alabama she has all of my little great nephews and great neice to play with. I guess we need to get her a child! Keep the advice coming!

[fancychicken]

I am feeling your pain...been there done that, in the middle of it now. I am with everyone else...a tired puppy is a good puppy (or dog) . Give your dog a good hard play before bedtime.Does he have a favorite toy or game you play? If so play , play, play, and then play some more. What time do you feed at night. maybe give dinner about an hour earlier. So that all that digestion energy is wound out, pull water up at least 2 hours before you go to bed. Also, if he really does nothing when your husband takes him out, ignore him. I realize it is much harder to do than say and it may take a bit, but right now your husband is responding to the dogs beck and call. At 2 1/2 he should be well able to hold it and sleep thru the night. It's frustratng and tiring. But we all have been thru it. I don't have any children, just a puppy right now and quite frankly I don't know how people with babies do it and still function during the day Good luck.

[Shadowkins]

I'm with the others, tire him out a bit more and then ignore him when he wants out during the night. It sounds like he has the upper hand for now...it's hard to hear them fuss but before too long he will settle and he will sleep(as well as your husband) through the night.

[Pearlulm]

Thanks for the sugguestions. I feed them around 5:30 (I'll move that up a little) but I have been leaving the water down. I will take it up this evening. Yesterday I spent some extra time playing with her so I will keep that up.
They do have my husband well trained! It is funny because when our children were small (they are 27 and 24 now) he never got up with them!!!! I'll let you all know how things go. Thanks again for the help.

[Carrie]

I agree to make sure he's had some exercise before bed time, make sure he's comfortable (fed, gone to the bathroom etc) and crate him. Ignore his cries or scratching consistantly. Do not give in. He's learned that eventually you will give in, so he's going to keep trying for a while....maybe a couple of weeks. Stick to your guns and he'll learn to settle down. I think his own little den will help. Make sure there's nothing medically wrong which could be causing his restlessness first. Good luck.

[Pearlulm]

Night one update. I had a good talk with hubby last night and convienced him to ignore her! I don't know if I need to train her or him! lol He said that she did get up and he ignored her and she gave up and came back to bed. The puppy (4 months old on the 29th) woke him up at about 4. He toke them all out and everyone came back to sleep. Hopefully everyone will be sleeping soon! Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll keep you informed.

[Shadowkins]

Good for you! It's a wonderful first step...bet you hubby feel more rested too.

[Carrie]

Oh, woops...it's a her, not a him. LOL. sorry. Well, sounds good. Yes, if you think she has to go potty because she wakes up in the middle of the night, fine....take her out, but no playtime....straight back to bed in the crate afterwards. LOL. Mrs. El Stricto on her case here.

[Pearlulm]

Day two! I might just get that husband trained after all! He said that last night she did get up but when she saw that he wasn't getting up she came back to bed! She is such a bossy dog! They slept until 5 (when the puppy hadto go out). I know that my husband is sleeping better! Hopefully, in a few days she will realize that she isn't going out so there is no need even getting up!

[Pearlulm]

Update! Peaches is still getting up once a night but my husband is staying in bed! Hopefully, she will realize that no one is going to respond and stop that! My husband is certainly getting more sleep. Thank you to everyone for your advice/support! Thanks!

[Carrie]

Well, good! It sounds like things are improving. Yeah....at 2-1/2 yrs old, she ought to be able to go through the night. She's just gotten into some kind of habit....(your hubby too) Unless she has some digestive upset, she should be able to wait till the a.m. if she went out pretty late at night to go potty etc.

Glad your hubby is getting a better sleep!