Hi, we have a 6.5 month cocker spaniel (show) who is great in every way except we have not had one good nights sleep since we’ve had him at 8.5 weeks.  Initially we had the obvious problem in that he was not clean so we would get up and let him out a couple of times a night, which you would expect.  We had a crate but did not shut him in at night but at 5.5 months and sleep deprived we felt that may help with getting him settled and sleeping. we had about 10 days of quite good undisturbed sleep (5/6 hours) and then he started waking after just being in bed for an hour and then it deteriorated to him not settling at all through the night with no obvious reason as he was let out for toileting but did not do anything.  We now have a crate in the bedroom and he has been in there for the past few nights as I felt that this may be the problem in that he just wanted to be near to us.  However, he is still not very settled, whining initially even though he has been out and done his business and waking around 5am/6am going to bed at 10.30/11.00pm.  Everyone I speak to at puppy classes says that theirs sleeps from 9pm to 7am and has done from a young age.  We have had 3 dogs and so are not inexperienced owners but the lack of sleep is taking its toll.  He is walked twice a day and has mental stimulation.  He is not a manic puppy, in fact is very chilled out.  We just don’t know what else we can do.  Any advice welcomed.

9pm to 7am wow ! I have found pups follow their owners routines so if you go to be earlt eventually si will they but I wouldn't expect 9pm. I had one that really wasn't happy in a crate and the world sorted itself once she was allowed to wander during the night where she wanted. In effect it was sleeping by our bed, I don't do dogs on the bed  and the odd move around somewhere else during the night. occasionally she got a drink and then resettled other times just resettled elsewhere. still the same at 7.  all mine have free roaming at of most of the house and it has seemed to work for us once they are house trained.

Whining even after he's been out?  It would be a vet check for me.  I would be wondering if the whining was linked to pain.  Some tests needed for me.

> Hi, we have a 6.5 month cocker spaniel (show) who is great in every way except we have not had one good nights sleep since we’ve had him at 8.5 weeks.

I have a border terrier that I bred, she's nearly 6 and has NEVER slept through the night …...sorry.

With the longer nights, I'd expect him not to want to be up with the lark although if he's whining so soon after going in his crate, this isn't what's causing this.  Coupled with the longer nights, does it gets cool in the house at night especially if you, like us, have the heating off from around 10.30pm, coming on again at 7 am.  Chilly dogs don't settle.   

Another thought, might you consider giving him a small meal last thing (and not crating him until closer to 10.30 pm?).    My Basset was vomiting bile during the night and giving him half a tin of Chappie, just before going to bed, stopped all that.   Not that your youngster is vomiting, but perhaps going to bed on a full-er tummy might make him more inclined to sleep?

I have to say that although my two have slept in my room in their crates since day one (they came to us roughly a year apart and one is now 10 years and the other 9), they still sleep in there but my Whippet sleeps through until I want to get up - my Basset has an internal clock that 's set half an hour before I want to do anything - so I get moaning from around 6 (if not earlier).   Of late I've been allowing him a couple of moans (SHUT UP!!) and then chucking him in the kitchen which is the opposite end of the home here and shutting the doors between kitchen and my room.   That gives me the last so precious hour before getting up.    I was letting him out in case he was needing out - he did nothing.    And when he goes out at the normal time, he usually only pees.   I'm tempted to have him sleep in the kitchen away from me, but know I'd be lying awake listening for 'a problem'.    I know the feeling re being deprived of sleep ...... so I hope you can find a solution .... oh and have you had a chat with his breeder?

I wish that people would come back to us with a response/outcome,,,  anything really.

I am desperate for advice please. Have a 12 week Cocker that doesn't settle. Had 3 nights where we got six hours straight then had a bad night and have been getting worse. We were advised to take him out for a toilet break which gave us 4 hours but now he is waking hourly. Latest advice is to shut him in his crate and tough it out. This results in Barking for hours on end and soiling. He has ticking clock, radio, toys.....what can I do? Thank you.

6 hours is quite reasonable for a young pup, just like human baby.

On the other hand getting so stressed out that he screams for hours is not good for either of you.

Are you leaving a radio on so he is not hearing outside noises, or even you upstairs? I leave a radio on 24/7 in kitchen where my dogs sleep.

One method that has worked for puppy owners of mine is to go to him when he cries, take him out for a toilet, but apart from giving toilet command no interaction at all.  Just stand around until he goes.

bring him back in but ignore him, put the kettle on, make a drink drink it, all the time ignoring him completely.  He will eventually go off and lie down, after drinking your tea/coffee/cocoa quietly leave.

Repeat each time.  the idea being that your presence is no big deal, no petting no playing, just boring, so night is for sleeping.

Other people put pup in a crate by their bed where they can speak to them, and even pet them through the bars for reassurance.  they either have pup in bedroom permanently or gradually move him further away, hallway, landing etc