Hi all, just re-read my post and please excuse the long ramble but there seems to be so much I want advice on!  I'm going to post other topics otherwise you'll be here all day!!

I'm looking for some advice on my "darling" little Cavalier Kind Charles Spaniel (Lula).  She is now 4 months old and we also have a 14-month old Cavi dog (Oscar).  We separate them at night (advice from our dog trainer) and Oscar sleeps in his soft bed in the kitchen and she is crated (still leaving accidents and that's another topic)!  She goes to bed around 11pm and when I first crated her she would cry for the toilet at around 4am and I would get up and let her out.  This didn't last long and she settles through the night now.  However not long after sleeping through she started crying around 6am.  Again I would let her out for a wee and crate her again until I got up at about 7am.  For the last 6 weeks now she cries and whines and barks EVERY single morning WITHOUT FAIL) starting any time from 6.30am and usually no later than 7.15am.  During the week it's not a problem but some weekends I fancy a bit of lie in - not till late but 8am would be lovely.  The problem is I've been getting up to her and letting her out concerned that she's busting but I'm not sure this is why she is crying. Also we live in a flat - ground floor garden - and I'm worried that she will wake our neighbours up so another reason I won't leave her whinging too long.  Once she's been out for a wee, she then DEMANDS to be fed.  Oscar was a bit of pig initially but soon grew out of it but I have seen nothing like it when Lula eats - food flies all over the place in her attempt to get in down her throat as soon as possible and it's gone in around 15-20 seconds (I've timed her)!  I do not feed her when she demands it but until I do she runs around my feet almost tripping me over in an attempt to get my attention - I know it's not the right thing but on the odd occasion I give in for the sake of peace and go back to bed!  If I let her out for a wee and then try and crate her again she continues to cry, and if I leave her with the run of the lounge and kitchen she will still cry because she now wants food.  I feed her 3 times a day; 8am, 12.30pm and 5.30pm.  She has a biscuit at bedtime and some treats (her dried meal food) when we do training whilst out walking.  She is taken out 2-3 times a day.  Sometimes we don't take her out when we take Oscar on his last walk for the evening as she doesn't seem interested and is probably tired anyway. 

So sorry for the long topic but I wanted to give you all the facts that I could remember.  I would be very, very grateful for any advice.

What time does the Postie, milkman, paperboy call in the mornings? You may find that it is something outside the house that is disturbing her. There's not much you can do about that, though ;)

I found that Cavaliers are a bit.... um.... how do you say it nicely :) ...... stubborn. Once they set their minds on something there is no way you can get them to change their minds :D  I think you may just have to get up, let her out, feed her and then go back to bed. I have to do this with my Munsters on a Sunday. It is the only way I get a "lie-in". I can never just stay in bed. They won't let me. :D

I think you are being overambitious expecting such a young pup to sleep for a total of 9 hours without a wee break. That is however exactly what you are asking by hoping she will go until 8 am. She is most probably bursting for a wee by then. If you really MUST lie in longer than 6.30 ( which  I think is personally not too bad for a pup!) then I suggest that you wake her up electively at 3 am and take her for a wee. Her bladder wont be quite so full by 6 30 then. Personally  I have always considered that early mornings are par for the course with pups, and have just accepted it.as they get older they will sleep in longer.

When I had my last dog the breeder said that she was used to having her first meal of the day at 6.00a.m.    Perhaps your pup is hungry.  What time does she have the last meal of the day.     If you give her something to eat at 6.00a.m. then perhaps she will let you go back to bed for a lie in.     I know getting up at this time is a pain......but it doesn't last for ever.:D