Sleeping Alone In The Laundry

[SED]

Our six month old vizsla has recently started waking up at 5.30am every morning and scratching on the laundry door. We've been training him to be quiet before we open the door and let him out but this only seems to work when he can hear we're up and about and not when we're trying to sleep! So far, we've tried doing fun things in the laundry (like eating dinner and keeping his toy box in there), ignoring him ("controlled crying" if you will), getting up and comforting him before putting him back in his bed in the laundry, leaving the laundry door open (then he just scratches on our bedroom door) and putting him outside (he's quiet for about half an hour before barking persistently). He is perfectly fine outside on his own during the day - the problem just seems to be the laundry overnight. We think our next step will be to put a radio on quietly and see if this helps but I'd be very grateful for any other suggestions! I notice there are a few aromatherapy/pheromone calming therapies on the market but I'm a bit sceptical - does any have any experience with these?

[I Heart Aussies]

Have you been toilet training him? It's about that time they start to get the whole toilet thing. Maybe he needs to go to the loo and he is letting you know?

I have tried to have dogs sleep in the laundry before and my personal experience has been if you don't want them in the house overnight, they are happier outside than being confined in a locked room. Of all the dogs I've owned I've found this.

I have trained my current dog to be happy with sleeping in or out. She is toilet trained so no issues but she sleeps in a few nights (not the laundry though, free run of house), then out a few nights, I rotate it so she is not used to or relies on being in the whole time. With Winter coming up I'm happy for her to be in more than out though.

[peibe]

Have you tried taking him for a nice walk before bed time and making him tired. I do not think you should run him but he needs to be tired when he goes to bed

I would say that your little boy is growing up and is looking for some action at 5.30am, he is full of beans so to speak

[SED]

Have you tried taking him for a nice walk before bed time and making him tired. I do not think you should run him but he needs to be tired when he goes to bed

I would say that your little boy is growing up and is looking for some action at 5.30am, he is full of beans so to speak

He is reliably toilet trained and we've tried letting him out to see if he needs to go and he usually doesn't - I think what he really wants is human company and attention.

I'd be happy for him to sleep outside my only concern is that Canberra can be so cold overnight in winter and vizslas have such a short coat - perhaps a good dog rug for winter is the answer.

I'm certain the problem is currently exacerbated by the fact he was desexed last week and has had to be confined and kept quiet (ha ha, hysterical laughter) for the last week with no walks! But he did start scratching on the door prior to this. What gets me is that he was really good in the laundry for the first few months and has only in the last 6 weeks started the scratching thing.

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

Is there a specific reason you can't put him in with you at 5.30 when he wakes? This is probably all he wants, time with his family.

Our three dogs are very spoilt but they have boundaries. Our tiny dog sleeps in with us, the other two are gated out in the hallway but come in for cuddles most mornings. Dogs are pack animals after all, and they just want our company. :D

[Heidley]

Just wondering if this started not long after daylight savings ended? It can alter their routine and with it getting lighter earlier it might be a possible trigger?

[Poodle wrangler]

I had this issue with the youngest human in the house- she's just full of life, ready to start her day much to her parents' disgust!

Is it possible he's hungry e.g. going thru a growth spurt? Could you try a nice, raw meaty bone in the laundry in the morning, or, as you go to bed at night? Messy, but- hopefully - quiet. Unless he bangs the bone around the floor.

Our pup did the early morning caper, but improved when I added a mini-meal late at night. Still, I hear both dogs playing as soon as the sun's up most mornings.

[Miranda]

You could try crating him in your bedroom.

[AussieDog]

I wish my two waited till 5.30 - i get a wet nose in the eye or a dog lieing on my chest at 5am almost to the dot every morning.

As others have mentioned sounds like he just wants to be with his family after being alone during the night.

[I Heart Aussies]

Yeah dogs have pretty good internal clocks and very good at relying on routine and he is probably getting anxious knowing the time is nearing when he gets to see you.

You know how they say you should alter your routines, go for walks at different times, serve dinner diff times etc. well this is one such thing it is probably difficult to alter but the end result is he knows it's nearly time to get out of the laundry and doesn't want to wait any longer. Hey I'm no expert, just trying to think like your dog and shed some light ;-)

[Monah]

You lucky lucky duck. A gorgous viz. Ours is now 14 months old. She's fantastic. BUT did have me up for around 6 months at 4 am (qld. daylight thanks to no daylight saving). Now she sleeps in until 6am. She needed the loo and a bit of exercise early then would go back to sleep. We just (make that I) had to lump it. She has always been crated inside and loves her crate. They are very active dogs, zippy, and I think this behaviour is very normal for them. They are very very cuddly and ours is a lap dog (a large one) so maybe yours is also just wanting to be with you.

You may just have to let time fix this. A young dog will definately need the toilet at this stage early in the morning. We have another pup now so am doing the 5am starts all over again so I know how you must feel. Puppy joys! :rolleyes:

Just read you are in canberra and the dog doesn't need the loo. Our viz feels the cold even here in qld now it's winter. I don't think a night outside where you are is a good idea. As I said and the breeder may have told you, they are people dogs and he would love to be with you, they really do suffer when alone and the breed is well known for this, also again, he would be rearing to go go go in the mornings now he is 6 months old. Very very active, and he will get even more so as he gets older.Can we have pics? Love the viz.

[SED]

He is very much a people dog - we love the fact vizslas are such friendly dogs! We didn't anticipate that he'd be so demonstrative and cuddly - ours too is the largest lap dog I've ever come across (nor have I come across a big dog so happy to be picked up and carried around by his dad)!

Thanks for all of the advice - the more I think about it the more I think it might a combination of the end of daylight saving and Murray's anticipation of seeing us in the morning. Fingers crossed he'll grow out of it - it could be worse, he could cry all night instead!

[Monah]

He is very much a people dog - we love the fact vizslas are such friendly dogs! We didn't anticipate that he'd be so demonstrative and cuddly - ours too is the largest lap dog I've ever come across (nor have I come across a big dog so happy to be picked up and carried around by his dad)!

Thanks for all of the advice - the more I think about it the more I think it might a combination of the end of daylight saving and Murray's anticipation of seeing us in the morning. Fingers crossed he'll grow out of it - it could be worse, he could cry all night instead!

Murray is incredibly incredibly gorgeous!!! Our'baby' is 28kgs (she's large for a girl, far too big to show) and still loves to be carried around the house! Never wriggles. I would never be without a viz now. Mine is desexed too, of course. Will try and post a pic sometime (with son's help!!) LOVE Murray.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xx

[I Heart Aussies]

he is very handsome :rolleyes: