My Mum has a border collie puppy (six months) who still wakes every morning at 0600 and barks so wakes Mum. Mum leaves her till 0730 when the pup is still dry and doesn't seem desperate to go out. The problem is that Mum is struggling from her own lack of sleep. (she is 89). They go to bed at 2230.. can you suggest anything that would help settle the pup early in the morning
Thanks

I hate to tell you this but one of my dogs wakes up every morning at 6AM and whines and paws at the bed. I stagger to the door, let her out, she stands on the deck, sort of sniffs the air, comes back in - and goes right back to sleep. I've tried everything and so I'd like to know what other people think.

My dogs run all day (I'm on over a fenced acre) so I know she's tired when she goes to bed at night.

Does your Mom's dog get enough exercise during the day? Is (perhaps) the dog hungry and that's why she's barking?

If the dog doesn't want to go out - and that's a long stretch of time not to bathroom for a puppy - how about putting the dog in a distant room so your mom can't hear her?

Hopefully the puppy will grow out of this - but (sad to say) mine did not.

We like to see photos. Can you post one?

Border Collies are very attentive to things going on around them. There may be some activity outside that she hears, like a neighbor going to work, or similar unknown, at least to her, sound. For example, some dogs bark at the mailman delivering. When those owners greet the mailman and act not alarmed by him, the barking often stops as the dog comes to understand that THAT sound is not something to be alarmed by.

Border collies are high energy working dogs. It's ingrained. They need to work, they need to run, they need to release their energy. A walk around the block doesn't cut it. That's why many people with border collies put their dogs into agility. Even that doesn't wear them out.

Who walks the dog? How often is he out and able to run, chase a ball, get a good run in? At 89 I'm surprised that your mother would get this breed of dog.

There's really not much you can do. He will calm down a bit as he gets older, but he is what he is, and he's not a lap dog, or a dog content to sit by your side and watch TV. His breed is best for someone high energy that wants an active companion. I can't imagine that that's what an 89 year old woman was looking for.

Out of greenies for Alty but this one is a winner. Yes, somehow I think this is NOT the ideal dog for an 89-year old woman.