Hi... first time user... I adopted a mixed breed male terrier from a shelter in December. Our guess is he is 1 - 2 years old. He sleeps in the bed with my westie & I and has recently begun to wake up between 4 - 5 a.m. (my usual wake up time was 5:30) He wants to play. He will succumb when I say "lay down and go to sleep" but not for long. I feed him the evening before typically between 5 - 6 and we go to bed about 9:30 (after he's gone outside) Is there anything I can do to encourage a longer sleep time ? Once he's up, we all are and it makes for a long day... Thank you in advance for your comments...

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Originally Posted by SL172

Hi...first time user....I adopted a mixed breed male terrier from a shelter in December. Our guess is he is 1 - 2 years old. He sleeps in the bed with my westie & I and and has recently begun to wake up between 4 - 5 a.m. (my usual wake up time was 5:30) He wants to play. He will succumb when I say "lay down and go to sleep" but not for long. I feed him the evening before typically between 5 - 6 and we go to bed about 9:30 (after he's gone outside) Is there anything I can do to encourage a longer sleep time ? Once he's up, we all are and it makes for a long day...Thank you in advance for your comments.....

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Ignore him. Do not play with him 1st thing in the morning until he is broke from this behaviour.

There is a slight chance he is hungry. Try feeding around 6:30/7:00

Does the sun shine into your room. My dog thinks the sun being up means we should be too. I just recently hung drapes over my blinds.It seems to be helping as I know can sleeep almost to 6.30 or 7.00 some mornings.

Thanks; sun or moon shine isn't a concern... last night it was 3:30 but I let him out to do his business and we then went right back to sleep until 5 but it is heading in the right direction !

Maybe you need to take the water up after his trip outside before bed. Or maybe a little more play time to wear him out. Since he is still young he may need more play time.

Thanks; I agree... I'll work on that tonight and report back !

I have a 5 mo old Yorkie, and a 7 yrs old Bichon Frise, the Yorkie is up at 5 AM ready to play too. We all need our sleep, I purchased a raw bone from the pet store and I will be giving it to him tomorrow morning. Hope this keeps him busy for at least an hour. He is in a crate in my daughters bedroom where he sleeps and he has a playyard in the kitchen.
I can't let him loose because my Bichon does not get along with the new puppy. I will let you know if the bone worked.

Thanks; and good luck with the puppy! It took a while for my 8 year old westie to embrace our new family member but they are fast friends now. I found walking them together bonded them a bit quicker...

Hi, we gave him the bone this morning, 5:30AM, it kept him busy until almost 7:00AM. Bad thing is these bones are expensive and he will get used to having one every morning. What is a dog owner to do:)

Try a kong filled with a treat. This will keep him busy and not so costly.Good luck

I will put some peanut butter in the Kong, that should keep him busy for sometime.:)

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Originally Posted by luigi1111

I will put some peanut butter in the Kong, that should keep him busy for sometime.:)

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Mix the peanut butter with unsweetened applesauce and freeze it in the kong. It will last longer and be fewer calories.