Get Your Puppy to Sleep All Night: Pro Dog Training Tips #26

Today’s podcast topic comes from you! One of the questions I’m often asked is “how do I get my puppy to stop waking me up?”. Another is “how do I stop my dog waking me earlier and earlier?”. These are common problems, and there are three main reasons it happens, with the most likely being that you have been ‘shaped by dog’. I’ve got tips to help you. There are four things that you can put into action right now to ensure you get some sleep.

In the episode you'll hear:
• The main reasons a puppy or dog will wake you up in the middle of the night.
• How you could be contributing to being woken by your dog.
• About inappropriate reinforcement that you may not realize is happening.
• The impact of routine and your dog predicting patterns of reinforcement.
• How you can turn things around to ensure you get sleep.
• Why what happens during the day can determine what happens at night!
• Easy observations you can make teach your puppy or dog the “forget it to get it” rule.
• The four things you need to know that will make a massive difference.
• Why your puppy being on leash to potty will improve your life together.
• How I teach my puppies and dogs “Don’t Wake Da Mama”.

Resources:

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Dogs That is brought to you by Susan Garrett and the Say Yes Dog Training Team.

Susan Garrett’s interest in animal behaviour started at the University of Guelph where she earned a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal Science. Since then she has developed into a preeminent dog trainer and canine sports instructor and competitor. Susan is one of the most successful agility competitors of the last three decades. She has won multiple Gold Medals at National or World Championship events with every dog she has ever owned over the past 30 years.

A natural teacher and an entertaining speaker, Susan is world renowned as a leading educator of dog trainers. Her understanding of how to apply science-based learning principles to both competitive and family pet dog training has been pivotal in changing how dogs are trained.

Susan is now helping many thousands of dog owners in 82 countries have the best relationship possible with their dogs. The real joy for her comes from bringing confidence to dogs and their owner through playful interactions and relationship building games that are grounded firmly in the science of how animals learn.
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[wingabouts]

Very helpful... I was listening to people that said set an alarm for every 2 hours for the first several nights... 😒 ... Tomorrow I am bringing home an 8 week old pup -- my first dog in over 30 years. I'm binging on all your videos. 💞

[RLCinGA]

Really appreciate your fun, but no-nonsense approach to the puppy's first night(s). "Don't wake the Momma!" YES!!

[BearAndKuko]

I've been watching your videos before getting my aussie puppy. The first night he's home, I used your "don't wake da mamma" method, and he started sleeping through the night the next day! (An 8 week old puppy) Now he is 3.5 months old, and everyone who met him complimented on how well behaved he was for a young puppy, thanks to all your training tips!

[ewaniescior]

I have been preparing to raise a puppy for 3 months and only this video reassured me that my nights would not become completely sleepless. Thank you and please keep your fingers crossed. The big day is just 3 days away!

[karlawilson]

As always, a lot more beyond the topic gets delivered! “Forget it to get it”.... that’s a gem!

[sawyer]

The oversized clip over the collar is genius. Got my pup at 7 weeks, not even to 8 weeks yet and we've already gone from 4-5 outings per night to one. And almost NO whining. Amazing!

[j.b.wagner]

Thank you thank you thank you!!!
I'm 8 months pregnant and I was terrified I would have to get up throughout the night with our lab puppy.
One night of "don't wake the momma" and she sleeps like an angel.
This has given me a win that I keep thinking of anytime I'm overwhelmed by puppiness! (She's really good but I'm scared to "ruin her".)
Now we just need to get better at managing the day time.

[joannepearson]

Thank you so much for this video. Tried the don't wake mamma technique first night home with new pup, he woke 3 times and struggled to settle at 6am. Second night, only up once to toilet. I heard him stirring at 6.45 but he hadn't made a sound. Took him to toilet, straight back in where he is currently entertaining himself and quiet as a mouse! One very happy and well rested mamma here! 😊

[glenkirkland]

I’ve watched a lot of you tube, this is my first time making a comment. I’m so impressed with your helpful information...thank you.

[annfry]

Gems: dogs are brilliant at figuring out patterns of reinforcement. Put the dog's meals in at different times so they can't figure out the thing before the thing. Forget it to get it * Very important gem. Don't wake the momma routine: 1. Exercise 2. Mental stimulation 3. pottying on a leash 4. Your responses. You do NOT say anything to the puppy if they've woken you up in the middle of the night, no reinforcement or engagement in any way other than to just go outside to do potty. Carry pup to place where they potty. Look for routines your dog can predict and try to break up those routines to prevent unwanted solicitation. <3

[charlotteking]

Don't Wake the Momma is something I've always shaped for my dogs and cats. Just not responding at all works except when something is clearly needed. At the same time, I wake and am up instantly when I hear that cat "getting ready to throw up" sound. LOL.

[lcron]

Next month I'll be getting an 8 week old Cavalier. I've been searching for and watching tons of dog training videos here, but you have given me the most practical, down to earth information of all. Thank you. I'm going to use all of your advice with my new pup and am feeling much more confident about those first few days and nights.

[schuylerbrock]

Awesome video! We have a baby and are getting a puppy today (crazy, I know), and sleeping has been one of my biggest concerns. I've probably watched a hundred hours of dog training videos over the past couple of months, and this is by far the best one I've seen on sleep training a puppy. Thank you so much!

[kathleencollins]

Your videos have changed everything I do with training. Thank you so much!

[megsta]

Susan you are a genius 🙌 I’ve been binging your videos to help with my now 17 week old border collie pup. Sleeping during the day doesn’t last long and he’s been waking me up earlier and earlier. I’ve just realised I’m probably reinforcing it because we have a big cuddle/affection session the second he gets out of his crate. That will be no more! Wish me luck 👌

[mitakszilvia]

This worked like magic for me. After just two days my 2 month old puppy slept the whole night. Im so glad I followed your instructions. Thank you so much 💝

[Emma-feyt]

I'm looking forward to trying this out when I get my 8 week puppy this week! Thank you for all the tips

[smiller]

We found this channel when our puppy was routinely waking us up at 4 am. “Don’t wake the momma” worked like a charm. 100% we gave her a pattern of reinforcement with feeding and playing when she woke us up. This content and channel is amazing! After watching these videos, we started crate games and given we enjoyed the content so much, joined Recallers this weekend. Thank you so much Susan!

[anomaly]

Susan,
This has been amazing help, we have just got an 8 week old Lab pup and he mostly (woke up twice once to potty and once because my fingers had slipped out of the crate) slept sound through out his first night in the crate, the tip about leaving your fingers in the crate was amazing! The difference in his comfort with/ without fingers was like night and day.

[nimaabed]

this changed everything for me and my 8 weeks gsd
puppy ma'am. thank you