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Comment by Elisabeth Garrett on July 11, 2014 at 7:54am

I agree keeping Lacy on a routine will help ! I'm always up at 5;30 during the week for work . I have to leave my house by 7 . That way I can spend time with both the pups before heading out for the day. That's too funny about  your cat . My older dog Brinks will come wake me up when Lacy's up around 5:30 or 6 .She's always been like... the baby's awake. Ever since I brought her home at 4 months old .

Comment by Denis J. on July 11, 2014 at 7:24am

Glad to hear you had a good night sleep and getting used to the routine will help.

Yes I'm an early riser but having a Fat Cat (24lbs) that begs for food every morning at 5:30am wakes Wally and I.   I haven't had an morning alarm for over 10 years now as my clock is set with the rising sun.    But now Wally and I are on the same schedule and the moewling cat doesn't help.   Wally starts to beg me to wake up when he can't sleep as well.   "If I can't sleep with that racket why should you"..    :)

Comment by Elisabeth Garrett on July 11, 2014 at 7:11am

I'm learning to stick to the rules with her and she will thrive on the structure. I also realize that this was the first morning this worked. We'll have to see how she does through the weekend :)

 

Comment by Elisabeth Garrett on July 11, 2014 at 7:08am

Thank you for your advice ! Lacy is crate train and she sleeps in her crate every night . We made the decision  to crate train her  till she's at least 2 years old. I also talked to her breeder yesterday . It really did come down to just breaking this habit. With Corgi's no means no. I stuck to it and it  worked. I also took advice of a friend that has trained many dogs. I put a blanket over her crate. Left the back of her crate uncovered . She didn't wake up until 5:30 am which is the time I get up for work. When I told her no she whined for a couple seconds and became quiet.

Comment by Anna Morelli on July 10, 2014 at 5:24pm

@ Dennis, you must be an early riser!  The dog can certainly wait until 7 or so, no problem, a lot earlier than 20 months of age.

The important thing is that they are creatures of habit, but they can also learn to be flexible.  Lots of dogs learn that weekend schedules are different from weekday schedules, or that Mom is a teacher and has Summers off, but then it's back to business.  We travel a lot and the dogs know our schedule changes when on the road.  Generally, dogs reflect the owners, so people who are quite regimented have the  more inflexible dogs.... Obviously very young pups, older dogs or dogs who are ill may need more adjustments made in their favor, otherwise some built in flexibility of schedule is beneficial, obviously within reason.

Comment by Denis J. on July 10, 2014 at 3:17pm

I agree.   Accomodating the needs of the dog makes it a routine, which is easier to "quiet her up" but now it's a habit.  I would say to feed her a treat before going to bed, so that the stomach as a little something to digest and she does not get acid reflux with an empty stomach.    
But you will have to deal for a few nights of the crying for going out.    She might need to be in a crate if she's walking around the home, jumping on the door, etc.    Having her in crate, maybe close to you if needed would keep her safe, prevent her from walking around or doing her business in your home.

Wally would cry for about 20-30 min. before going back to bed.  But first thing early morning was to go out.   I'm talking about 5:30am-6:00am which is where we are now at 20 months of age.

Comment by Anna Morelli on July 10, 2014 at 11:07am

She has no need to get up at 3 am, but habits are hard to break for animals as well as people.  Make sure she does not drink immediately before her bedtime, then when she wakes at 3am, just tell her to "stop that" or "Quiet" and if that's not enough, get up and tap on her crate as you say it, but don't let her out of the crate.  Depending on her personality it will take more or less time for her to accept rules have changed and for her to adjust, but adjust she will. A week or so (hopefully less) should do it.