How can I help him sleep? He is 12 months old, so is still a baby really, and he can only sleep about 4 hours a night. He doesn't sleep much of a day either. He gets bored while I am sleeping so he keeps me up by 'talking' to me and digging me out of the blankets. I've popped him in another room before but he scratches at the door and cries all night which keeps me up as well. Is something wrong with him, or is it the fact he is a working dog and just has a lot of energy? Any tips on getting him sleeping through the night? I would love to hear other people's experiences. Thank you.
2006-09-15 12:27:02 · 11 answers · asked by alysseq_86 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Chamomile tea works very well, and is safe for him.
Dump it out of the teabag, and use 1 teaspoon for small breed, up to 1 tablespoon for a large breed. Mix it in a little canned food, such as Mighty Dog, or Cesar's, and give about 30 minutes before he needs to relax. It will keep him happy, but reduce stress so he can sleep.. It can be given as needed.
I was raising a litter of orphaned Dobermans, and the vet told me of this, and it saved my sanity..
Fix yourself a nice hot cup of it too! You deserve a good night's sleep..
Your grocer will have it in the tea section.
2006-09-15 12:37:44 · answer #1 · answered by Chetco 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cattle dogs are VERY high energy and need a job to do, or they will drive you and themselves nuts. They are working dogs, not house pets. He needs a lot more exercise than he's getting. Take him for at least a thirty minute RUN before bedtime. You may need to use a treadmill, bicycle or rollerblades to give him a good workout - or throw a ball for him until he's really winded and ready to quit.
Also, do some obedience and trick training every day to keep his mind occupied. These are the books that I recommend to my students; you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard http://www.volhard.com/
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan
Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/
2006-09-15 13:58:50 · answer #2 · answered by Danger, Will Robinson! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My boyfriend and I have an older Austrailian shepherd and he still requires three walks a day. They are extremely high energy and they need lots of exercise. That's what they're bred for! My brother and dad used to have a six month old border collie and she was a real handful - lots and lots of energy. She used to chew everything in signt, would want to fetch anything that moved. They just had to get used to the idea that Sophie needs lots of exercise.
Cattle dogs and working dogs are the best breeds in the world; they just need work, since that's what they're bred to do. I don't know where you are in the world,; however, there is an excellent dog trainer on Discovery, Cesar Millan, whose program is Dog Whisperer. He goes to people's homes and trains their dogs out of various and assorted bad habits, including one program with a dog much like yours. He's also on the internet and has written a book. You should check him out. He's great!
2006-09-15 14:12:33 · answer #3 · answered by Shelley 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm gonna take a guess that he is largely inactive, even when awake,,,at least in what his genetic makeup might demand of him, as a working animal.
He needs to run, herd, guide, guard, etc.
At 12 months he is pretty much as much of an adult as he will ever be, while maintaining a high energy level,,,or a desire for high energy, possibly for another 8 or 9 years.
I realize you aren't personally attacking him by dismissing him to another room, but it is a punishment of sorts, that is designed for your comfort, not his. Training certainly can subdue some of that, but it's a dogs nature to be social, interactive, active alone, or working. Cats lay about and are very Ok with that. Dogs who lay about become bored, and unhappy.
It may be a compromise for you, and an inconvenience, but you might enjoy a last walk at night, with the dog,,,and a first outing when you both wake. His eating habits should be kept controlled, but HE WANTS exercise. OR More than he is getting.
Rev. Steven
2006-09-15 12:49:34 · answer #4 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't ever take the sleeping pills route!!
1. They will damage your liver big time and you can get into serious health problems.
2. You will get hooked up on them and you won't be able to have a normal life any more if you don't take your pills everyday.
The sleeping pills industry is damaging our health by capitalizing on our ignorance, and by distracting people from effective and natural ways to deal with this problem. I had been taking prescription sleep medications [Ambien] for over 5 years. It stopped working and I simply took more. Still did not work. Nights were very difficult - medication put me to sleep but I would wake up after 2–3 hours with a strong sympathetic response (fast pulse, pounding heartbeat, wide awake alert). It was a very difficult cycle to break. I was really in bad shape due to lack of sleep.
After years of struggling I was able to cure my insomnia naturally and pretty fast. I followed the Sleep Tracks sleep optimization program, here is their official web -site if you want to take a look: http://www.insomniacure.net
Ohhh..and Good Luck!
2014-09-17 09:47:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a crate would definately help...but you have to understand the a puppies sleeping schedule. Dogs can sleep up to 14 hours a day, puppies up to 20! but they rarely sleep the way we do continuously for 8 hour. normally they they take a few naps during the day. If you want your dog to sleep through the night,you need to excercise him a lot! keep him on a rigourous schedule. sleep, eat, poop,excercise, naptime, eat, poop, sleep...Introduce him to a crate, make it as comfy as possible, in a central area of your house, (you might want to move it to your bedroom at night. put a few toys in, let him wander in and out freely, then praise him when ever he goes in the crate and the close the door behind him like it's no big deal. if he starts going berserk (DON'T let him out)....wait until he settles down. eventually, he'll settle down for a nap.
always lock him in the crate at night, and immediately let him out for a bathroom break in the morning. Don't give him water at least 2 hours before bedtime. eventually(maybe not over night, but eventually) whenever he's in the crate, he'll probably go in there to sleep.
2006-09-15 12:59:13 · answer #6 · answered by Chit P 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get a crate you can put in your room or another and put his little butt in there! That's the ONLY thing that works for my now nearly 2 y.o. Cattle dog. Feel free to email me if you have any further questions or just wanna share experiences of owning this very unique breed of dog.....good luck!
2006-09-15 12:36:44 · answer #7 · answered by crazybouthorses68 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He might need a walk in the evening, like around 7 or 8 PM, for about 45 minutes to an hour, on a leash. Get him his own bed, preferably one that is off the floor; his own blanket & his own alarm clock. When it is time for him to go to bed, put him in it & tell him to go night, night, & sound like you mean it. You need to be gentle but firm! You might want to include a toy. Make sure he has a chew toy, like a Budda Bone. I hope this helps, dear.
2006-09-15 13:42:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
no, he might just be distracted by noises, try to take him out before sleeping, and pet him and mske him sleep on your bed, and pet him, and kiss him, and then tell him to go to sleep...that's what i did for my puppy...
2006-09-15 12:30:18 · answer #9 · answered by elia_princess 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
GIVE HIM A DOG SLEEPING PILL FROM THE VET
2006-09-15 12:30:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋