Sleepless in Georgia... :(?

Question

My 11 month old mini daschund is driving me absolutely insane. It is 3:40am and I am awake!! Ever since she was born, at nighttime we put her in a cage to sleep. At first, it was just meant for house training, but we continued on because when we did let her sleep with us, she would keep me up all night. She would sleep between my legs, and move ALL night long. She has adapted very well to this. However, in the last week, even during the day outside of the cage, she does nothing but whine. I've pet her, held her, put her out to go to the bathroom, and nothing is helping. Is she depressed? I have no idea what to do. I'm 29 weeks pregnant and I already get up 2-5 times everynight to go to the bathroom and she keeps me up the rest of the time. I'm at a loss, extremely frustrated and exhausted. Please, somebody, tell me what to do.

She has already experienced her first "cycle"... that was about 2 months ago. As far as her sleeping with us, that was months ago... I realized right away I would never get any sleep... I broke that. This has just been within the last couple days. And its not just at nighttime. She crawls in a blanket during the day in the living room and just crys. She is making me depressed and insane at the same time.

We wondered if she might have gotten pregnant. She was having her cycle it seemed to be like for 3 weeks. The last day that we noticed her swollen was a day that she got loose. We found her at a neighbors house with their HUGE dog. She stopped bleeding and doesn't look like she is pregnant. I'm definitely going to be calling a vet. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this.

Answer 1

If she was in heat 2 months ago she would be giving birth right now. I think she had a little bit of a false pregnancy and her instincts tell her she has puppies to take care of but she can't find them. It could take a couple weeks for this to pass. Usually they try to nest with stuffed toys or something. If she doesn't have any try to find her some and let her curl up with them and pretend they are puppies.

Answer 2

It sounds like she may be experiencing her first "heat" cycle.

At this age, she may be coming into the appropriate age for mating. Female dogs, especially first timers, are extremely anxious while in heat and do not know what is going on. So they come to you to let you know that there is a problem with them.

There is, however, no problem. If she is in heat and you do not want a litter of puppies in the near future, keep her isolated from other dogs.

Keep in mind that male dogs will do ANYTHING to get at a female in heat, including jumping over or digging under fences.

If she has indeed not been neutered, and she began acting silly a week ago, you can be relieved to know that she will soon be over this little thing. Most cycles last no more than 10 days, and then all should be back to normal.

I hope this helps.


EDIT: How sure are you that she is not pregnant, then? If she cycled about two months ago and was exposed to a male dog, then she would be "nesting" about now, which may be what you are descrbing in your details thing.

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Answer 3

We had a mini when I was a teen. They're great, but extremely dependant and fiercely loyal. Ours would normally stop crying when she got the attention that she wanted, however she developed back issues that caused her a great deal of pain. this made her cry sometimes. We gathered that she developed the injury from jumping, as you well know by now those dogs think they can fly. I would take her to the vet and have her checked out to be sure. Maybe she is just upset that she's not going to be your little baby anymore. In that case it may be time for some mommy-puppy bonding time. I hope this helps. Best wishes for your growing family.

Answer 4

Based on your update - you have already accomplished the breaking of the sleep with you issue. Crating is good.

The anxiety she is expression could be a crying from some kind of discomfort - does she let you pet her firmly all over - dachsy's are prone to pinches and strains along their cute extended backs.

try Bach Flower Essences "Rescue Remedy" a few drops a couple times a day in the water, on the food, etc may help if she is worrying about something.

Please SPAY her! Heaven knows the world does not need any additional animals to find homes for! And she will be less prone to mammary cancers and pyometria (sp?) [a nasty infection of the uterus - fatal if left untreated]

Keep in mind - she may also be a little confused by the changes in YOUR scent, HER home environment as the little one's arrival looms. She does not know WHAT is happening - except changes. I bought my sister a copy of Brian Kilcommons' book about helping a dog cope with the changes that come along with a little human

Answer 5

Well, you had the right idea at first.....now you have broken the cycle by letting her sleep with you.....now comes the work.
Go back to crating her. Put her in the furthest room away from yours. Try not to wake her up when you have to get up during the night. If you do...she thinks she has to go out too.

If you have to....put her in the garage with a crate....
It won't last long and she will realize you come and get her and love her in the am like normal.
They are denning dogs.....they need to have a place of their own and be comfortable in it.
Don't back down or give up this time and don;'t change your ways.
Good luck and congrats on the upcoming baby....

Answer 6

Getting your dog pregnant isn't going to make her calm - that's ridiculous. You are pregnant. Are you calm? How are you going to handle puppies and a baby?

1. Get her fixed. Even if she is pregnant. You have no idea what those mixed pups are and there are enough unwanted pups in the world. Besides - if she was with a bigger dog, her health could be in jeopardy.

2. Crate her. Be consistent. She'll adjust.

3. Give her a frozen kong stuffed with a few pieces of her food, some peanut butter and water. She'll work on that and go to sleep.

4. Ignore her when she whines. She'll stop. Otherwise, she's learning to whine to get you to come to her.

Hang in there.

Answer 7

Keep putting her in the crate for the night. To help her sleep you can put in something that has your scent on it. For example maybe an old t-shirt. Wear it for a day and then for the night put it into her crate so she can sleep on it. This way she will smell your scent and she will be comforted. Put in her favorite toy in there too. And of course if she wines you have to ignore her. She soon learn that she has to sit in there through out the night. She will also have nothing else to do but sleep or play with the toy that you put in there for her.

Hope your situation gets better! Good luck!

Answer 8

If she likes to play with balls or toys, play with her at night before bedtime to get rid of some of her anxieties. She also knows your pregnant and is looking out for you. You may want to take an obedience class with her or maybe even agility. She's needs something to do. Doxies are smart and energetic dogs and need a outlet. She's still a pup and with some work and fun she will be a great companion. Congrats on your pregnancy!!! Sleepless in LA;^)

Answer 9

It could be a number of things you might want to take her to the vets and have her checked to make sure it's not a health issue.
I'm wondering if she senses the changes in your body when I was pregnant my dogs were much more clingy and wanted to lay by me a lot more.

Answer 10

Try getting her a doggie bed to sleep in near your bed. That way she feels close to you at bed time but is not in the way.