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Canine Behavior/Sleeping Separately

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Expert: - 10/7/2008


Question
Hello Jill,

I am the proud owner of 2, pure-bred Shih Tzu's.

My male is 7 years old and my female is 3 years old.

They have recently been to the vet, and passed their examinations with flying colors!

My question for you is this:

Both of my dogs used to share space in my room, sleeping either on the floor or in their kennels. However, sometimes up to 5 times a night and EVERY NIGHT, I am awakened by them grooming, sniffing around the floor and so on, leaving me with virtually NO CONSISTENT SLEEP at night.

So, I decided to try and put them into their own room, across the hallway from me.

This has only been in affect for 3 nights, and so far, it has not worked out in my favor! For example, before I go to sleep in my room, I let the dogs outside to the bathroom and then I put them in their new-room (they go willing), turn on their night-light and shut the door. Within only 2-3 hours, they are both whining and scratching at the door; leaving me once again, re-awakened at night several times!

I am hoping you can help me find a way so we ALL can get a good night's sleep. Thank-you Jill.

Best Wishes,

Tina, Chicco & Cookie
Sleepless in Saskatoon, Canada


Answer
ah HA!!! Cookie is SLEEPING IN YOUR ROOM!  See what it got you? lol

There's no reason your dogs cannot, and will not, learn to sleep soundly in their own space (dogs with their OWN ROOM! after all.)  Unfortunately, just as teaching a human baby to sleep through the night (with tons of guilt I might add from experience!), this will require you to be awakened several times but this too shall pass.  If you do NOT RESPOND for any reason (verbally, getting up and going to the door, or in any way interacting with them), their anxiety and unhappiness with this turn of events will self extinguish.  Buy yourself a white noise device and a container of ear plugs, if necessary.  Feel all the guilt that makes you happy! but DO NOTHING about it.  It's better (given Cookie's developing bossiness of Chicco) for them both to sleep separately from you.  Nothing wrong with it!

Canine Behavior

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Jill Connor, Ph.D.

Expertise

I have spent my entire professional life rehabilitating the behavior of the domestic dog and I can answer any question regarding any behavior problem in any breed dog. If you are a caring, committed owner and need advice, I'm here for you. THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES for serious behavioral issues; not only is it unprofessional to offer same, it is also unethical. IF I ASK YOU SUBSEQUENT QUESTIONS, I NEED YOU TO INTERACT WITH ME. More information equals more credible answers and a more successful outcome. If you want ANSWERS THAT WORK, participate in any way I request. I'm quite committed to working on this site for YOUR benefit and the benefit of YOUR DOG. Help me in any way you can.

Experience

30 years of solving serious behavior problems in domestic dogs; expert in dog to human aggression; Internet columnist for ThePetChannel.com for 5 years; former radio talk show host, WHPC.FM, Garden City, NY "Bite Back" (1995 through 2000). List owner, international animal behavior experts, K9Shrinks@egroups.com. Seminar leader: "Operant Conditioning and Learning"; "Aggression in The Domestic Dog"; "Solving Problem Behaviors" -- conducted for various training facilities on Long Island from 1993 through 2000. Former clinical director of "Behavioral Abnormalities" in conjunction with Mark Beckerman, DVM, Hempstead, New York.

Organizations
Member, APDT (UK); Psychologists in Ethical Treatment with Animals

Publications
Harcourt Brace Learning Direct: "The Business of Dog Training" "The Fail Safe Dog: Brain Training, not Pain Training"

Education/Credentials
Ph.D., UC Berkeley

Past/Present Clients
Board of Directors: Northeast Dog Rescue Connection; The Dog Project; Sav-A-Dog Foundation; etc. Pro Bono counselor: Little Shelter Humane Society My practice is presently limited to forensics. I diagnose cause of dog bite, based upon testimony before the Court, for attorneys and insurance companies litigating dog bites, including fatal injuries. I also do pro bono work for bona fide rescue organizations, humane societies, et al, regarding such analysis in an effort to obtain release for dogs being held for death in municipal shelters in the US.

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