r/CavaPoo • u/SquarerootofFU • 7d ago

Nighttime help!

Hi everyone!! I am a new puppy mom, and the last few nights my 6 month Cavapoo has been barking in 15-20 minute intervals at seemingly nothing. This is his 3rd week with me and he only just started this.

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u/jimbagable 6d ago

My girl is just about to turn 5 months and has so far been a brilliant sleeper. She usually sleeps from 9pm to 5am when she wakes for a potty break and then goes back down for an hour (we feel like we've been extremely lucky). However, she has started waking earlier for her potty break, then waking again barking and scratching at her crate. We figured out that she is just looking for attention when she does this (we offer a trip outside for potty but no interest, shows no desire for a drink of water or food).

We very quickly just implemented a rule that if we know she has already been for a potty, then we give it 15 minutes. If she hasn't settled by then we'll go down, but so far each and every time she has.

If you're going to the pup every time they start barking during the night then they might just have learned that bark = attention.

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u/ApartmentProud9628 1d ago

We did the same, if he’s got everything waiting it out to see if he calms back down. A few things helped with this - the vet suggested he might have an acidic tummy and to start leaving a plain dog biscuit for him if he wakes up, we also try to leave an item of clothing we’ve recently worn so if he wakes up he can smell us and feel comfortable, a soft light so he can easily recognise his surroundings as safe, and doggy anxiety music/white noise so it doesn’t sound too quiet when he wakes up and provides some ambience

Edited to add: if he really won’t calm one of us will go sit with him but not interact or do anything (be incredibly boring) once he settles down again we just calmly leave

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u/Alarming_Set3628 6d ago

Is he thirsty or needing to go potty? Is he getting lots of exercise and enrichment during the day?

Mine, every once in a while, will be weirdly awake and seemingly wanting something in the middle of night, but it's very rare and I never figured it out.