How can we break this cycle?

I think we might have created a monster.

Lilly has not slept through the night in the longest time. When she first started doing this, we thought she might be thirsty, so we would keep a glass of water next to the bed and offer it to her when she would get up. She would take a drink and then go back under the covers. These water breaks have become more and more frequent. It's usually at midnight, 2 and 4:15-ish. We have tried not keeping the glass there, but she will just step on our heads and sniff around on our night tables. She will then go to the edge of the bed and just sit there, like she has to go out. She doesn't have to go out, though. We've tried taking her our and she'll just run around the backyard like a loon.

We are slowly losing our patience with this and we accept responsibility, but we need a solution for it. We are hesitant to crate her because she's crated during the day while we are at work. We have tried crating her several times at night, but she will wake up and whine halfway through the night.

What can we do? We love having her sleep in the bed with us, but we haven't slept through the night since about Christmas time. I'm at my witts end here.

Re: How can we break this cycle?

I am assuming she is too little to get on and off the bed by herself. Have you thought about getting doggie stairs? They have ones you can put next to the bed so little dogs can get up and down by themselves. Then she could get down and get water if she is thirsty without waking you.

Re: How can we break this cycle?

My sister keeps a water dish in her bedroom, this way if her dog gets thirsty, she just jumps down and gets it.

Re: How can we break this cycle?

I keep a cup on my night stand as well but Lola can reach it and drink... But many nights she gets up and sits at the edge of the bed (or is just up all night) But I have seen a pattern and know why she does it.. It only happens when she has slept all day long and if I go out again at night.. She has nothing else to do but sleep when I am not home.. So if I dont take her for a long walk or try to exhaust her before I go to bed its all over for me.. She cant sleep.. I take her to my moms house alot if I am out all day and then have to do something at night again just for this reason.. My Mother thinks i am crazy but I know I am going to be up all night if I dont..

Re: How can we break this cycle?

You may have to just try to ignore her all night, consistently until she gets the message that you guys aren't going to give her water or let her out or pay attention to her if she gets up at night. I know that's hard (especially if she's stepping on your heads!!) but she'll learn eventually...

Also, have you thought about getting her a doggie bed on the floor? That way she's not crated, but she's also not right in your bed, waking you up if she wants to sit there awake at some point.