[LW21]

I have a 4 month old cocker spaniel puppy and I’m just a little bit worried about him. He’s a boisterous little boy (as expected with a spaniel and a puppy) but we’ve noticed he just can’t and won’t settle - EVER. He is crate trained and will stay in the crate over night with little to no crying but through the day, unless he’s put in his crate for a nap, he will not self regulate and just nap when he needs it. This is turning him into quite the nightmare as he becomes over tired and gets a little bit aggressive - a toddler having a tantrum comes to mind. He growls and warns us if he’s told off or picked up if he’s getting into something he shouldn’t.

We’ve installed a camera to monitor him whilst we aren’t there, and at night. Through the night he’s awake nearly every hour, just changing positions and he’s a very light sleeper so awake at every noise he hears. He doesn’t really cry but I just want to know if this is normal or if I need to do something or get him checked at the vet.

I know he’s still very young but I just want to make sure I’m not missing anything or if there’s something we need to nip in the bud.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[BigBlackDog]

More exercise! More human engagement is what your puppy needs!

 

[JoanneF]

The problem with exercise though is that at 4 months, you are limited to about 20 minutes at a time until he is skeletally mature.

But - training tires them out, and there are plenty of things you can do with that.

I'd start with settle -

And there are loads of other videos from Kikopup too.

Also, impulse control is very useful -

 

[BigBlackDog]

That whole premise, 5 minutes per month of age for exercise, is wrong! When my puppy was 4 months she could easily run for an hour, and loved it!

I think if you're "forcing" the exercise it's probably a good metric to keep in mind, but different breeds have different needs.

I have a German Shepherd, known for hip issues later in life, and a large dog so matures slower. Growth plates close at 18 to 24 months. Still, she was perfectly fine running and playing for an hour or more at 4 months.

She's 5 yrs old now, no hip or backend problems. I think the 5 minutes per month of age thing is overly protective and too general to be of much use. Are Chihuahuas and rat terriers and Great Danes the same, requiring the same exercise?

When my dog was young we'd go out for an hour and she'd sleep for 3. As she got older we'd go out for 3 and she'd sleep for 1.

I think if your dog has trouble settling, it's not getting enough exercise.

 

[Madra Anamchara]

The key here is how much that specific dog needs. I think any rule that is rigid, like the five minutes per month rule, is going to be flawed and at times inaccurate.

It's very important to remember that "exercise" isn't always running. It is playing, learning tricks, being taught manners, going for a walk, a puzzle toy......it is anything that engages the dog with the human being in a fun or enjoyable manner. Often people do a lot of physical things but neglect the mental exercise with dogs, and it's every bit as important.

 

[JoanneF]

I accept the 5 minute per month is a guide, and applies to forced exercise. But because you don't see the effects of over-exercising until much later - even after the age of 5 - I would apply caution.

 

[LW21]

Thanks for your replies. I am walking him for 20 mins a day and then just his mad running round the house and the garden so I can’t really make him exercise much more than that. His problem is just knowing when to settle down and just falling asleep as he’s always on the go until he forced to nap in his crate. He will literally sit up with his eyes closing but still want to be playing or chewing something!

I’ll try abs teach him the settle command.

In terms of being restless through the night, does anyone have any advice on this or is this normal??

 

[JoanneF]

Is this all night? Where does he sleep (or should sleep)?

 

[LW21]

Is this all night? Where does he sleep (or should sleep)?

Pretty much every hour he’s up, changing position etc. My camera notify me when he moves and it is about every hour ish. He doesn’t cry or anything just wakes up looks around and moves. He sleeps in his crate in our living room down stairs. He doesn’t seemed stressed about sleeping in there because he doesn’t cry and happily hops in at bed time but it worries me that because he’s not getting a full nights sleep, he’s overly tired through the day. I just don’t know whether it’s normal or not!

 

[JoanneF]

If he settles again after changing position, I wouldn't worry.

But I know not worrying is easier said than done, I used to stay awake listening to make sure my puppy was still breathing.

 

[CachetheBC]

My border collie, Cache was like that as a pup, the more tired he got the more wound up - a 'sonic dog' -he became. Nap times were encouraged, giving him things to do that would simply require him to 'slow down' physically, helped him to slow down, and relax - mentally.
Teaching him to 'settle' was part of the 'program' in learning to find that 'off switch'.
Go Settle | Victoria Stilwell Positively

Being unable to settle and calm themselves during the day, makes it difficult for them to settle at night. Something to consider is whether he may be too hot at night, puppies can sometimes have difficulty regulating their body temperature and will shift around trying to find a cooler spot/position to lay in. If he is a light sleeper, perhaps consider running a fan on low, or leaving a radio on at very low volume can help to muffle other sounds that may be disturbing his sleep and even during the day when he is awake.

Other things that helped achieve the goal of learning to calm himself, were feeding at least part of every meal from a Kong, I started with 'easy' slightly soaked kibble, that would easily come out, over time, once he figure out how to get the food out, I started partially freezing the Kongs, and worked to frozen Kongs. Interactive toys, like the Kong wobbler, hollow balls that you can put kibble in and the dog needs to roll the ball around to get the food out, snuffle mats, appropriate chews, (sometimes I would smear a little yogurt or peanut butter on them), were always available to him. Short walks, (three or four times) a day where he can simply sniff and explore the world worked well to tire him - slow him down. Playing the 'find it' game out in the yard, (a small handful of kibble tossed in grass, for him to seek out) helps in using their brains, their noses and to learn to 'think' and 'focus'.
Naptimes/quiet times - were part of his regular routine, when he started 'winding up' I would put him in the x-pen with a Kong, or other stuffed toy to work on. If he will settle in his crate and nap during the day, consider encouraging him to do so, often - every couple of hours (where practical) could help to minimize the 'crazies' from being over tired.
Take heart, you do have a normal puppy, he just needs some help to learn to find his 'off switch'!

 

[CachetheBC]

Something that worked well for my over active pup, was to simply mark (yes) and reward with a 'Thank you!' (tiny treat) any offered behaviors that I liked, increasing the chances that he would 'think' and choose those behaviors again.
It is human nature to focus on behaviors that we don't want to see from our pups, and neglect to let them know, say 'Thank you!' when they are offering behaviors that we do want them to repeat. If we can make the effort to reward the good stuff, the unwanted behaviors, will in time, happen less often and, in time, you will have a more calm and focused dog, who can more easily find that 'off switch' when we need them to.