My boy has been getting up earlier and earlier these past few weeks. He's always been the type to get up with the sun, and as I have a real problem with alarm clocks <smile>, I'm somewhat grateful for this. Winter was pleasant though when it would stay dull until 8:00 some weekends.
I don't mind getting up at 6:00, or even 5:30 - it has been very pleasant not being in a rush in the morning, and I have even had time to soak in the hot tub *before* work, which is much less stressful than rushing around cursing the person (likely me) who hid my belt.
However, my little early bird is wanting to get up earlier and earlier - two mornings this week it has been 4:00, to which I strongly object when my alarm clock is not due to go off for another two hours. He is not subtle either, he comes and stands right in my face and barks his big deep demand bark. I *can't* ignore this bark at this decibel level this close to my head for as long as he is capable of keeping it up, believe me. He does not have to pee, he just wants my company. I took him outside on leash to see if he had to pee (didn't want to let him play in the back yard and reward 4am wake up calls), but he doesn't - he just wants my company, and either wants to play with me or lies down with his bone or a toy and plays quietly.
When I tell him to settle (means go lie down and be quiet) he does this for about ten or fifteen minutes, then is off again. Much like a snooze button on an alarm clock, come to think of it. I have been telling him to settle and waiting until he is quiet before I get up so I'm not directly rewarding his barking.
Given the personality of this little guy (who's 14 mos by the way) I think he's yanking my chain. I'm thinking of pulling out his x-pen and putting him in there tonight and closing my bedroom door so I don't hear him start up. He usually sleeps in the bathroom, and my bedroom door is usually open as we have a rotating cast of felines taking turns sleeping on the bed, and Cessi sleeps in the bedroom with us.
Any other ideas/suggestions? I'm getting a lot done around the house with all this extra time in the morning, but it would also be nice to still be awake when Adam (Mr. I-Can-Sleep-Through-Anything) gets home from work in the evening.
Jen Cessi (who steals my spot in bed when I get up) and Tucker (the reason I am up)
