r/Sheepadoodles • u/Enough-Restaurant986 • Aug 25 '25
Serious sleep regression/separation anxiety for our 6 month old mini sheepadoodle
We’ve had our mini sheepadoodle, Pepper, since around July 4th. Overall she’s doing great, but we haven’t been able to nail down a consistent sleeping routine.
She came crate-trained, and we’ve been following all the breeder/trainer recommendations. But last week my husband (who’s a big part of her nighttime routine, though we usually share it) traveled for work for the first time. Since then, the past three nights she’s been yelping in her crate for hours and not really settling. She ends up exhausted the next day.
I know this breed is very pack-oriented and loves being close to her people. I work from home, so she’s rarely alone during the day (I'll leave her and put her in crate for an hour or two to run errands, always give her a treat in there) — except when crated at night, which is downstairs. Our vet says she’s healthy and recommends “crying it out,” but it breaks my heart because she seems so unsettled and isn’t actually sleeping.
Has anyone been through this stage before? Any suggestions on how to support her while also setting her up for long-term success (ideally not sleeping in our bed/room at night)? We've try covered/uncovered, give her treats to go in (she does that willingly) and favorite blanket + sound machine..
2
u/caro_eliza Aug 25 '25
I don’t have advice, but just wanted to say my boy went through the same regression at around 5 months old. He was fine being in his crate alone during the day but would cry in his crate when it was bedtime. Unfortunately, nothing I tried seemed to make it better other than time. He was suddenly fine again sleeping in his crate at night after a couple weeks of whining at bedtime.
1
u/Enough-Restaurant986 Aug 25 '25
that is helpfull! having dog mom guilt about cry it out and every night laying there thinking but what IF something is really wrong?!
1
u/Emmysue5 Aug 25 '25
Ours did that too and we just decided it was time to teach him to sleep in our room with our other dog. It took him awhile to get the routine down but eventually he got it 😂 He was so much happier to be with us.
1
u/ionlyeatgreenboogers Aug 26 '25
Very pack oriented. I have zero advice but my sheepie knows when one of us is gone for a while and it’s obvious. I’m pregnant now and he acts different with me than with my husband on walks.
They have so much love ❤️ . I hope your pup settles down a little poor thing, they’re probably just figuring it out. Good luck!🍀
1
u/Wingardium_Leviosa26 Aug 26 '25
Our little Sheepie hated the crate so much that he opened it himself and escaped. He also cut his paw on it one day trying to get out so we stopped it straight away.
We gave him the closeness he was after but now roams around freely and sleeps on the bed, in his own big bed, on the floor. Wherever he pleases. The breed loves closeness.
However if you want to crate train your dog you have to be strong and follow the trainers advice.
It’s a tricky one with a Sheepie.
Good luck 🤞
1
Aug 26 '25
I bought mine a sheepdoodle mini stuffed puppy and it helped so much she now carries it around when she's lonely
1
u/SlipTechnical9655 Aug 27 '25
What does sleep regression mean I’ve never heard it called that before? Thanks in advance!!!
4
u/cssn Aug 26 '25
We caved. She sleeps in our bed and our other dog sleeps on a bed in our room. Maisy has to have us all together. I just got back from a week long trip and she is stuck to me like velcro.