5 reasons to wake up at 5am

It's dark outside. The rest of the world is still asleep. But you are awake. Let's explore why...

Dogs understand time- we know this. But sometimes our dogs give us a reason to wake up a little earlier than we would in an ideal world.

Reason 1 - Your new puppy is crying.

Bringing a new puppy home is stressful all around - for you, for your family, for the puppy, for any existing dogs in your home. A young puppy who has just left its mother and littermates is trying to make sense of their world. They are reeling and scared; overwhelmed with new scents, environments, expectations and rules. The first night - or even the first week or two- can be difficult for puppies. Puppies need time to adjust to the new household routine, and this often results in early morning cries and howling. Give your puppy a bit of grace and treat them with the patience you would hope someone else would extend to you in a similarly disorienting situation.

Reason 2 - one of your dogs has a sick tummy

We've all been there, and if you haven't, you will be someday. You hear your dog crying and by the time you reach their crate or bed or the door they have vomited (or worse) on your carpet. Bonus points if you step in it in the dark before you realize that's what the issue is. Take a deep breath, pat your dog's head, croon to them that it's okay, and start cleaning it up. (Check out my tips for maintaining floors with a dog in previous posts.) This unfortunate event does have a silver lining. After you clean everything up and make sure your dog is finished being sick, settle them in a quiet area of your home and spend some time cuddling them. Dogs are very similar to us when we do not feel good, and often just want someone to snuggle them and tell them it's all going to be okay.

Reason 3 - You have a special event

AKC and UKC Sporting events can spike your adrenaline or anxiety. You may be so excited you literally cannot sleep. My advice is to take a deep breath, envision your run or ring being perfectly executed, and then get up and eat a good breakfast. Maybe take your dog for a relaxing sunrise walk and give yourself the chance to mellow out before you head to your event.

Reason 4 - It's Vacation Time!

If you are anything like me, driving somewhere in the dark early hours is not appealing. But, dog sports and events often require a bit of travel, and occasionally I do have to wake up early to make sure I get on the road so we arrive in time. I am becoming an expert at traveling with 4 dogs and I do my best in these situations to pack as much as I can into the car the night before and make my morning as easy as I can.

Reason 5 - You want to spend time with your dog before your workday begins.

I don't know about you, but my dogs are one of the best parts of my day. Spending time with them calms me, charms me, and relaxes me. Spending a bit of time in the morning letting my dogs romp in the yard while I watch the sunrise is one of my favorite ways to meditate. Okay, "meditate" may not be the best way to phrase this, but I enjoy spending some time in the quiet before the day begins while watching my pups enjoy being pups.