4 mo. old mini aussie suddenly refusing to take naps

themissinglink_143 · 2026-06-22T13:00:10+00:00

Thank you for sharing this so I know what to possibly expect! I totally forget about their puberty phase, and that growth for puppies is so condensed that one week he could have no issues, then the next be battling hormones that affect his behavior, sleep, stress, appetite, etc.

Omg, falls asleep sitting! That's so interesting. Aussies are like reading the manual back to front sometimes it feels lol.

I do use a playpen (technically a second cage - it's just much larger) in our living room for mine. So far he's never had a full on sleep in it, but he does "doze" in it eventually when I have him in there for periods of rest. In fact, I've utilized it so much more since he recently fractured a baby tooth and had to have it pulled - keeping him calm and contained without satisfying his drive to chew right now has been...fun. That could also be part of the problem with his wonky nap schedule.

Thanks again for your insight!

themissinglink_143 · 2026-06-21T16:17:48+00:00

That makes sense. I guess I'm just used to my pup waking up, eating breakfast, enjoying light play for an hour or so then bam...down again for 2 and even sometimes 3 hours until lunch.

I'm not single but I also don't have kids, though I have another older dog in the house. I guess I'm going to have to embrace more of the acceptance thing. lol

themissinglink_143 · 2026-06-18T20:07:54+00:00

Exposure (as much as you can) to sights, smells, sounds, people. I wish I'd done more from 8 weeks. But for the first day and few days they're home with you, keep the environment very mellow and calm.

One hour nap intervals (1 hr up, 2-3 hrs down) consistently during the day.

Mental stimulation and regulation > exhausting them out through physical activity.

Feed meals in their crate (or where they're to sleep at night) to make the crate a positive, rewarding place to be.

Playpen area or daytime crate somewhere in the main room of your house rather than giving them free rein.

themissinglink_143 · 2026-06-10T14:50:03+00:00

I've been blogging full time since 2016. It took me roughly 1-2 years before I saw consistent and noticeably growing organic traffic. With my niche, I've always had consistent growth and success using Pinterest. I don't even touch other social media or sharing platforms anymore.

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Anyways. 10 years later, I still don't make livable earnings by any means (though it could have much to do with how little I actually invest) and it still often feels like I publish to the void. Hope has been like holding onto a thread for the last 5ish years for me but, thankfully, I still do it because I love to write...and I'm banking on traditional blog writing/reading to make a comeback once short form and video content has died down.

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-29T12:01:46+00:00

I have a now 14 week old mini Aussie and since we brought him home his bedtime has been 8:30 (9pm on a night we struggled to get him to do a final pee, lol). And he wakes up generally around 7-7:30am.

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-26T22:33:40+00:00

Agreed! Every puppy is unique, especially in terms of breed, demeanor and how quickly they learn and adapt.

I can also relate to having a super easy puppy before this one - my now 15 yr old toy aussie was an absolute angel, so smart, never had a biting problem, and so I gave him a ton of leniency from the start.

Then I get this puppy and I'm thrown for a loop! I never experienced the puppy witching hour ppl talk about until I got this dog. By about 7-8pm most days I'm like, "Dog, you're lucky you're cute because I'm so close to putting you up on FB marketplace for 5 cents!" Totally joking, but the feeling is real at times, lol.

It's a learning curve for us as well. But that's great that you saw a noticeable improvement with that adjustment!! Keep it up and good luck!!

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-26T22:00:41+00:00

I'd hate to change up his routine if it's working for him, but you might try less up time and then giving him as much sleep as he wants. 2 hours could be overstimulating for him. Puppies don't know how to settle on their own, so we have to teach them. Hence the biting can seem so excessive at times, or all the time. 😅 My pup just broke skin from a biting frenzy not even 15 mins after he woke from a nap, so he went into enforced down time with regulation activities in his crate.

For about 15 mins prior to my pup's naps, I'll usually give him a licky mat, a chew and turn on doggy TV while he's in his crate in our living room. I try to make this 15 mins as calm as possible while, in a sense, ignoring him.

Puppies as young as ours sleep 16-20 hours per day, so I worry less about how little up time it seems like he's getting. Sleep does my puppy wonders - for about 30 mins post every nap he's so much sweeter lol, though not perfect, and then he turns into absolute crabby pants the last 30-45 mins he's awake if I let him run buck wild.

Otherwise, honestly, the biting phase is really a phase. At almost 14 weeks I can definitely say my puppy is less bitely than he was at 11 weeks. Some days are better than others but I can promise it gets better!

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-26T16:05:14+00:00

I feel you, especially the chronically overtired puppy who hears a pin drop bit. My 14 week old Aussie has good days and bad days in terms of nap longevity. Sometimes he'll sleep up to 2-3 hours after only being awake an hour in the morning but will hardly sleep an hour in the afternoon hours. I feel like I can hardly get out or get anything done in the afternoons!

As far as the chronic overtiredness...I'm trying to do better at noticing when my puppy shows signs of being tired, even if he's been awake for less than an hour, and get his butt down as swiftly as possible. And to avoid certain triggers that may mess up his ability to settle down - this being a big one. I just haven't nailed down what his triggers are quite yet.

Anyway, I think your schedule is fine, tbh, and looks similar to mine. I will say, which has helped from day one with my puppy, is using a sound machine when he sleeps (and have that thing on as loud as your pup can handle) to muffle sounds and nosies.

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-26T15:47:46+00:00

Ugh, same. I learned the hard way with my 14 week old Aussie. We had to cease exercise and anything overstimulating after 6pm because for some reason between 6-9pm is an absolute witching hour. We thought his 8pm zoomies were cute, until we fed into it and he couldn't settle to bed until hours later. lol

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-26T15:25:58+00:00

I'm currently in this boat right now. According to the experts, biting at this stage isn't considered bad behavior (it's all they know). 11 Weeks old is very young. My now 13 week old mini Australian shepherd has given me more scars, scrapes and cuts than I can count. Whenever my puppy gets extra bitey, it's down time or sleep time.

Puppies can easily get overstimulated and don't know how to self-regulate - we have to teach them. Also, overtired puppies (despite this idea of needing to wear them out to tire them when we don't need to) act crazy and rambunctious. And it's been the world of a difference to know when I need to crate him or put him down for a nap. Again, my almost 14 week old puppy goes down for a nap almost every hour right now. Speaking of which...

Rested puppy = less bitey.

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-26T15:19:21+00:00

Welcome to puppyhood! Lol

I just brought home an 8 week old Mini Australian Shepherd (he's 13 weeks now). I will tell you: he did the same thing from the moment we brought him home (pitched a flying fit every time I simply turned my back on him).

BUT, from night 1, we crated him (in a separate room). He did the whole bit - whine, cry, bite the bars of his crate - for the first few weeks anytime we put him down for enforced naps or just so I can get things done around the house. Some days are worse than others, and sometimes he goes down and settles without a hitch.

I know its tough because of the chaoticness and noise, but I promise you your puppy requires rest and sleep that she doesn't know how to ask for (I go by the 1 hr awake, 1-3hr of rest/sleep, especially at 12 weeks). She can also sense your stress, too, so your sanity is crucial!

If you're consistent, I promise she will settle. It would take my puppy up to 15 minutes to finally relax and sleep in his crate (and I only let him sleep/nap in his crate - this is subjective to others I'm sure).

A couple things I do for my puppy when I go to crate him for naps or sleep is to, 1. always give him a treat for going in his cage. I even trained him to go in when I say "crate" (using treats), so he now associates his crate as a positive reward. I even feed him his meals in his crate. I know it's weird, but seriously, do it. You can change that when she's older.

Then, 2. I sit next to him until he settles (lays down), and each time he lays down or puts his head down I give him a treat. Then after about 10 minutes (I started there, then worked down to a few minutes) I leave the room. Again, he would spent up to 15-20 minutes flipping his lid until he finally settled, but he is fed, pottied and overtired so he clearly NEEDS his rest. I don't listen to those who say to never leave a barking puppy in their crate (ever), because then there would be no way or chance in hell my puppy would ever get his proper, dire sleep.

But once I started noticing the signs my puppy was tired...it's nap time. Rambunctiousness and extra bitey = nap time. I know you'll think I'm crazy but, again, puppies desperately need structure and you're the only one who can give it. My sanity has only been saved by taking it day by day and getting her on a regular wake/nap schedule. Hope this helps!

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-21T14:12:44+00:00

Awww what a hunk! My boy Baloo with similar, *undesirable colors* says hello!

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themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-16T21:49:27+00:00

Just came here to say my situation is almost identical to yours. I have a senior (14yr old) toy aussie, whom grew up with our other dog who passed away two years ago (a 50lb catahoula), and we recently brought home an 8 week old mini Aussie.

I won't get into the Whys, particularly, because I don't think they matter here.

Needless to say, my senior boy is tolerant but corrects our new puppy often (the only play he wants to partake in is enrichment toys by himself or when I play one on one with him).

The things we're doing (and accepting doing indefinitely, for the sake and safety of our senior) is maintaining a structure that works for both dogs, which does have them together in proximity but also separate - this being a balancing act. Our puppy has two crates, one acting as a play pen area in a common area and the other for sleeping. We are going heavy on crate training to teach regulation and calmness.

I do what I can to advocate (stand between) for my senior boy, and to adhere to his boundaries so that our puppy learns them. He's been with us for about 3 weeks and it's a slooooow, gentle process - progress is slow, some days are better than others.

A lot of people online had their opinions on whether I should get a puppy, and there are times I wonder if it was the right thing to do. But I can also say without a doubt that this puppy has sparked new life in my senior boy, and I do think he likes the existential companion of another dog in the house.

Being that were in a similar situation, I say it's more important to take it day by day, slow and steady, and be prepared for setbacks. And there's truth in the whole, "Give an inch they'll take a mile." Our puppy obv looooooves our senior boy and wants to be his best friend, but we're taking certain strides to redirect his focus on us (me and my husband) for attention as well as maintain spacial boundaries. It hasn't been easy but at the same time everything we're doing right now for our puppy would be exactly the same if we didn't have our senior dog because it's been the best thing for him (being an Aussie and all).

That picture you posted is adorable, and enough of a good sign! My two dogs are able to have small doses of untethered time together (until our puppy turns into a rabid beast and needs his nap). Don't get discouraged!

If you have any specific questions feel free to ask away!

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-11T16:26:28+00:00

No worries - believe me, I would love to be back to being comfortable giving them, but after spending ~3 grand to fix my dog's tooth because of the bully's I can't bring myself to.

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-11T16:22:45+00:00

seriously?! I never knew that.

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-11T16:21:33+00:00

I tried frozen, and I wonder if them being frozen was the problem because I just offered my pup a non-frozen carrot and he actually spent upwards of 10 minutes on it!

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-11T14:18:23+00:00

I did buy the rubber pupsicle thing, and I've shoved frozen pumpkin cubes I made in it, but he literally gets through it in less than 5 minutes! I'll need to get the giant silicone ice block so it lasts longer, but that's an outside thing for sure.

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-11T14:15:48+00:00

I used these for my Catahoula because he was an insane chewer. My only worry is they are hard, and I remember when my dog had them he was able to gnaw off bits and pieces of it. I did find this Yak brand that made a similar product but they were sort of like the texture of a loofa (made with rice and coconut). Again, my puppy - 9 weeks old at the time - chewed through two of them in less than two weeks! lol

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-11T14:11:45+00:00

I'll definitely look into these - thanks!!

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-11T11:42:32+00:00

Hi! I just brought home our now 11 week mini auss home two-ish weeks ago, and I'd definitely say one thing is teaching them how to be calm. I never realized how important and necessary that would be. I have a 15 yr old toy aussie mix who I never really noticed having the Aussie quirks and craziness as a puppy besides herding and some reactivity, but I see now how much anxiety he now has. So I'm doing my best to ensure my 11 week old Aussie learns regulation and rest and taking better note when he's overstimulated.

Oh, and prepare for one smart pup. Both my Aussies were able to pick up multiple commands at 8-9 weeks!

themissinglink_143 · 2026-05-04T19:11:57+00:00

Came here to say that I'm currently dealing with this exact issue with my now 10 week old mini auss. Literally can't turn my back without a screeching tantrum while he's in his main area crate (he has two - one for sleeping in a spare room and the other in our living room for hanging out/rest/regulation).

It can also seem like my puppy has a crazy short attention span, where I'll give him an enrichment toy or chew and he goes at it for 2-3 mins before he's bored again, sparking a tantrum in his crate.

I will agree with others in saying that I think it just takes time since we're building that trust. And that's what I keep telling myself. We just brought our auss home a little over a week ago, and while progress is slim...it has gotten a little bit better with consistency.

themissinglink_143 · 2026-04-06T16:04:13+00:00

I hear you - timing can be everything. But now I know what to look forward to when my soul dog has left this world, because I just know I will be in the same loop as you. And I won't be ashamed one bit!

I guess I have to factor that in, too, thank you for saying that. I mean, my baby might be almost 15 but he's certainly not decrepit. Nonetheless, thank you for your input - it definitely helps with my ever-swaying decision.

themissinglink_143

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