can I hit reset?

You poor thing. I know what you are going through. I had 2 cats. a girl and a male. Even got them fixed. Every night about midnight they would get into it at the foot of our bed or on the floor at the end of our bed. the one cat was my son's but when I told him to take care of HIS cat he told me he did not want her in his room because of cat hair! REALLY? So I finally found an elderly lady take Mawmaw. I was like you just get to sleep and the next thing you know you have two cats fighting UGH! Is the dog a puppy? how long have you had him? I do know Petsmart has behavioral classes. Don't know how expensive they are. Get a kennel and put him in it every night. if you have a basement,put the kennel downstairs. If not put it in the laundry room. He has to learn who is boss and what you will and will not let it do. I woke up at 3:00too But the cat I have here at home when I go to bed, he now curls up on a pillow I put there for him above my head. He is sleeping nights now Thank God. I will not bring another 4 legged critter in here. I finally got control of my problems.

The dog's daily actions contribute to his sleep habits. You must change the whole deal to alter any of this. Do it slowly, I find 30 mins. at a time works best for our Sadie hound. I feed early or late according to how I want her sleep habit changed, exercise is also important. Remember your dog's bladder seems to be a determinating factor here. So take the dog out as late as possible for a later wake time. A dog's body works just like ours does, it forms habits according to it's needs as well as just by previous habits. Don't rush these changes and everyone will be happier. Blessings.

Reading your response above..the one solution I have would probably NOT work! I have a "doggy door", and "Brui" my dog...and"Curlew" my cat, can come and go as they please. It does have a lot of benefits...but one HUGE drawback, they can get in and out...BUT so can the Feral Cats and Raccoons..LOL! Spring and Fall, I seem to have a lot of Night Intruders, which causes "Brui" to bark! During the warmer months, is there a possibility, without to much work, to create an area where the bigger dog can stay outside? Just don't know!

you can try to change his sleeping pattern by feeding him an hour late. i have a lab and his got this sleeping pattern where he'll wake up before 6am and i need to be on his kennel before he wakes up so i can arrange his food and clean it.

I suggest you to take him for a walk late in the evening. Half an hour of walking or (even better!) playing around. This usually makes a dog tired enough to sleep until everybody gets up in the morning. This also means he will keep himself from going potty in the house early in the morning.

I wish you could.. lol. Just try then and keep your spirit up. HHE

Wow that is a problem...I hope you can find some resolution to the problem....I don't know how to change the habits of your pet......maybe if you put him in a kennel things might change..that's the only thing I know that might help!

Pergamanno gave you the perfect solution if you have a fenced back yard. I don't know how your house is set up but if you have a sliding glass door there are dog doors that will fit in one. You can also put one in a back door. Gus wakes me up every morning right about the time your dog does! Only he's just back from outside and wants under the covers to get warm. I look forward to summer when he doesn't do this! He'll still go outside but won't want to get right next to me for warmth. I feed my dogs at 4:30. If you're home, try gradually feeding him earlier and earlier. It might help. But a dog door is really your only solution.