My dog wakes me up earlier and earlier for our morning walk.

Question
4 months ago, my wife and I adopted a 1 year old beagle mix from our local animal shelter. After dealing with 2 months of separation anxiety we believe she's finally realizing that we aren't leaving her forever anytime we step out of her sight. I get up early every morning around 5:30, take a shower, and then take her for a mile long walk. This has been our schedule for months. However, now she's waking up and crying earlier and earlier. She now wants me to take her for a walk at 4AM. That's way too early for me! It's not even a case of her needing to do her business outside. Some days she won't do anything until the end of the mile walk. We do also take her for a mile long walk at 9:30 PM figuring this would help her sleep through the night. But as I said, She wants to be up earlier and earlier, and seems more interested in chasing birds or playing when she goes for her walk. Help! I need to sleep in!

Answer
This is a common problem without a good solution in some cases.  Part of the trouble could be morning sun coming in where she sleeps.  Room darkening shades or moving her to another part of the house might help.  Also eliminate a coffee pot on a timer or other such things to wake her or give her a clue.  We once discovered our plant grow light came on at 5 AM alerting out dog to it being morning.  Once I figured out what was happening, trust me, the timer was reset quickly.  

I finish too many night's sleep on the sofa in the room where our one dog sleeps.  I come down about 5:30, make her lie down, and then lay down on the sofa.