Since it has started getting cold, Molly (20 weeks, Working Cocker) won't go outside last thing at night for a wee. Or rather, we can get her outside, but she just sits by the door wanting to come straight back in again and refuses to perform to the 'busy dog' command. The last few nights we have just had to put her into her crate for the night without her having done the business. And, amazingly, she has not had an accident in the crate at all. This means that between her last walk (around 5.00) and 6.00 -7.00 the following morning, she is holding her bladder. Am a bit surprised by this in such a young dog - is it bad for a dog to 'hold it in' for this long? Should we maybe take her on a 'bedtime' walk? I don't particularly like walking around our neighbourhood late at night so would rather not - what do other people think? (Amazing that she should be such a wimp - both her parents are working dogs, living in outdoor kennels!)

Have you tried going out with her and turning the last call into a mini walk around the garden

our dog is very different to yours, a 17 wk cavalier so prime lapdog but she is a bit precious about going outside at night! We have just had to steel ourselves with a big warm coat and stand outside with her waiting, repeating command /putting her back to her loo spot until she goes. she got the idea and now goes pretty quickly then rushes back to be let in - that's her reward!!

our pup's still not going through the night though despite this though, which is a bit annoying - i think we're going to have to restrict the size of her (admittedly very big) crate for a while to give her the message - 17 weeks and even though she's a wee dog, she should be getting that control shouldn't she?

good luck with your warmth lover!

It really depends on how long you're leaving her. If she really isn't holding it through the night maybe she just isn't ready yet. One thing you can try is to set your alarm for jsut before you think it is that she's going. Take her outside for a 'pee break' and then back in the crate. Do it at this time for a couple of nights. Then make it 1/2 hour longer for a couple and so on until you've got her sleeping through.

Wendy

I think if she were my dog I'd be inclined to pop her on her lead, pull on a warm coat, and take her in the garden on lead........... I've had the opposite problem with my OAP refusing to come in last think at night - we solved the problem by going out with her on lead....

My last cocker was exactly the same as your dog. we thought she was getting lazy in the cold nights . she did sometimes in the day but we actully found out that she was scared of the dark think leafs and wind blowing about in the winter scared her. so we put a few spot lights out and turned them on when she had to go out and it solved the problem
If its the cold she dosent like put a dog coat on and send her out;)

I would put on my jacket and go out with her. I had to do this with Tiva even when she was a year old. Now she's great at it, plus she has 4 other dogs to go out with.

Thanks for all your replies - will try taking her out in the garden on the lead tonight.