How often should I be getting up to let my puppy go to the toilet during the night? He`s 9 weeks old and I`ve had him almost a week. I take him out at about 10/10.30 and he will have a wee,but no poo.I take him out again at about 2.30am.Sometimes he has weed in his crate,but will still do one when outside. Still doesn`t poo.I then go back to bed until I hear him crying...anything from 5.30 to 6am. Does a wee,but still no poo.He doesn`t do that till after breakfast at 7.30.He has his dinner at 5.30 and has no water after 7pm.Is this ok? Is there anything I can do to make him sleep longer through the night,or is it just a matter of getting up everytime he wakes me? And about what age should he be able to sleep all through the night?

Please don"t restrict your puppys water intake he should be aloud to drink when he feels thirsty. Your pup should be taken out for his last wee and poo before you go to bed. Then while he is still a baby i would get up around 6.30am and take him outside to wee. You have no need to keep getting up in the night. Pup will get used to it and will always expect to go wee at 2.30am. I am sure his breeder did not do this.
He will soon settle down but may wee in his bed at night for a while yet
no matter how often you take him out.
Good luck.

Hi

I agree that you should not limit your puppies water intake - however I disagree about not taking him out in the night if that's what he needs. At 9 weeks old he just can't go through the night. I did it with both my boys and never had any night-time accidents and they learned very quickly that all they got was to go for wee's etc and then straight to bed - no fuss, play etc, just praise for doing the stuff. They were sleeping fully through with no problems by 11 and 12 weeks.

As for poo-ing - he will not poo each time they go out. They'll usually go after eating and sometimes after play - your may need to go in the night or not - you'll find your own way with what works for your own dog.

Do make sure that the last thing you do at night is to let him out for a wee/poo and make sure he does have enough time to do both if that's what he needs - just don't let him play. As soon as any play starts, scoop him up and bring him in.

It's unusual for a dog to wet or soil their crate unless they are in it for too long - is it a big crate and he only small? If he has too much room, then it will let him section off a bit for sleeping in and a bit he can use as a loo. It could be worthwhile making the space a little smaller so he has room for sleeping and moving around but nothing more. Do let us know what your puppy is and what size crate you are using.

The main thing is NOT to restrict his water - it is very important that has access to water.

hth

Pam n the boys

Havine recently been through this, I can safely say that the pup (or ours anyway;) ) doesn't get used to going out in the night - and do give it water all the time.

We got up for ours a couple of times, a night, and after a while as their muscles grow, they sort it all out. There are different ideas on this and we all do it slightly differently. I'd want to think about why the crate may be soiled though - it's not good to start this habit. Does pup have to hold on too long?

Best of luck

Lindsay

He`s an adorable little yellow Lab pup! Not had a pup before so I`m new to all this. He doesn`t spend much time in his crate.Just night time, whenever he wants to sleep,and when I take my daughter to school.He`ll generally go in it by himself. It`s a fairly large crate,but I had a box put at the back so he didn`t have too much room. After a couple of nights he weed and pooed in it though,so I put another box in. He now has enough room to lay down with his legs stretched out ,and to have his teddy in. He still weed in it last night though,without waking me up to let him out,yet half an hour later he did cry to be let out.

I agree with leaving the water out all the time, though I know many breeders who believe in restricting water after 7pm. We took ours out about 11:30pm and then she would wake about 4 or 5 and we would take her out again. This went on for about 3 weeks then we stopped the middle of the night outings and she waited till 7:30 or so when hubby got up for work. As his bladder gets bigger she will be able to hold for longer and won't need to get up in the night - so you won't start a bad habit.

Has he actually peed in the crate or is it possibly drool? Is he bothered about being in the crate? Perhaps he woke up and peed first then called you to finish?

I know some people keep the crate in the bedroom for the first few weeks.

It's not unusual for him not to poo during the night.

Wendy

He loves his crate.Doesn`t cry at all when he`s in it during the day,or when he gets put in for the night.Would it be better to set my alarm for 3-4hr intervals at night so I can take him out before he gets the chance to soil his crate, or should I just leave it down to him to wake me up when he wants to go out? ( I`m a very light sleeper). I just don`t want him to get into the habit of thinking it`s ok to soil in his crate.

We knew when our puppy was up because she sleeps with us. I would say if you know the approx times he needs to go it might not be a bad idea to pre-empt him by using your alarm. At the very least you could check on him - if he's sleeping you could leave him - if he's 1/2 awake might be time for him to go. Certainly wouldn't hurt though I'm sure there are others who will disagree:)

I had mine sleeping in their crate by me and I was always woken by them - but then I sleep very lightly and seemed "in tune" with their clocks so was often waiting for them - I never got them up without them waking, I always waited for them to whimper and then straight up and out.

hth.

Pam n co

I now let him have access to water whenever he wants to, and last night I decided to try to leave him to wake me up,rather than set my alarm.Best nights sleep I`ve had all week. I put him out at 10.15pm,then he woke me up at 3.15am to have a wee,then not again till 7.20am.No mess at all in his crate :-)

That's brill - keep it up :):):)

Pam n the boys

Do you put newspaper in his crate? If so that could be why he is messing and I would remove the paper, if not I've no idea why he sometimes goes to the toilet as the crate should aid in house training :-)

I would let him wake you during the night when he decides he needs out and you'll find the periods of him waking you get longer and longer. Sounds like last night you made good progress but don't be surprised if he doesn't sleep as long every night. I've just recently been through this with my boy and we would find that one night he would go to bed 11.30pm and not wake until 4pm then the next night he would go to bed at 11.30pm and wake up at 2pm He obviously didn't want us getting into any habits ;-)

My Bracco was 10 months before he slept through the night. I didnt restrict his water. He had an enormous cage and continued to use papers to wee on as after a few months I could not function at work with the disturbed nights so left hm to it. He is fine now.
Diane

Dear KMitchell

Did you get your pup on the 8th feb too? Ours is also a yellow lab (9 weeks now) He just so sweet, & so busy all the time! It really is like having a new baby in the home.
Re the Sleeping through the night the first 2 nights ,I was like a walking zombie the following morning, I was getting up like you 3 times, Until I realised it was cuddles & playing oliver wanted!!
The next night he "called" at 1 pm took him out and back to bed no fuss, gave him a cuddle & said goodnight & turned the light off (stupidly I'd been leavng it on) he cried for about 15 mins & then stopped- We always leave water & teddy in crate, I normally get up at 6 in the week ( for my children-) Anway now after his last pee & cuddle about 11pm he goes off & thats it! He's been dry since we brought him home & goes to the kitchen door & cries if he needs the loo!!

The only problem I have is he's ALWAYS hungry & I have to be hard But I've started giving him apple for treats & he loves it now - Eats one a day! Its Fun isn't it!!!!

We have got a black lab who is now 11 weeks and he too is always hungry and boy do i know when it dinner time! :)

With the sleeping through the night he cried at least once a night for the first week and now we don't hear a peep out of him till we get up but he still isn't dry at night i leave newspaper down for him because i couldn't keep getting up for him as i was dead on my feet for the first week when i was getting up to him and wasn't able to work properly so i had to just leave him once he stopped crying . I think it is just all puppies are different so it is what works for you.

Wouldn't swap him for the world though! :) :) :)

Hi.I got Cooper on the 9th Feb (a day after you).He only cried for the first 2 nights.Now he goes off to sleep almost straight away and wakes up again to be let out anytime from 2.30-5am. He goes straight to the door to go outside,then back in his crate,and sleeps till exactly 7.12am. Without fail. He`s like a little alarm clock. he certainly loves his food too. His favourite word is "din dins".As soon as that is said he rushes to the kitchen and sits down waiting for his food.As soon as he sees the bowl coming down,he`ll then sit,and beg (on his bum with both front paws in the air)before he gets it. Totally adorable.Everytime he wakes up,he`ll ask to go in the kitchen as if to say "c`mon mum,it`s gotta be dinnertime".Hard work,but I love him to bits.

Hi again KMitchell
It really is hard work isn't it? Is Cooper nipping & how are you handling it ( I know they are only playing ) but my right hand is so sore! I've tried saying No & ignoring him (which does work for a while) but then when we play again, he starts again- Do you think it will just stop ?
I have two children 10 & 12, when they play with him i've told them to say NO & stand up & ignore him until he calms down. ( I never leave them alone yet) Oliver loves the children, but I'm concerned he hurts them by mistake.
Don't get me wrong he's not vicious just extreamly playful - I'd be interested to see if you are getting this.
Other than than that he is also really growing in confidence, when we originally went out to toilet in the garden , I'd say come on then. HE DID. Now he looks at me as if to say COME & GET ME! Although He also enjoys a game of football & any ball games, for a good 20 mins & then flops in his crate! He just loves being busy! All the time.........
HE aswell as ME really do need to start traing class's, after his 2nd injection.
However I know life will never be the same and I LOVE IT

Annie

Hi Annie.The boys definitely have a lot in common.My hand is covered in little teeth marks.I tried saying "ow",that didn`t work.I tried ignoring him,that didn`t work.I tried saying no and that didn`t work. Now I shout ow REALLY loudly that works most of the time.Not all though.Then again,we have just got back from the vets (for his first jab.....he`s behind schedule as he`s been having treatment for mange)and he just would not stop biting.Very embarrassing.He was doing it to me,the vet,and everything else he could find.Even growling a little. All I can think of was that he remembered the last visit where the "nasty vet" did all sorts of things to him. Settled down after she`d given him a few treats though. He too has grown in confidence. Loves going out in the garden and demolishing the plants.Refuses point blankly to come anymore unless he thinks he`ll get something to eat in return.He`ll be a total sweetheart for a treat.He knows sit,down,paw and beg so far.Still working on stay.Roll on puppy classes! Just sent off for some details about where the nearest ones are to me,so hopefully we`ll go to those after his final vaccinations.Not too sure when that will be yet,cos he may have to have a third one because his immune system isn`t too good because of the steroids he has been on. I`m not having any luck with him on a lead either. As soon as it goes on,he`ll just bite it and refuse to let go,and when I do get him to drop it,he`ll sit on his bum and refuse to go anywhere.Stubborn little monster. On the plus side though,he has been sleeping all through the night for the past 2 days.Goes out at about 10.15pm,then sleeps till 7am ish. I`m just amazed at how fast he has grown just in the couple of weeks I`ve had him. Shame they can`t stay little :-)

As far as crate training go to purina.com they have excellent advice and puppy training tips. I'm one who restricts water intake at night, and never put water in the crate. I've had occasions when the puppy would soil the crate, I just cleaned it out really well to rid the smell, than continued trying to train them, every once in awhile puppies have accidents, it's no big deal, just part of the puppy process. Just try to be very consistent and your puppy will catch on. Also their bladders are so small sometimes they just can't hold it. Don't let it get you down, pretty soon this time will be over and your puppy will not be a puppy anymore, so enjoy that baby while you can!
As far as biting I try to make my hands inaccesible, as soon as they go for them I put them behind my back or pet them a top their head, or give them something they should chew on. If really biting a lot I will run my fingers down their throat while telling them no bite. Always tell them how good they are when chewing on the thing you gave them to chew.