We`ve had our puppy Daisy, for 5 days, she`s nearly 14 weeks old. I`ve been setting the alarm clock for 3 am to take her outside to go to the toilet. How long should I go on doing this for ? 

Err...never?

Maybe I missed that bit in the puppy book but I certainly wasn't setting the alarm to take the dog out

So I'm not saying that I know what I'm doing (although I've never heard this method before), but trust me you can housetrain a puppy without having to set the alarm - if my dog wanted a wee in the night she'd let me know soon enough (even when she was sleeping downstairs) - I would be worried you are creating a habit for the future...

Hi Lyn,  Ha she been dry up till 3am? Is she awake when you go to get her or still asleep?  Try setting the alarm a quarter of an hour later each night and see how you get on. If Daisy is dry, then set alarm a little later, and so on until you reach your normal rising time. To be honest, this is not something I would have started, as she may think this is normal and become her routine, and you will have made a rod for your own back. But since you have, it seems sensible just to lengthen the time span a little each night.   However, if she does start to whimper, I would suggest leaving her a few minutes, it may be for the attention that she is getting used to at this hour, then take her out, wait till she 'goes' and take her immediately back to her bed.  No playtime!!!!
Kay

Hi Lyn,

During housetraining both of ours as pups we got up to them in the night to let them out.  Both were in the bedroom (still are!) and would wake us themselves when they needed a wee.  We just picked the pup up, downstairs and out for a wee, then right back upstairs and the pup popped back into it's bed.  The time that they asked to go out got later and later and it didn't take very long at all for them to be going all night and not disturbing us.  However, I can see why you went for using an alarm clock, perhaps you were worried you wouldn't wake :) 

Where is your puppy sleeping?  If she's in the room with you, quite honestly, I'd take the chance tonight and just not set your alarm and see if she wakens naturally and lets you know she needs out.  If she's in another part of the house I would reckon that KayC's advice is very good - because ours were in the bedroom and were naturally asking to go out we knew at any given time how long they could last.  This would have been much harder if they had been in another part of the house.

We found that getting up to ours in the night for housetraining purposes worked well for us and it didn't lead to them thinking that they could wake us at will for any other reason.  Even now if one of us gets up for the loo they know to just stay in their beds as it isn't a cue for them to be getting up :D

Good luck,

Lesley

I would say exactly the same as Lesley. We have had our Bichon from 7 weeks old and hes always slept in his basket in our room. At first it was up 2 or 3 times a night without setting an alarm. They let you know when they want a wee. This got less often until all night was achieved  :-)
Now , like Lesley, the whole house could be having an allnight party and you would find him curled up in his basket.
Good luck

I did exactly the same as you...set my alarm for 3 and took the pup out for a wee. I found it better than waiting for pup to wake with a full bladder, as pup was still sleepy enough to go straight back to bed without wanting to play :D  I gradually extended the time to 3 30. then 4 00 and then to all night as  the pups blader got bigger. It certainly worked for me!