Our puppy is now 17 weeks.  We got her at 8 weeks and other than the first few nights she has settled really well at night from 11 to about 6.30.  Having said that the last 3 nights she has woken up crying between 1 and 3 in the morning??  I have then been going down and settling her.  She has never had to go out for a wee in the night so hopefully she won't start now!

Any ideas what the problem might be and how can I avoid broken sleep!?!?  Its hard to ignore the crying as I have 2 children who I don't really want to be woken up.

Many thanks

Sarah

She may need 'the loo'.
I would suggest going down when she crys, do not give her much attention as in stroking and talking to her, take her outside for a toilet then put her back in her bed and go back to bed.
Maybe take her water away from her when you go to bed so that she does not drink more and then need the toilet

I agree that if she has been sleeping through and is now waking up, it is probably because she is improving in her toileting habits, and therefore wanting to go outside, which is why she cries. It is a good thing, and as soon as she can hold on all night, she should sleep through again.

I don't agree with taking her water away in the night though, dogs should have water freely available at all times, and if she is dry at night because she hasn't had a drink, that is not the same as being dry due to bladder control. I also think it will be counter productive and prevent her obtaining proper bladder control at night.

As long as its not too warm, they can do with 'little' water through the night (after all they should be asleep ;) ) just don't leave a big bowl full.
Try as others have said, if she cries just go down and put her out, no talking to her or making a fuss, even if thats not what she wants to do. Then put her back to bed and go back yourself. If she is crying for the loo then thats a good thing, but if its just for attention then if putting her out is all she is going to get she will soon realise its not worth waking you ;)

I don't really understand why she would start waking up again though??  If she had been sleeping through why would she regress backwards again??

imagine waking up in the night really thirsty after a bowl of complete food and not being able to have a good long drink :(

I liken it to waking up after a night on the wine and not being able to gulp a pint of water ;)

I wouldn't be at all happy with depriving any animal of water.

I would never deprive a pup of water.  They will only drink if they need it ;)

She could be waking up because of a noise,  or she could be waking up because she needs the loo.  Is she weeing more during the day?  Some bitch pups can have a water infection around this age which will need antibiotics (combination of squatting close to the ground and immature 'bits' according to my vet)  She could be hungry and need more food before bedtime.  Or she could just be missing you.

Without more information it would be impossible for anyone here to actually know the reason ;)

Is she warm enough ?. When my dog was a pup he stayed in the kitchen overnight and we realised after the first couple of nights that the room became quite chilly when the heating was lowered and he'd wake up. He'd been used to the warmth of his mother I guess. Anyway, each night I wrapped a hot water bottle up in an old t-shirt (too hot otherwise) and placed it uner his blanket. He was fine after that.

Val

  Yes the cold is distrubing the little one ,but most puppies seem to take one stage forward and two back .
  It will sort it self .....if she needs to toilet then put her out accompanied and then place pup back to bed it will get better.
  Says me who is about to get a pup....... just as soon as I find the right one.
 
   Jill