3am Poop???

[Moe]

My goldendoodle is 13 weeks old. She has been sleeping through the night 8:30 (can't keep her up any later, she just can't make it) to about 5:30-6am since we got her at 8 weeks. The last few nights she has been getting up at 3am to poop. I feed her at 8am, 12pm and 5-5:30pm. I take away the food and water at 6pm. She was getting puppy chow when we got her, I waited two weeks before switching to Orijen puppy food. Right now she is getting 1/2 of each. I'm planning on cutting back the puppy chow to 1/4 this week. She has been doing great with the Orijen.

I read in a few dog books that dogs metabolism shuts down while they are sleeping and they will not go in the middle of the night. So much for the dog books. She is in a crate in the family room. When she wakes up she barks / cries til I take her out. She gets right to business then goes pretty much right back to sleep. I'm usually up for an hour or so after that. :(

My question is, am I feeding her at the wrong times or something? Should I try feeding her later or just wait it out and hope these nocturnal potty breaks just stop on their own. What time did you guys feed your puppies when they were 13 weeks?

[Moe]

She usually doesn't go after dinner. I've tried keeping her out for a longer time, no luck. I don't really give her anything to eat after 6. She's so cute I almost don't mind getting up!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

She IS adorable!!

[Carol Brand]

If she does not have a poop in the 9:30-11:00p.m time slot then you need to match her.

[Adina P]

What does that mean?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I believe it means taking unlit but wet paper matches and putting 2 in the dog's anus, which promotes the urge to defecate and usually that means poop as well as matches. It seems a bit extreme to me until you've at the very least tried all timing/behavioral measures. I would wonder about the safety for this especially on a pup.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

that's really strange. I've never hear of this. What is it about the match that creates the urge? It does sound extreme (not to mention gross), and not something I would do for a simple case of the dog pooping at inconvenient times.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't know whether the sulfur tip is an irritant or just the physical presence of the match, probably both.

[Carol Brand]

"Matching" is a catch all phrase for inserting something into the rectum in order to stimulate a dog to poop.  Matching is a common practice at dog shows where dogs might get shy about potting in strange places.  It is also handy for getting puppies on a schedule or getting a dog to poop quickly when you are on a road trip.  It has no negative side effects that I've ever noticed and I've been doing it for years (ditto for most of the experienced dog handlers and breeders I know).

I imagine that back-in-the-day that people used matches because they are readily available and... well the right shape.  Personally, when I match a dog or puppy, I use a Q-tip and some KY Jelly (to be friendly).  It works like a charm every time.

[Moe]

I think I'd rather get up at 3am. LOL This is my first dog so I've never heard of this.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I am laughing so hard right now! 

I don't think it is odd for your 11 wk old puppy to be getting up once at night. Give her a couple more weeks, and you might be surprised how well she does.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

LOL ME TOO!!!!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

match her?