Night Time Potty Breaks

[Bergen Herbst]

Hi Everyone!  We brought little Bergen home almost 4 weeks ago.  We've been crate training her and the first couple of weeks she was consistently waking up at around 3 AM and 6 AM to potty.  Last week she got up at 1 AM, 2 AM, 4 AM and then at 5 AM we tried to ignore her barking.  She then peed in her crate for the first time.  Since then she's been whining to get out 4-5 times a night.  She goes potty nearly every time we take her out but sometimes she'll get out and just want to play.  Has anyone else had this problem?  I'm torn with trying to train Bergen to not potty in her crate (which she only has had one accident) but also to try and sleep through the night (or at least minimize how many times she wakes us).  We've already limited her water close to bedtime but it hasn't helped.  If anything she's getting up more during the night now.  Any suggestions?

[shelly]

HI!  How long before bedtime are you lifting up the water?  That does sound like a lot of pee pee breaks. Not sure, but.. Is she doing a lot of licking herself?  Has she been to the vet recently to check she doesn't have a UTI?  Maybe also post this in the health and medical issues?????  good luck! Bergen is adorable!!!  Can't wait to see more pictures!

[Bergen Herbst]

Hi Shelly!  We're lifting the water at least an hour before.  She just went to the vet yesterday and nothing abnormal health wise.  She's fine holding her potties for 4-5 hours during the daytime so I think it's more of a training issue but I'll definitely keep a look out for a possible UTI.

[Jane Smith]

I still lift the water 2 hours before bed.  Otherwise we are up very early.

Also, when we took the pups out in the middle of the night, we just turned on a little flashlight.  No lights in the house, no porch lights.  This seemed to not wake her up as much and want to play.

 

Good luck.

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

we also did not turn on the lights and talking was only if absolutely necessary.

[Harper]

This seems a bit much. I would definitely lift up water two hours before bed and make sure she does not have a UTI. Harper was able to last the night in her crate (other than the first night) from 10:30pm until 6:30am. She used to whine a little in the mornings but that passed quickly. I think your little pup is manipulating you or has a UTI.

[Heather Martinez]

There were times when Teddy was waking up every hour, when he was about 12 weeks old. He didn't really need to pee, but just woke up and missed us and going pee was a reason to get out. We ending up moving his crate around and trying different things. What worked was putting the crate in the living room instead of our bedroom and covering it with blankets. I also started setting an alarm and waking up at specific times (starting with 3 times a night) to take him out, before he started barking. Then I gradually increased the time between wake-ups. Eventually he started sleeping until 5 am when my husband gets up. We did not give him water after 8:30 pm and took him out to pee around 10-11 pm right before bed. We also did not give him food or treats after 5pm (I'm not sure if this made a difference or not). Teddy is now 8 months and sleeps from 9pm - 6:30 am or later. He doesn't even get up when my husband leaves for work. He can also sleep in his crate (covered or uncovered) or in the kitchen on a blanket. Teddy has free access to water all the time now, even at night, and he can eat at night if he hasn't finished his food yet. So I am sure it will improve for Bergen and you won't have to be on such a strict schedule :)

[BRADY GOOSE MOORE (Mini Doodle]

I think the 'no lights on' is a good idea.  Also I find that 'no talking'  at all except "pee-peeps"  works for Brady.   Perhaps if you try to make the going out  the least fun and interesting you can,  he will give it up.   I have done this since Brady's first night home with us and it seems to work really well.  Brady is now 13 weeks and such a 'smart' (and of course adorable little guy.   It's hard to 'not engage' them but it just may work!   Hope this works (may take a few tries) for you and you can start getting your sleep!!