Potty Training

[Patrick Windsor II]

Hello all,

Well we are on our 4th week with our GoldenDoodle (he will be 3 months old on the 4th). We decided to name him JJ after my two kids (Jared & Jordan). Potty training seems to be going ok, but he is still getting up around 1am to go outside and he usually has a bowel movement, however last night he was up at 12:00 & 1:30 and both times he had a bowel movement. We usually feed him at 6:00 maybe sometimes as late as 7:00, but he gets nothing more after he eats. My question was whether or not this is typical. I had thought we would be going through the night by now. My primary concern is that I am doing something wrong.

One other question, he seems to have accidents when he is upstairs because it looks like he struggles with going down the stairs. We have been carrying him down the stairs. Should we stop and force the issue? Again, not sure how to proceed. I would hate to force it and then he gets hurt, but on the other hand, I don't want to have him learn that we will carry him down forever.

Any advice would be appreciated...

Thank you all!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Dogs are like humans and neither of us are machines. I would say that bowel movement timings are unpredictable and as long as the poop is normal then there is nothing to dwell on or be concerned about.

[Patrick Windsor II]

Thanks, I was under the impression that they typically poop 30 - 45 minutes after they eat. It was explained to me (or maybe I read it somewhere) that when a dog eats their brain tells the bowels to empty itself. 

[Katie & Roo]

We give Roo dinner around 4:30-5. He usually has his last poop by 9 or 10. 

The only time recently he got up in the middle of the night is when we fed him later due to work obligations at 7-7:30.

Not sure if moving up dinner would help?

[Jen W]

I think at this young age they're still so unpredictable with when they'll potty.  When I was potty training Dory I wrote down every time she went and tried to discern some pattern, but other than a guaranteed pee when she first got up, there was no rhyme or reason.  

I also had to carry her down the stairs for a while.  Partially b/c I was told they shouldn't do stairs while super young b/c of their joints but also b/c she just couldn't get the hang of them.  Once I signed her up for Puppy Preschool the trainer taught me how to get her comfortable with the stairs (essentially just luring her down with treats but never forcing).  She is still afraid of a new set of stairs but once I lure her down once, she is ready to bound up and down on her own.

For now while potty training, I don't think there's anything wrong w/ carrying JJ down the stairs.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

At 12 weeks, many things are still going to scare him or at least, make him stop and assess the situation. Do NOT force him down the stairs! You can lure with treats or a toy, making it a game. At this point, there is nothing wrong with carrying him down the stairs. As he ages, his confidence will grow as well.
If he having a bowel movement in the middle of the night, move his last feeding back a few hrs. At this age, the best one can do is guesstimate when the urge will hit him and work around it accordingly.

[Kelly & Zoe]

Re carrying down the stairs - we did that for Zoe for quite a while.  I didn't want to add the stress of going downstairs and potty if she really wasn't comfortable navigating the stairs (especially at night).  If she sat at the top, we just picked her up quickly. We stopped doing that by 4 months I think when she was really comfortable going up and down the stairs.  We took her out during the night until she was about 4 months - then she stopped needing to go during the night and slept all the way through. I personally don't think you should for the stair issue - JJ will no doubt be bounding up and down the stair like a pro soon!

[Michele Kiss]

Fenway never followed the 30-45 min guide! I don't think that's a hard and fast thing. 

I would NOT force him down the stairs. Trust me, he will learn to go up and down stairs in his own time, and you'll miss the days when he would stay confined ;-)