Help me get my 17 week puppy to sleep through the night!

[Christina Vieira da Rosa]

Nala is 17 weeks old. She sleeps next to my bed in her crate - I hope to eventually move it to the living room but was planning on waiting until she is able to sleep through the night, as right now she wakes me up by whining when she needs to go out. The problem is, she wakes up a couple times a night. I take her out and she does go pee, but it seems like at this age she should be able to hold it longer. She gets her water taken away around 6:30pm and we are usually in bed by 9:30pm. She wakes up around midnight every night to go out, and sometimes will wake up at 3 or 4 as well. We are up by 5 most mornings. 

She has slept through the night, 7-8 hours maybe 3 or 4 times so I know she's capable. I just don't know what I'm doing wrong. I don't necessarily expect her to make it 9:30-5 but it seems like waking up maybe 2 or 3 times is a lot. 

Any tips?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I think you just need to get up with her. She is peeing. You want her to tell you when she has to go and she is doing that. I never removed water from my dogs. I don't think you are doing anything wrong. I think she is just too young to hold it all night. It will get better. If you think she is peeing excessively, you could always take a urine sample to the vet and make sure there is not an underlying problem. 

Also, if she is tired....maybe more exercise....she might sleep better.

[BG and Gavin]

I also don’t believe in taking up water early. I know a lot of experts say it is okay to do, but it doesn’t feel right to me and Gavin (though a mature dog) always takes a big old drink before retiring (he likely sees me with my glass of water on the side table lol).

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

You must be exhausted. Are you taking her out right before you go to bed? If you're not doing that, I'd start there. And I would make sure that's she's very tired before everyone goes to sleep. When my two were puppies, after the first couple of nights, I would just say "Shhhh - Go to sleep," and I wouldn't take them out. You could try that and if she persists, then, of course, I'd take her out. I remember mine going from about 11 to 7 when they were her age. Good luck!

[BG and Gavin]

I agree with this. I would wiggle my fingers into the crate and just give a soft murmur to let them know I was there but get up if the whine persisted. 

[Ginny Nightingale]

Well, Laurie has an older dog who goes out every night, right Laurie? Not that I have a problem with that--and you know I LOVE you Laurie, but no, this pup should be able to make it through the night. My 8 week old pups go home to their new families and by week 2 or 3 at home, they are sleeping 7 hours. Try moving the crate a bit further from your bed and putting a blanket over it--less stimulation might help--she might hear you and then wake up and realize she could go pee, but it might not be necessary. I would try shushing her and keeping her a bit farther from you--good luck!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Shhhh...Ginny :) Christina doesn't need to know Vern has me trained.  Christina, Maybe you had better listen to the other Laurie and Ginny....LOL...I just can't ignore a dog that might have to go to the bathroom. 

[BG and Gavin]

Oh Laurie, you have been burned! Haha.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

LOL...In my defense, Vern has never had an accident in the house :) I also disagree about moving the crate further away from you and the blanket. My dogs were hot in the crate and I kept a fan on them. The fan also muted outside noises and they were less likely to wake up. I really had great luck house training both my pups, but somewhere along the line, we starting giving treats when they went out at night and all hell broke loose :) The good thing is everyone finds what works best for their dog. 

[BG and Gavin]

Full disclosure: when Gavin first came home I was so paranoid about him not messing in his crate that I set an alarm for the middle of the night to take him out. Poor dog would be sound asleep and I would drag him outside. He was like WTD? I was sleeping! I missed a cue from him his first night home and never forgave myself. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I did so many things wrong with our first dog, Hershey, that it haunts me to this day. Maybe that is why I was far more lenient with Fudge and Vern. We do the best we can! I didn't, however, ever set an alarm...LOL.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

I am the other Laurie! Ginny suggested putting a blanket over the puppy's crate -- Maybe you should try pulling your blanket up over your head when Vern tells you it's time for a middle-of-the-night pee?!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Other Laurie, ROTFL, He paws me. He weighs 115 pounds. His paw is huge. I could still feel it under a blanket :) I also pack John's lunch in the middle of the night when he wakes me up, so I feel like it is productive all the way around. I hate that job so much, I put it off as long as I can. Plus, the older I get, the more times I have to get up in the middle of the night. Vern and I are kind of on the same schedule now. The funny thing is, Fudge doesn't even go out with Vern most nights.