Hello - I asked a question last week about my puppy. Now I have another one! :-) Ok, so he goes into his crate before I leave for work in the morning, no problem. When I leave & come home from work I don't hear any whining or crying (so I'm guess he's doing OK in his crate during this time). At night, he sleeps in his crate, he'll go in just fine. He might whine a little bit but he goes to sleep. He wakes me up at least every 2 hours ALL NIGHT to go potty!! Is that normal? He is 12 weeks old. He pees when I let him out, then I put him back in his crate , and he is good for maybe another 2 hours. So that is one question I had .. is that normal? And, how long will that last? I am so tired!! 2nd thing. In his crate, when he is ready to get up (usually around 6-7am) he will cry and yelp and freak out so he can come out. Mon - Fri this is not a problem, he's out by 6am so I can feed him and everything before work. But weekends...... OMG!! (lol) And, this morning I woke up and got in the shower. He was totally yelping and crying at the top of his lungs because he knew I was awake and in the shower (and it was 6am). What can I do so he won't do this? Thanks for all advice!!
He's in his crate during the day while I'm at work. I have family going to my house once or twice during the day and taking him out to go to the bathroom. Then he has to sleep in it at night. It's for his own safety & the safety of my things. He will chew anything plus pee & poop all over the place. When I'm home he's never in his crate unless I'm sleeping. I have always had dogs and I am an animal lover and take VERY good care of my pets, they are part of my family. I only use the crate while they are young and still potty training and going through the chewing phase. There is nothing wrong with that. Yes I do walk him every morning and every night also.
Why is he spending so much time in a crate- yikes- who told you that was a good idea- awful
best, k
IS it a LAB? I got a lab and they have weak bladders but every 2hrs is not right. Maybe has a bladder infection, talk to your vet. When our dog was a puppy she got my husband up early on the weekends for potty and then he would go back to sleep on the couch with her for a couple more hours. That lasted for alittle bit. Mostly puppies dont like being alone, remember they r used to the sounds of their litter mates. Try putting something that smells of u and that plays a noise, a radio maybe.
We also have a 12 week old. We are crate training as well and I did alot of research and this is what I found out.
When crate training, the dog does not have free rein of the house. This means he is going to stay in his crate until he has learned that you go outside to potty. For some it takes one week for others up to a month. We are currently on our second week and my pup is getting the hang of it well.
You also don't leave them outside to play. They must learn, in the beginning, that outside is only for elimination. So that being said-this is how ours works...
My pup wakes at 6am. I take him straight out to potty and he usually pees and poos. Then he comes in and I let him eat. When eating-this is supposed to be done on a schedule so that you can get a routine for elimination. Only leave the food and water down for 20 minutes max. If he doesn't eat much, then he learns next time that time is limited. Then i re-crate him and take him out about 8 before I leave for work. He usually pees. He is crated until 3:30. He never goes in his crate. This is a combination of us timing his eating (he has nothing left in him to eliminate bc of the schedule) and the fact that dogs do not liek to mess up their 'den'. At 3:30 he goes out and sometimes will pee, sometimes not. Then he is allowed food time for 20 minutes. I leave him out, in the kitchen only and play with him. Then he is re-crated while I make supper-until about 6. At 6 we take a family walk for about 30 minutes and he goes with. This is VERY important. A walk is when a puppy gets his energy out and bonds with the family. When we come in around 6:45 he is allowed water but no food. The water is taken up at 7:30 and he gets no mor euntil morning. He goes out to eliminate at 8. Is re-crated, and then goes back out at 9 where he will poo for the second and last time for that day. Then we start all over the next day.
It does seem like they spend alot of time in the crate during crate training but it is important to remember that when they get the hang of going outside then they are out all of the time. Make sure he has toys in his crate as this will help keep him occupied.
Also, never react to a pup that is whining in his crate. If you want to get him out but he is whining, wait until he has stopped whining for at least 10 seconds. Then remove him.
My guess is, your pup has realized that is he whines enough you will go talk to him or get him out.
My pup loves his crate-The only times he barks or whines is when he really has to go to the restroom. I wait for him to stop whining then I take him out to potty.
I know that this system is working because of his has to go poo while he is out in the kitchen for his 20 minutes allowed to eat and for some reason I am not watching him, he goes right in front of the door where we take him out. This shows that he is getting the hang of where to go potty.
Sorry for the long post, but I, too, was frustrated with the act of getting our puppy housetrained but I realized once we started a schedule he did great!! Our pup is very happy, loves to be with us, and also loves his den.
Next, we are going to try the doorbell ring for when he has to go out =)
Good Luck
At that age normal... as he gets older the bladder will get bigger. Puppies are JUST like babies in that way where they have to go A LOT because they have small bladders. Having a puppy is not easy but he will grow so in another 2-3 months he will be sleeping threw the night. Also since the routine is 6am it is best to also do that on the weekend as well, as the dog gets older this will be less of an issue but he is like a little kid has energy needs to get it out and that it the routine.
Limit water at night (none in the crate is my suggestion). He should be getting his water during the day.. if you are gone all day long and he is in his crate, he may be making up for it during the time you are home and then has to go all night. Does anyone come at lunch or anything to give him water and take him out to potty?
When you get up in the morning... FIRST THING: Take him out to potty. You can't sneak a shower before you take him out, sorry. It's like a baby.. you can't get up, wake the baby, and then leave it in it's crib without feeding it before you go take a shower. And he does just want to BE with you. You are his pack! Take him out to potty first thing, then let him be in the bathroom with you when you are showering. My German Shepherd is 6 yrs old, and she STILL comes and lays on the bath mat when I am in the shower. She just wants to be where her pack is.. and if I'm the only one home (and sometimes when I'm NOT the only one home) that means being right outside the shower door, or the toilet door, or the kitchen floor, or wherever I am ....
Weekends don't matter. He has to go when he wakes, just like you often do. And if you don't, one day you will. :)
Hang in there... he is growing every day. His bladder is too.
By the way... where do you keep his crate? Is it in your bedroom? That is the ideal place... right near your bed so he can be near you. Eliminates a LOT of the whining, if not all, at bedtime.
You've gotten some good answers. And I agree that every two hours is probably normal. I just wanted to add one thing. My dogs are older and in the morning when I get up, they are the first thing I tend to -- before a shower, etc. They really need to go in the morning and they would be whining and barking if I didn't take care of them first. So before you hop in the shower in the a.m., feed and walk the puppy.
We got a puppy last year so I just went through this.. When potty training, I believe the books say that they should be able to hold it about 1 hour for each month old they are, so at 12 weeks you are looking at 3 hours max. I think that 2 hours is probably pretty normal. Our dog will be year old next month and still wakes us up around 5 to go out in the morning. A new puppy is just like a new baby, you lose a lot of sleep. Good luck!
Puppies are just like babies. limit his nightime water ie NO water after 8pm then be sure to let him out before you go to bed. and in the a.m. let him out before your shower then have him hang out in the bathroom with you, while you shower or get ready for work. He just wants to be with you. also give him and old t-shirt to sleep with that you have worn or taken to bed with you. that way he will have your sent while in the crate. we did that with a teddy bear for our mastiff she had that thing until she was about 1 year. I would just toss it in the wash when it got yucky. if you give them something to snuggle up with it really helps. also if you have a bunch of old tube socks or mix matched ones run them up your arm until you have a thick tube sock toy and when the outer layer gets gross peel it off and pitch it. I usually make 6 a year as socks get old our dogs love them. gl
Congratulations on your new puppy! A puppy is like another child...at that age...I assume that he is 6 mos or younger. Crate training is an excellent tool...but the poor pup feels isolated all day long, and needs to go outside more than once or twice a day...He needs to play and run outside to get all his business done. Think small bladder, he has to go more often right now...He is whining because he is locked down all day in a crate...he needs to run the house when you are home from work...First order of business is to take him out to potty...then do your stuff...he needs play time, pee, play time, pee...they play and when finished, has to P...take him on leash for a walk after dinner...you don't say you are doing that...if he is tired, he will sleep without waking (they adapt to your schedule). Take him out first thing when you get up, and are getting your coffee, juice, whatever, while going to the shower and dressing for work...after he has been walked finish your morning chores, if time, once more, then in the crate for your day to start. If you spend the weekend with him think, morning, noon, and night and some in between...they will tell you when..mine were all housebroken within 3 days and occasionally an accident...by that, maybe 3 times a year...and it won't happen unless it is stormy and he thinks he needs grass, not the garage floor. ;-)) Love, respect, obedience...they are charmers! Good luck, and let me know how it goes...
J
Rule of thumb for puppies is that they can hold it one hour based on months old. So at 12 weeks the max he can be expected to hold it is 2-3 hrs. As his bladder grows the time will get longer.
Your dog doesn't know it's a weekend. Remember animals are like little kids; they have no concept of time and base everything on routine. During the week your routine is that he's out by 6am so that's what he expects every day.
