Puppies, like children, learn to control their bladders over a period of time. Generally speaking, a can hold its for as many hours as its age in months, plus one. So a 3-month-old can hold its for a maximum of 4 hours. This duration can be lesser if they are excited and playing, and more if they are asleep.
While taking your outdoors every few hours is feasible during the day, you may be wondering how best to keep up the at night.
While you may have to wake your up at night in the first few weeks to , there are a number of other things you can do to make the process of easier.
Pre Routine
An effective and regular routine can reduce the number of nighttime wakings required. The last meal of the day should be timed at least 2.5 or 3 hours before . After the meal, allow the a drink of water before removing its water bowl.
Take your out for a last right before you go to and then settle it into for the night.
Setting Your Alarm
A is usually just under 3 months old when a brings it home. At this time, the is likely to be able to hold its for a maximum of 4 hours at a time. Set your alarm for 4 hours after its last .
If the has not yet peed when your alarm does go off, wake up the gently and take it outside right away. A very can even be picked up and carried out to prevent it from peeing on the floor on its way out.
If your has already peed when your alarm rings, still take it out to its as planned. However, set the alarm for a 3-hour window the next night.
All Business
When you wake up your to outdoors, you don’t want it to get over-excited and start playing. This can disrupt training. Keep the lights and chatter at a minimum. Simply walk it out and focus on the task at hand. After it has peed, bring it straight back to its or and turn off the lights.
Outdoors
Before you head outdoors, putting your on a is a good idea. The last thing you want is for your to shoot off behind a squirrel or raccoon in the nighttime darkness. Having a designated for the helps it understand the purpose of the visit. Wait till it starts doing its business and use a consistent command like ‘Go potty’ just as it starts peeing. This will help build the ‘s association between the command and the action.
Praise
Praising the when it does outside can make a lot more effective. Dogs are natural people pleasers and once they figure what makes you happy, they are likely to try to repeat the same behavior.
You may not want to go over-the-top with your nighttime praise, lest the think it is playtime. Take it right back to its or and give it a gentle petting before turning in for the rest of the night.
For some owners, going outdoors in the middle of the night is not feasible. You may be in an apartment or your age or health may prevent you from taking your out for a . In such cases, a can be immensely useful.
A is a store-bought that the can use for its business. Place your little guy on it when you wake the and use the usual command for it to go .
Cleaning
While you work on the ‘s , remember that there may be accidents. A is just like a and will learn with your help. If your does end up peeing inside the house on some nights, you would want to clean the area with commercial pet stain cleaners. These cleaners are designed to eliminate the scent of the ‘s , thus preventing the from going to at the same spot again.
Some prefer using a as part of their . A is unlikely to in its own sleeping area and so will try harder to hold its if it is confined to its at night.
The should not be so small that it can’t turn around or comfortably in it, but neither should it be so big that the can in one corner and then settle back to in another part of the . Keeping a and inside the helps make the feel more at home within.
It helps to keep the or in the same room you in so that you are able to hear the or whimper at night. As your gets better with its , it may try to indicate that it needs a .
Consult a Vet
If your is not being able to eliminate the middle-of-the-night after months of regular , you may want to consult a vet. A or other health issues could prevent your little from holding its long enough to go through the night.
While an tends to well through the night without needing a , with age a ‘s ability to hold its can reduce. If your has started peeing inside the house at night, you may find it useful to allow it a too.
Final Words
“?” The short answer is yes when your is very young, but the midnight can be eliminated with persistence.
The most effective way to ensure success with a is to be consistent. Use the same door and arrive at the same every night. Issue the same command that you use in the daytime.
While it could take a few weeks after its arrival for the to through the night, persistence from your end can help it settle into a regular sooner.