night time training

[zookeeper]

I know that at three months Brie will need to go out about every 4 hours at night. I'm tired and grumpy from lack of sleep but I'm willing to do anything for my girl My question is ... (building suspense here) Often when I get up after four hours to take her out of her crate and out to pee, she doesn't want to wake up. Sometimes I even end up crawling in to pick her up and take her out. Ever tried picking up 26 lbs of sleeping pup from a kneel without banging your head on the top of the crate? So do I really need to get up every 4 hours? Should I wait until she cries and then get up? (I'm actually afraid at this point I'd sleep right through.) What do you think? She just turned 3 months on Sunday.

[annie_so_pink]

Originally Posted by zookeeper

Sometimes I even end up crawling in to pick her up and take her out. Ever tried picking up 26 lbs of sleeping pup from a kneel without banging your head on the top of the crate? .

Oh wow! I totally know what you mean about the crate! Wesley used to be just like that! What I finally did for him is just make sure I put him out late like midnight, and then let him out at about 5 am...He would do it himself then and it was only about 5 hours and he was fine...hope that helps

[calgal]

If your taking her food and water dish up at least 4 hours before bedtime, she wouldn't need to go out so often and you can get some much needed ZZZZZZZZZZZZ's.

[Dopey]

I take my 11 week old pup out every 4 hours too. Although last night I forgot to turn on the alarm to get up at 2 and we both slept till 6. When I realized this I was worried that she had gone in her crate but she didn't. At 6 she was still sleepy but awake enough that I didn't have to pick her up. Now I am thinking that maybe I can extend her time without going out.

Zookeeper, I say lets give the pups 5 hours between getting up and see how it goes!

Let me know!

[zookeeper]

Dopey, your pup is adoreable! I'm very jelous of your long, restful sleep! I'm up to 4 1/2 hours but am thinking of going to 5 in the next night or two. Last night we had puppy kindergarten and she was so exhausted that when I tried to get her up to pee in the night she just kept walking two or three steps and then dropping back down to sleep. It would have been quite comical if it weren't 4 in the morning!

[Shadowkins]

I think your puppy will let you know if he/she needs to go out by crying or yipping, now unless you're a real sound sleeper and are afraid you won't hear them. If the crate is in your room , you would be able to better hear when pup needs out. That's how it was when Shadow was small.

[Carrie]

I never woke up at all to take Lyric out unless he woke up and started whining. I would never wake up a pup on purpose. LOL. I took him out as late as I could stay up....maybe 11:00 at night and get up at 5 or 6. But if your pup is sleeping soundly, I wouldn't wake her up unless the house were on fire. She'll be fine. Don't worry so much.

[zookeeper]

I'm afraid I won't hear her if she wakes up. My hubby is totally against having the dogs in our room so her crate is in the kitchen. And if I wake up to take her out and she's not awake, I wake her. Otherwise I can see just getting back to sleep and having her wake up then to go out! It's not so bad here because we have teenagers so one of them makes sure Brie goes out before they go to bed, I get up in the night and hubby lets her out in the morning. It's a well oiled machine!

[Shadowkins]

Just a thought...have you ever thought of a baby monitor? That way you could stay in bed till pup was awake and ready to p**.
Maybe it's me, but I find he/she will take longer to learn if you do the work for them re : you making the effort to wake up the pup and bring them outside. They have to figure it out for themselves that they need to go and that they have to let you know. just and idea.

[zookeeper]

Great idea! I'm a little embarassed I didn't think of it myself.