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Original poster

To take water away from puppy at night?

101 replies

keratoms · 30/04/2022 18:50

We're picking up a chihuahua puppy in a few days. We are going to crate train so have got her a crate for downstairs and a crate for the bedroom. The downstairs crate has plenty of room for her bed and a water bowl but not much else.

The bedroom crate due to the size of the bed only has enough room for her bed and blanket. Is that okay or do we need to make space for water? Never had a puppy before so not sure of the correct way to do this. Getting different info on Google.

Have attached the picture of nighttime crate.

Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
keratoms · 30/04/2022 20:59

Astrak · 30/04/2022 20:57

It all sounds very depressing from an animal welfare point of view.
Irresponsible, ignorant and heartless.
Registered with a vet? Insured? Read up about the breed? Investigated the breeder? Checked if breeder is Kennel Club Registered?
Twenty years ago, when I was thinking of getting a German Shepherd, I was interviewed twice by the breeder, by the puppies' parents, and had to go back twice again before I was judged good enough to have one of their litter. I also had to explain why I chose her.
Thirteen years later, after GSD's death, I phoned the breeder to tell her. Apparently, out of that litter, I was the only person who kept their dog for the whole of it's life. It was a condition of sale that the breeder would refund the money back if the buyer couldn't keep/didn't want the dog any longer.

Well I certainly don't want it to be a depressing life for the pup and I plan and hope to have her her whole life

OP posts:
XelaM · 30/04/2022 21:00

I think it's unfair to comment on the breeder since the OP has not said anything to suggest she didn't properly vet the breeder and vice versa. Every dog owner is a first time owner at some point.

Teddah · 30/04/2022 21:02

XelaM · 30/04/2022 21:00

I think it's unfair to comment on the breeder since the OP has not said anything to suggest she didn't properly vet the breeder and vice versa. Every dog owner is a first time owner at some point.

Absolutely.

In between dogs, I have forgotten what it’s like to have a puppy and also, advice changes.

doggiescats · 30/04/2022 21:04

Florrey · 30/04/2022 20:40

I’ve had dogs for 40 years. They’ve always slept on my bed and there’s no water in my bedroom. I don’t think humans or dogs need to drink at night - they’re asleep!

Same here but understand that many dog owners don’t want their dog in their bed .
Even as puppies my dogs also never needed to be let out at night ,they just slept all night .

XelaM · 30/04/2022 21:06

Chi puppies are incredibly cute, but so so tiny and delicate. Please be very careful with it.

We have another toy breed (he's now 15 months old) and when he was only 10 weeks old he had a freak accident falling off a very low sofa whilst we were on the sofa with him and fractured his leg requiring emergency surgery at a Supervet-type clinic. It was horrendous, but thankfully he fully recovered and now no one is able to tell it ever happened, as he's super fast and active.

Cliftontherocks · 30/04/2022 21:06

My dogs have always slept on vet bed on the floor or on my actual
bed. My dogs drink masses during the night I can hear them!! Just like you get thirsty so do they and if hot or restless they can dehydrate very quickly. Clean fresh water morning noon and night - we scrub the dishes at least twice a day. Put ice cubes in hot weather to keep the water cool - make sure the crate is in the shade. I personally don’t understand the crate craze. If it is open and they choose to go in fine - but many dogs struggle to turn around and got forbid they want to stretch etc I just don’t get it. My ex friend left her lab in a crate for 4 hours at a stretch she’s an ex friend when I pointed out the poor bugger was in direct sunlight, bored and couldn’t lie on her side properly she had to duck and curl up.

Florrey · 30/04/2022 21:09

TheCanyon · 30/04/2022 20:54

I presume you don't take a drink to bed?

Show quote history

No. Why would I? I’m asleep! None of us take drinks to bed and I don’t allow food or drinks in bedrooms at all.

Giraffesandbottom · 30/04/2022 21:15

Your dog can’t ask for a drink or get one for themselves so obviously you need to have it available for them in case they want it. My dog often drinks during the night.

tootiredtoocare · 30/04/2022 21:16

All animals should have access to clean water 24/7. No compromising.

XelaM · 30/04/2022 21:16

I sometimes wake up to drink at night, so I have a water bottle next to my bed. So does my daughter. Most people I know do. My dog also wakes up to drink at night sometimes and then goes back to sleep.

whowhatwerewhy · 30/04/2022 21:17

I would definitely re think the bed you have put in it . I suggest vet bed , it's easy to wash , also a clip on water bowl.

twointhemorning · 30/04/2022 21:24

Oh my goodness that cage is tiny! My guinea pigs have more space than that (a huge C&C).

The crate shouldn't be all bed surely? Imagine being stuck in that for 7 hours a night. It's usually better to have more than the minimum recommended size. Or will the cage crate door be left open?

As for denying access to water, well that's just cruel. Yes, some dogs won't want to drink, but surely a puppy should be offered the option to have a drink day and night if it needs to?

TrainspottingWelsh · 30/04/2022 21:25

If you’re having to Google to see if a puppy needs access to water overnight are you actually knowledgeable enough to have a dog?
Maybe a US site does say it’s ok. Perhaps it is the current fashion to keep puppies in cages. Doesn’t make it kind or ok. Puppies chew stuff and have toilet training accidents, imo if you can’t deal with that you aren’t in a position to take on a pup.

TeaBug · 30/04/2022 21:33

I know nothing about keeping a dog, I don't even like them. But I know without asking that a dog must have access to clean water at all times. And to withhold water to avoid nocturnal accidents is cruel. I'm shocked. Anyone who would do this shouldn't have a dog.

Squiff70 · 30/04/2022 21:36

Teddah · 30/04/2022 20:52

It doesn’t look that small to me, what size did you get?

Show quote history

I never crated my dog when he was a puppy. He died at 16. As a pup, he was shut in the kitchen overnight with puppy pads, a bed, blanket, quiet toy and of course a bowl of clean water.

The problem with the cage in the OP is that not only is it very small, the bed fills it entirely. If the puppy gets too hot it has no choice but to remain in the fluffy bed and potentially overheat which is very dangerous.

I don't think the OP has thought this through, personally. I made plenty of mistakes when my dog was a (rescue) puppy. He was my first ever dog and I didn't have a clue until a dog trainer saw me in the park getting a bit exasperated. He came over and showed me how to train him properly. The man made me realise that my puppy didn't speak my language so I had to learn to speak his. It all got better from that point on and I am forever grateful to that man. Until then, my puppy was an absolute fucking nightmare. My fault mainly, but I didn't see it at the time.

wishitwasaduvetday · 30/04/2022 21:36

OP there's a really helpful page on Facebook for new puppy owners I suggest you join.. it's called Train My Puppy.
The moderator are behaviourist and trainers who are really helpful, and also there are lots of new puppy owners who help advise and support each other.

wishitwasaduvetday · 30/04/2022 21:40

And ignore people saying 'cages are cruel'. If done properly crate training crates a safe 'den' for a dog, and in the future if it has to spend time at a vets, or be transported in a crate, it will be less anxious.
There's a fab book I advise getting , it's helpful and easy to read .. easy peasy puppy squeezey

To take water away from puppy at night?
SmugOldBag · 30/04/2022 21:42

Lots of hysterical posts on this thread about crate training. It's not cruel in anyway if done properly. The intention is to support toilet training and allowing them to become comfortable and settled when young In their own space. Houses are massively overwhelming for puppies

We got our rescue puppy from a highly reputable organisation who actually required us to continue crate training to support her settling in and feeling safe. They told us

-crate should only be big enough for dog to stand up and turn around in. Any bigger and they risk using some of it as toilet

  • they suggested removing water after 9pm to help with overnight toilet training - we did so. When she was given access again at 6am she would rarely/if ever, drink immediately indicating she hadn't missed it. I admit I worried about this one but the rescue and the foster totally advocated it.

She is a happy and confident pup now. We don't use the crate anymore but she goes into her crate herself for timeout and as her safe space when she's feeling scared (thunder and fireworks)

SmugOldBag · 30/04/2022 21:46

Oh and I agree with other that the bed is far too big and she risks getting too hot with no escape. Put down a small blanket/towels and she can snuggle if she wants or push them aside. Our pup much preferred that to a bed in her crate.

XelaM · 30/04/2022 21:47

A crate is only a safe space if the door is left open! Our dog has a big soft playpen type of thing that he uses as his den, but the door is always open and he himself chooses when to use it. Shutting dogs in cages for people's convenience is not providing them with a safe space in my view. It's cruel.

SleepPleaseee · 30/04/2022 21:52

Is the dog about as big as the toy? Id get rid of the bed it's too big and they don't need it especially in summer.

XelaM · 30/04/2022 21:54

Ahhh link didn't work 🥶

LockdownLisa · 30/04/2022 21:59

For those asking if the OP should be getting a dog as she doesn't know much about looking after one - surely we're all in that situation when we get our first dog? She's asking questions which might seem obvious, but how else will she learn? The aggressive, sneery responses will only put her off asking.

OP, I'd definitely recommend buying Vet Bed for the crate. It washes in the washing machine really easily and dries very quickly, so great for accidents. It stays in place so your puppy should always be comfortable.

In case you didn't know, there's a section called The Dog House in Mumsnet that might be worth looking at.

SaltandPeppasHere · 30/04/2022 22:01

To all the people who have said crating is cruel - no it isn’t.

my dog is 7 and he’s been crated overnight since we got him at 9 weeks old. His crate is his safe place and he loves it. Plus he’s never had water in there overnight and that’s fine. But then he barely drinks anyway.