Aaah - 10 month old puppy still getting up in night for a wee!

[GiraffeNecked]

Take her out last thing. TBF not always a walk but out in the garden. Have to wake her up to do it. And she's grumpy.

Then 1 or 2 am there's a happy leap on the bed and she wants out. Or she'll wee downstairs if she can't wake us up.

What time are you feeding her dinner and does she have free access to food and water?

She eats lunch at about 12 and tea about 5.30 or 6. Water down all the time.

If she has free access to water at night I'm not surprised she needs the toilet. If I was drinking through the night, I'd need to pee too!

I would take the water up overnight and see how you go. Her mealtimes sound find though.

She's still quite young, but I'd consider a vet check.

Water should be freely available.

I would never ever ever restrict water. Water should be available at all times.

I agree a vet check to rule out any physical issues. If given the all clear then start to look at behavioural issues

How often does she wee in the day?
What breed is she?
Where does she sleep?
Does she sleep on her own in the daytime
Does she follow you around in the house during the day?

She follows us everywhere.
Cockapoo
In our room to sleep
Wees a few times a day.

Dog flap?

At 10 month old they are still a puppy. Don't restrict water. What time do you go to bed. I have a pup the same age. We don't go to bed til after midnight so my pup is let out then. If you go to bed early a dog can only hold it in so long.

That could be it. We are usually in bed by 10. I

It's interesting those who say don't restrict water - free access to water overnight is going to mean the dog is more likely to need the toilet, surely?

If I drank overnight I would need to get up and pee. Similarly if I drink a big glass of water before bed I often need to get up in the middle of the night too.

Our dog sleeps in our room and has never had overnight access to water. During the day he absolutely has free access but never in the night. He hasn't combusted or died of dehydration!

We have a gorgeous 5 month old cockapoo who is crate trained . She has no access to water from 10.30 till 5.30 when my son gets up for work . She hasn't had an accident for weeks . He takes her out for a wee first thing and after that she has free access to water . Im sure that you'll get there with your lovely puppy . Trial and error

10 months seems a bit old to be getting up? Could it just be a habit now? Dogs can be sticklers for routine!

My dog was toilet trained all night from weeks old. He goes out at 10pm for a wee. Water down all night.

@GiraffeNecked

She follows us everywhere. Cockapoo In our room to sleep Wees a few times a day.

Ok so you probably need to work on this a bit in the day time to help at night.

It does not sound like she has a major weeing issue if weeing the few times in the day.

I would be looking at getting her more comfortable with her own company in the day time.

When you go to the loo scatter food outside of the door and shut the door when you are in the loo. Get her used to being without you for a few seconds. If this causes her stress then scatter food and only leave her for a millisecond.

Build up the time that she is left give her a chew and leave her in a room again build this up gradually.

You are not teaching her to be on her own but teaching her to be a bit more resilient when you are around.

At night you have two options.

1. Set up an alarm and wake her up before she needs a wee so if she is waking you at 1.00 set the alarm for 12.30. You can then set the alarm for later each day. I hate this way and think it takes ages but some people swear by it.

You could confirm her sleeping area to a small space so she is more comfortable and feels it is like a safe haven.

Does anything happen at this time to wake her.

Re restricting water - if a dog is thirsty it is vital that it is allowed to drink. We have no evidence that this dog is drinking all night. Ironically a dehydrated dog will try to wee more than a hydrated dog. Lack of water causes many physical reactions in dogs eg homeostasis and keeping the brain cool for want of a better description and the production of serotonin. Cognitive abilities are affected if a puppy is even slightly dehydrated. It is a basic requirement to have access to water and oxygen please do not restrict water.

I'd take the water up. She really doesn't need water over night. It might help to change her routine. This sounds most like she's just gotten into the routine.

@giraffednecked If you are going to bed at 10 then a pup that age should be able to hold its wee for around 8 hours so you would need to be up at around before 6am to let the pup out. I go to bed about midnight and my dog wakes me at 7am and I let them all out. However remember your pup is still a puppy so don't expect too much from him.

Restricting water - she isn't gulping down water in the evening or when she gets up. It's just the bowl is there, we don't take it up at a particular time.

I think it is a habit now. I think she thinks that's what you do - get up for a pee in the middle of the night.

The times she doesn't do it are when she's had a knackering day - so I know she can hold it in.

We need to get her more comfortable with being on her own. It's my husband I'm having trouble with training for that!