Hope this is the right section......

I adopted "Ben" an 18 month Staffie cross from Battersea and the recommended feeding quantity was around 300/350 grams a day split into 2 meals - small in the morning and the main one late afternoon with of course some treats in between. I've kept to this but found he doesn't make it through the night.

The main feed is around 5:30 after his walk; is this too late?

Thanks.

Do you mean he is pooing in the night? not sure what you meant by doesn't make it? .If so then are you taking him out last thing before bed and does he go then? maybe make the last meal a bit earlier? .

Hi

Good for you getting a rescue, you don't say how long you have had him and he may still be adjusting to a new routine. He probably has been able to poo in his kennel first thing, when the dogs start waking and the rounds start early, Unfortunately in kennels you can't go in and let all the dogs out as soon as you are in, so there are somethat have to wait and will have been jumping around for a short time and need to toilet. It can also take several months for everything to get into place, there are a lot of adjustments his system has to go through, mentally and physically.

I am presuming this is what you mean by 'doesn't make it through the night' and not that he is waking up hungry!!!????

You are not feeding him too late, but I would suggest you feed him before your walk. Half an hour beforehand, which will let his food settle. Walking after feeding, gets the system moving and will encourage things through from the last meal. Sniffs and smells also promote dogs to poo!. You may find this will be enough to get him to go either on the walk, or when you take him out before bedtime for a short wander. Introduce a command when he is doing the 'deed' and then you can get his toileting on que.

What is probably happening is you are coming back from your walk, feeding him and he is lying around with a full tummy. He goes to bed the system starts working and sometime early in the morning as he starts to stir, he needs to go!

I would also do two meals roughly the same. Is he underweight? As if a dog is underweight it is good practice to feed them at nightime, so they are not 'burning off' food during the day. It is notriously hard to get some dogs to keep their weight in kennels and this could be why they have told you to feed the larger meal later. This may not be the case, but if so, you will however find that in a home he will not be quite so busy as in kennels or stressing out. Staffis are breed that don't do particularly well in a kenneled environment and he will put on weight anyway. If this isn't the reason they suggested feeding the larger meal, then feed two the same as suggested.

Whatever you do don't tell your dog off for toileting inside, be patient, it will happen and adjusting food times will be a way of trying things out.

Although you may be tempted, I would avoid changing food at this stage, your dog has enough to deal with at the moment and he is best staying on what he was having in kennels for a while, as his system will have adapted and adjusted to it, so hopefully be utlisiting it the best way it can.

There is a lovely book all about coping with a rescue and some of the problems and joys you will encounter, by Gwen Bailey

The Rescue Dog by Gwen Bailey

Gwen was one of the first behaviourists to concentrate on rescues and rehabiliting them whilst in the rescue and in their new homes, she has a wealth of knowledge. Now all the other rescues have followed her lead and they all have people who can give advice, so don't forget to ask Battersea too if you are concerned, your question is perfectly sensible and their behaviourist will be more than willing to help.

Kate

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Thanks for your reply Kate....

I've had him for just over 3 weeks and there's been no problem with messing in the house. A few times lately I've had to get up and let him out the garden so I'll try your suggestion and feed him before his second walk.

He certainly doesn't wake up hungry as he tends to leave a little of his morning feed then goes back to it after he's made sure nothing else is on the menu; same goes for the evening

As far as weight goes he's spot on and weighs a healthy 21kg which I was told at Battersea, and the vets, was about right.

Other than a bit of chewing and deciding to bring the garden into the house over the last couple of days: keep ending up with a nice selection of various leaves, twigs and stones he has settled in really well.

Ameliexx...

Yee he's taken out the garden before bedtime.

You haven't had him very long, I am sure he will get into your routine. The great thing is that he is asking - how sweet is that!

Sound like you have got a lovely rescue there.

Kate

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Just because I can't talk, doesn't mean you can't understand me

Yes he still has a bit of the puppy in him so need to keep an eye on what he's up to; but then that's all part of having a dog.

How about water? Should I remove it as just before bedtime he tends to fill up on it and that I think is one of the main problems which prevents him going through the night.

There is a dog flap and my previous dog would use that when needed but I'm waiting until Ben has settled in completely before teaching him to use it.

All my dogs have been rescue, this is the first one from Battersea and everybody who has met Ben comment on how a smashing looking dog like him (Naturally I'm biased) can end up unwanted. I would urge anybody who is looking for a dog to visit Battersea or the RSPC as there are plenty of great dogs looking for a new home.

He sounds a dream!! Wish more people were like you and gave rescues a chance.

I certainly wouldn't remove his water completely, I personally wouldn't deprive any animal of fresh water being available at all times, but I would limit it to a smaller amount. Possibly he's been deprived of it previously so feels he has to take what he can when he can, that's something he will learn to stop doing once he realises he's safe and staying with you.

Personally I teach my own dogs and the fosters how to use the dog flap from day one, but obviously only if your garden is 100% secure and you are confident he cannot come to any damage if left outside alone. I don't know what I'd do without a dog flap...have one very messy house no doubt!!

Rescues sometimes have to learn again, because they get used to going to toilet in their kennels, also do you take him out just before bed? sometimes if you leave too much to drink out, they can over do it and get a full bladder which in turn wakes them up and then they want to go to the toilet to do number two as well, so maybe just leave a small quantity out for the nightime.

mo

My GR recently started toiletting in the night again, got him a crate and he doesn't toilet in the nightime now! I think the kitchen was too big and so he needed the toilet and just decided to go, whereas in his crate its like his little bed and he stays in there from 11pm til 7am in the morning and doesn't go at all

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This is exactly one of the reasons I hate crates. To me the thought of my dog sitting locked in a cage wanting to go but being unable to is just unthinkable. I will never ever get why people think leaving a dog shut in a crate to force them to wait to do what comes naturally is a good thing.

Imagine waking in the night wanting a wee and your hubby holding you so you can't get to the loo, obviously you won't want to go in your bed so you'd just have to suffer... Like I said I just don't get it???