Hi everyone,

We bring our puppy home in a week or so, really excited! We're hoping to get the toilet training sorted sooner than with our last dog, who unfortunately took a while to be fully trained in this area which was all our fault.

Our puppy will be crated during the night and i've read that when you hear your puppy crying, get up and put the puppy outside for a wee. Whilst this does seem like the best idea, i'm worried that it will encourage her to cry and bark for us. She cries, we appear. Am i over thinking this, or is it maybe better to wake up 2 times a night and take her out even if she is not crying?

Thanks!

We always get up if our young pups bark, they never end up barking for attention - only to go outside for the toilet. So its an easy way to tell if the dog needs the toilet.

__________________
Ian

Sylvestris Kennels - Pedigree Labrador Breeders
Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
www.sylvestriskennels.co.uk

Personally speaking, I got up in the night when I decided too and not when he cried, purely because the first few days he was home he cried constantly while he was alone and awake. Tried getting up when he cried but it wasn't to go toilet it was for people, as he didn't need to go.

He hasn't ever made a noise to say he needs the toilet either, Rupert would just go, lol!

Up to you, as long as its a toilet break for pup and he/she knows its not playtime you should be fine

__________________

hey, flick! :--)

i have always set the alarm for 3-AM to wake + take pup out, if U wait till the puppy cries U may not have time to get up, get a coat on, slip shoes on, grab leash + Pup, + get out the door before the deed is done, LOL.

until the pup is 15 to 16-WO, i just go out once each night. so far it has worked fine for me, and for my puppy-clients, too.
congratulations on the pup - U must be excited! ;--) i;d be thrilled...
--- terry

terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, IPDTA, TDF

You have to get your pup into a decent sleep routine, if its crying after a period of time being in there its probably telling you it needs to be let out. They can only hold their bladder for a couple of hours at that age. I found the best times to take them out (so that you get some sleep too) are 4:30 -6:30pm bed, 9:00 toilet/bed 11:30 toilet/bed, 1:30 toilet/bed, 5:30 toilet.

My 13 week old westie was getting up to the toilet about 3-4 times during the night for the first couple of weeks. I would just take her out to the toilet, didn't give her any eye contact and put her back to bed. The past week she has been sleeping from about 10.30pm to 7.30am without having to go out to the toilet. In fact, the other morning my hubby had to wake her up as she didn't want to move. My advice would be just remember when you take them out at night don't give any eye contact at all, just toilet and bed and they will soon learn.