My 8 week old puppy keeps waking up at 2:30 in the morning...?

Question

We've had our pupppy (German Shepard) since he was 4 weeks old (on fourmula) and when we go to sleep I've always put him in a kennel cab. Now that the puppy is eating food he wakes me up at least once maybe twice in the middle of the night and has to go potty. I stopped feeding him around 3 or so in the afternoon and make sure I let him out several times before I put him to bed, but nothing seems to help. For now he sleeps in his kennel cab by my son and I and doesn't seem to mind that. So I think it just comes down to not wanting to make a mistake in it. Should I not put him in the Kennel cab at night? This is starting to drive me crazy since once I'm awake I can't go back to sleep for hours and by the time I fall back to sleep he starts to cry and has to go potty again. Once more the puppy is now 8 weeks old. Thanks, Holly

Answer 1

a puppy this young should be eating later than 3 in the afternoon, he's probaly waking up because he's hungry!

He's 8 weeks old, just like a baby. He's going to wake you up, and if it means taking him out to potty, than do it. This is helping with potty training him. And he can only hold his urine for 2 hours or so, I wouldnt let him go over that without going potty

Answer 2

I think the puppy is hungry. Feed him at least twice a day. Puppies go potty about 30 minutes after they eat, not 12 hours. You say you stop feeding him at 3 pm and 3 am he has to go potty. Does this mean you expect a dog to go 24 hours without eating? You only feed him once? Just take water away from the puppy two hours before bedtime. Feed the dog twice a day. Perhaps the dog is scared and lonely. Put a towel or blanket down for the puppy to sit on. Then put it in the kennel at night. Dogs are more social than most people. They want company. Pursue the "hungry or lonely" theories. There's an excellent book called "No Bad Dogs" that might discuss this situation. Author is Barbara ???????, a British author. I recommend you get the book immediately.

Answer 3

Thewaking at night won't stop until about 12 weeks so you'll have to keep getting up as the puppy doesn't have enough control to hold it longer. Also, you should be feeding 3 times per day at this age until he's about 4 months, and then you can switch to twice per day. Feed upon awakening(after he's been out for potty), at noon and then around 5. Waiting from 3 until the next day is too long for a puppy to go without food.

Answer 4

Since he is only 8 weeks old his bladder is very small... but over time he will be able to hold it longer, just give him some time. Does he potty everytime you take him out? and if not I think he whines because he gets to get out of his kennel and spend time with everyone. Try putting his kennel somewhere else other than right next to you. Once he realizes that he's not getting out he will calm down and go back to sleep... Is it a pretty good size kennel? If so put some newspaper in the back of it and a towel or something in the front, He will go to the back of it if he has to go potty. I had a 6 week old golden retriever that did the same thing... but by the time he was 10-12 weeks old all midnight whining stopped. I hope this helps!! Remember BE PERSISTENT!

Answer 5

i have a potty training book that says a puppy up to 3 months old can go up to 15 times a day.. they are just learning bladder controll..
my yorkie is now right at 4 months old and goes about 8-10 times a day.. and he gets fed 2 times a day.. 8 am and 630 pm.. however he gets small treats inbetween every time he goes potty and has plenty of chew toys and little chew flavor bones that hes always dragging around.. we go to bed around 10 and i take him out about 2 time .. and thats just because i wake up several times during the night.l. he hasnt had but a few accidents at all since weve had him... i agree with some one above.. your feeding him way too early .. and as a shepard.. they need to be feed later.. or maybe at least once more before bed time.. .fill his belly.. (healthy, not overly) wait 15-20 walk him and put him to bed.. if hes use to the crate i dont thnk id change itmine does the crate when he wants to.. and i close the door for a while so he knows that when i leave the house he goes in.. but at bed time he sleeps on the pillow beside me.. and he doesnt move untill i do good luck

Answer 6

I was in your position a month ago and now my 16 week old puppy is sleeping through the night. He used to wake me up at 2 a.m., 5 a.m. and then again around 8. Now he just whines around 7:30 to let me know he's up and ready to go out.

Just wait through it. It might take a month of being extremely sleep deprived, but it will pass. Good luck! I suggest taking a nap!

Answer 7

Agree with first poster about the feeding. He's going too long without eating and is hungry! Think about it - wouldn't you be hungry at night if you ate at 3 PM? Also, a puppy can't hold his bladder very long, so take him out as late as possible, before you put him in the kennel for the night. I suggest keeping him in the kennel as he will likely soil your house in the middle of the night if he is not confined.

Answer 8

Any also have a puppy and he has his own bed.He does not sleep by anyone.I give him a blanket that he loves to play with.Also sometimes he'll sleep with a toy.If you keep him active during the day he will really get sleepy and not wake up.Try it!It might work.Also when he goes to door during the day to go potty and wait for him to do #1 and #2.Even if he tries to run to the door. when he is good give him at least one treat.If he does something really good give him 2.Feed him only dinner and sometimes breakfast.

Answer 9

Ah....the lovely world of raising a puppy. I would definately keep the puppy in the crate at night. When I got my puppy, I kept him in a crate every night. The first couple of nights, he made a mess in there (poop and pee), but after that, I think he realized how to hold it because he didn't want to sleep in a mess! (Plus, it also helped that he is really smart.) It sounds like you're doing on the right things, just don't give up. Be consistent. He could also just be lonely all by himself in there and he wants some attention from you guys. Good luck.

Answer 10

The rule of thumb is one hour for each month of age, so in your case it would be 2 hours tops. you can also try putting a stuffed animal inside the kennel for company.