Cooper Asks to Go Potty In the Middle of the Night

[AllDogBoots]

What started as a one time request has developed into a very bad habit and we need your help. Every night at 2am Cooper gets out of bed and scratches the bedroom door. I take him outside, he pees, grabs a toy and goes right back to bed.

He started doing this a few months ago. After about a week I refused to get up as I was afraid he was developing a habit of getting up and he peed at the door! This is the only accident I can remember in the last 2 years. There were 2 times that I picked him up after I heard the scratching, put him back on the bad and he went back to bed.

For the past few nights Cooper has also been getting up around 4:30 am. Again, I take him out but this time he poops, grabs a toy and goes right back to bed.

I don't want to ignore his requests because he goes to the bathroom each time. It's not as though he wants to run around the yard.

Cooper is 3 years old and 11 pounds so I assume he can hold his bladder fairly well. I feed him at 9am and 6pm. He does drink water later into the night because he and Max play hard in the evening. He doesn't really get any treats. He goes potty before bed every night. I have noticed that if he's had a day out at the park or plays in the pool he is a little more tired and may sleep through the night. I will work on exercising him a bit more, but I figure throwing a ball for 3 hours a day and 2 walks would be enough

What is your advice? Do I ignore him? Do I take him potty?

[Deuce]

I would say, to get him out of the habit to keep him in his crate for the night. That may be impossible seeing as you have two pups but it may get him back into the habit of sleeping through the whole night and you wouldn't have to worry about accidents on the floor. But thats about all I can think of...sorry.

[AlicetheYorkie]

Originally Posted by Deuce

I would say, to get him out of the habit to keep him in his crate for the night. That may be impossible seeing as you have two pups but it may get him back into the habit of sleeping through the whole night and you wouldn't have to worry about accidents on the floor. But thats about all I can think of...sorry.

That would be my only advice too, since you're already doing everything else I can think of. He won't go potty on himself in a crate, as long as it's small enough, so then you can work on just ignoring his requests. He can hold it, Alice is only 4 lbs. and 7 months old and she does no problem. she sleeps in a crate though

[BlondeLocks]

I would suggest the crate too. Kody got into this habit as well after his neuter. Finally getting back to normal. 5a.m. is his usual time, which is my usual time to get up. But he was going at 2:30, 3:00, 3:30 - that wasn't gonna happen. I know he can hold it.

[AllDogBoots]

Oh boy. Thanks for your suggestion. Cooper has never used a crate and I think that is going to be an absolutely impossible solution.

[kjc]

I would time their playtime in the evening a little earlier, allow them to drink, and let them out to potty after playing and before bed. Or limit the play and the water in the evening.

[horsnaround]

mine tried this for awhile I would hear them get up and i would say go back to bed. And did not let them jump down. They would lay down and go back to sleep. Try to catch him before he jumps down. It worked well for me they would settle back in and sleep till morning.
this worked for me good luck

[SoSoNYC1]

SO funny Karen. I am going through that with Austin. He wakes me up like clockwork at 4am to go potty. Mind you I have to work and wake up at 6am. Basically he breaks my sleep and I can never go back to sleep. I think its time to make him go sleep in his room, since he's sleeping on his mommas bed with his sissy.lol
Austin goes on the pee pee pad.

[Maximo]

I have a similar problem with Teddy. He has such a fast digestive system and I can't seem to adjust his internal clock, so he has do "big business" at 11 pm and no later than 6:30 am. Often, it's earlier. My critical REM-sleep is always interrupted.

I would always respond to Cooper's request to go out because he is demonstrating that his need is legitimate. Not sure what to suggest for changing his inner clock because it sounds like you are doing everything right with exercise and feeding. I wouldn't withhold water, especially because of Cooper's previous licking problem.

[AlicetheYorkie]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

Oh boy. Thanks for your suggestion. Cooper has never used a crate and I think that is going to be an absolutely impossible solution.

Ya, if he's never been in a crate that probably won't work, he'd probably bark and keep you up anyway lol. How do you feel about putting a pee pad down for him only at night? The only thing I'd think MAY be an issue there is would he "go" in that spot during the day when the pad's not there? but idk, maybe not.
That is a toughy if you can't use a crate. I'd do anything to make sure my sleep wasn't interupted lol, I am NOT a happy camper the next day when that happens lol.

[Britster]

I ignore Jackson when he does this, lol. It's rare but he's had his 4am mornings where he barks at the gate to get out and I just say 'lay down' and he comes back up in bed. He knows better than to wake me so early!!! LOL.

It all depends... like I know if I let him out at midnight for the last time, he does NOT need to go that bad at 6am (he usually holds it for 10 or more hours overnight) and I know it. If I let him out for the last time at 9:30-10pm, I think a 7am wake up call is more reasonable. Or if he drinks a ton of water right before bed, I know he's gonna have to go out one more time...

[gardengirl77]

I'm fighting the same thing.

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by horsnaround

mine tried this for awhile I would hear them get up and i would say go back to bed. And did not let them jump down. They would lay down and go back to sleep. Try to catch him before he jumps down. It worked well for me they would settle back in and sleep till morning.
this worked for me good luck

Cooper sleeps at the very end of my bed, literally with his head hanging almost on the steps. It's less than 5 seconds for him to stretch and get on the floor. That, plus he doesn't listen.

Originally Posted by Maximo

I have a similar problem with Teddy. He has such a fast digestive system and I can't seem to adjust his internal clock, so he has do "big business" at 11 pm and no later than 6:30 am. Often, it's earlier. My critical REM-sleep is always interrupted.

I would always respond to Cooper's request to go out because he is demonstrating that his need is legitimate. Not sure what to suggest for changing his inner clock because it sounds like you are doing everything right with exercise and feeding. I wouldn't withhold water, especially because of Cooper's previous licking problem.

He's demonstrating that his need is legitimate but he's really good at getting what he wants. I just don't think he sleeps well and needs to get up and may as well go potty too.

Originally Posted by AlicetheYorkie

Ya, if he's never been in a crate that probably won't work, he'd probably bark and keep you up anyway lol. How do you feel about putting a pee pad down for him only at night? The only thing I'd think MAY be an issue there is would he "go" in that spot during the day when the pad's not there? but idk, maybe not.
That is a toughy if you can't use a crate. I'd do anything to make sure my sleep wasn't interupted lol, I am NOT a happy camper the next day when that happens lol.

a pee pad LOL. You are a funny one

[DvlshAngel985]

Poor you! Did anything change in your routine over the past few months? (trying to help you think "out loud") Has he had any other accidents? Frequent urination? (think UTI)

[EarthAngel]

I would suggest feeding them at 5pm. I feed mine at 8am and 4pm but give a treat at 12pm and 7pm...like a biscuit. Maybe that would help.

Yes, that is another thing to find out...UTI...is he having to do peeps alot during the day more than usual?