[yorkietalkjilly]

Until he passes through this phase, why don't you put his water dish where you can watch him drink for a couple of nights and see how much water he is drinking. Plus, if he has kibble soaked in water or a canned food of some type, he's getting water that way if he eats that sort of meal evenings. I would watch how he drinks and eats for a couple of nights and if he's taking in a lot of water, I would limit his water intake for a few hours before bed for a bit.

Also, when he has his last potty break, is he taking the time to really go or shortening it because another dog is out there running along the fence enticing him to hurry through his "business" or something like that? Do you stay outside with him when he pees to see what he's doing and whether or not he's recently being distracted by something and not finishing?

Lastly, he might be peeing in the house elsewhere and not using his pads during the day recently, too, and not necessarily holding it all day. And even if he's not, you might get him in for a vet check if nothing else works to see if he's got a little bladder irritation that is harder to ignore nights than during the day since you are home and can let him out. I think even if Tibbe had a bladder infection or something he would hold it when I'm not home as he hates to go in the house and is sooooo fond of leaving his pee scent outside on the fence we have in common with the neighbors and their dogs. I think Tibbe would go 12 hours or longer as he loves to pee on that fence right over where the neighbor dog goes!!! So if your guy has a similar mania to mark his territory outside, he maybe works hard to hold it during the day even though he might have a bladder irritation/infection because he so wants to leave his urine out in some special place for reasons of his own and there is no one there to let him out, though he may be uncomfortable from a bladder condition. But at night, you all are there to get him out should he need to go from some condition he's got.

Also it could be he just wakes in the night and wants attention and knows showing the need to go outside will certainly rouse you, whereas to wake you to play with him will likely just get your telling him "No". When Tibbe was young, he used to "lie" to me a bit to get to go outside or get me up and involved with him so the potty ploy is pretty well recognized. And obviously he can't use it during the day when you are gone but middle of the night - sure can.

Those are my only thoughts about what might be going on. Hope you can get to the bottom of it and get your sleep!