Frustration with housebreaking

[radioflyer02]

So I just got a little tri colored corgi about 4 weeks ago, named him Kobe. He is a sweety and full of energy. OUr issue is that he is leaving his crate clean, but still wakes up around 4 am to go eliminate. This has been going on for a few weeks now and i fear that it is now routine for him. I want to break this 'routine' so that we can start sleeping again, but i dont want him to start peeing in his crate.

Should I just let him whine and hold it? Or continue taking him out?

HELP!
Amy

[pat_m]

How old is he? Is he going as soon as you take him out?

A rule that I have heard - figure a dog can wait one hour per month old they are.

So a dog that is 4 Months old - 4 hours between going outside

We followed this rule with Byron until by was 5 Months old - then he he was able to make it through the night

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by radioflyer02

So I just got a little tri colored corgi about 4 weeks ago, named him Kobe. He is a sweety and full of energy. OUr issue is that he is leaving his crate clean, but still wakes up around 4 am to go eliminate. This has been going on for a few weeks now and i fear that it is now routine for him. I want to break this 'routine' so that we can start sleeping again, but i dont want him to start peeing in his crate.

Should I just let him whine and hold it? Or continue taking him out?

I would not take a chance with a puppy. I would continue to take him out, especially if he is going when you do take him out.

How old is he?

Try picking up his water a couple of hours before bedtime. Take him out right before you put him to bed. Feed him his last meal about 4 hours before bedtime. Try those and see if that helps.

Peggy

[C Mocho]

Oh dear!...
I don’t wish to be inconvenient but for the experience I have with dogs, I would give him a big walk the last minute before bed and will food him the minute before. (don’t worry he will get a good digestion).
Maybe for the moment he scream a bit early in the morning, but I find it is preferable to put him in bed the later you can than waking up the sooner he needs…
I believe that if you got a young puppy he will be at least two or tree mounts, so he can perfectly sleep six hours. But if you keep taking him out at 4 am every night, I assure you, he will wake you up at 4 am at the major age.
Corgis have a strong personality, and if you allow him to schedule his wishes, he will do it with pleasure. So, try to get a commitment between his needs and yours, the earlier you can so you can both enjoy the maximum you can.

[Michael Romanos]

C Mocho has it right. I would not allow your puppy any liquid after his last toilet walk, I would not give him his final meal for the day, late at night, I would always take him for a final toilet walk just before you go to bed - this could be therefore as late as 11pm -12 midnight. And I would get up in the morning at an early time for a couple of months - perhaps at 6am and take him out on a toilet walk.

[colbycorgi]

I too agree with trying your best to get him onto your schedule. We didnt have too much trouble with Colby but it took what other are suggesting, no food/water late at night, both were not left down until he was fully potty trained, which according to our puppy class was not until he could go one whole month without an accident inside. We also were forever taking him out to go late at night and first thing in the am....we got him in the winter so it was always dark dark out and we were usually freezing but it was better then cleaning up a mess on the rug....im sorry i dont recall exactly how old he was when he finally was able to go through the night but we got him at 12 weeks and it was at least another 4-6 before he was trained completely i think....hope this is helpful...sorry for the rambling....its late and i have insomnia AGAIN!!! too bad the dog park is closed!!! It just may have cooled down a bit here. and we could actually go..its been very muggy these past few weeks....we could use some rain that i hear may be on its way...alas...i digress....sorry again....sleep tight all you cozy corgis ~colbys mum

[Michael Romanos]

I got Taylor in winter. It is always a big plus to get a pup in the warmer months so that house training can be so much more comfortable.

[radioflyer02]

Thank you all for your information and help. Kobe is 13 weeks as of today. I just have not had a puppy in about 6 years and kind of forgot how to be patient with the process. I did try what someone had told me and let him whine. He did not whine long, then at 6 am he woke up with a surprise of a mess in his crate.

I do take up water at 7pm and his last meal of the day is at 5:30. Then we go for a final potty walk at 9:30. As for if he always eliminates once we go out? No...he actually sometimes just sniffs around then rolls in the dewed grass or just lays there and that is what becomes frustrating.

I will take and use all your advise and i appreciate it

[Clogs]

One thing to do is to say a "key" word each time he does eliminate, and then praise - I use "wee-wees." Eventually, they put two and two together and will "wee-wee" on command. I can generally get Rosie to go at night or before we go a lomger way in the car by saying this.

[Michael Romanos]

Nine thirty is too early for a pup's last toilet time - better if it is the 'last' thing you and him/her do with eyes wide open, for the night.

[kkaffrine]

I had the same issue with my girl. She would start moving around in the crate and her nails tapping against the bottom of the crate and whine a bit. That would wake me at 3:00 every night! I am a very light sleeper so this was quite annoying but I would take her out to do her business and put back in the crate until time to get up. This lasted for a few months. But she has grown out of that stage. She was a year old last month and she will sleep until I get up now. For her, it did not matter when I gave her her last water for the evening. Just give it some time and hopefully yours will adjust as well.

Katherine

[Michael Romanos]

Drinking liquid (eg water) or consuming canned food late ar night, just before a final toilet walk or soon after and among the last things at night, is asking for trouble from a pup rather than being a definite recipe for toilet errors. It also depends just how much a puppy drinks.