Q&A: While I am sleeping, my 3 month old puppy will jump off the bed and poop somewhere in my room. Any solutions?
Question by MHL: While I am sleeping, my 3 month old puppy will jump off the bed and poop somewhere in my room. Any solutions?
I have a crate that I keep the puppy in while we are away at work during the day. During my lunch break, I take her out to let her go to the bathroom and then put her back. When we get home, we let her out again. She sleeps with me on my bed. I tried the crate method at night, but all she does is bark, and its difficult for us to sleep with all the barking.
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Answer by chelle
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you should be crating your puppy. otherwise it will never get potty trained
The first few nights will be difficult, but crate training is the only sure fire way to break this habit. That and getting up every few hours to take her out. When potty-training skills improve, you will be able to let her out at night.
take the pup out right before you go to bed and then agian first thing in the morning, don’t let the barking get to you or you will regret it, if you let them know by ignoring them that barking wont help they will eventually stop with the barking
make a routine. first thing when you get up, first thing after you feed him, first thing when you come home. i would invest in a kennel. they don’t like a mess in their bed.
The professional answer would be to wait until your dog is in the act then stop him and rub his nose in it. I took a different approch with my dog. I leashed him and took him to one area in my yard a simple 5X5 area. Waited until he had to go. Did this for a few days. Now he only goes in that area, and the cleanup is easier and is potty trained.
I used to breed boxers and the best way that I found to help with this problem was to make sure they were given a certain amount of the same food at the same time every day. Keep in mind this is just a puppy, as with any baby it takes some time for them to gain control over their bladder and bowels. Never spank her for this just take her outside and when she does go give her lots of praise. It takes a lot of patience, but the more you work with her the faster you will see results.
Although violence is not the answer, you have to act VERY angry for this to work. Hold the puppy by the collar (you know, where you tie the leach to) haul her/him to where his poop is, and make him/her smell it. Shout at it a few random wors such as “NEVER AGAIN”. and then hit her/him on the calf muscle hard, but not hard enough to injure him/her. Remember to do this each time he/she poops on the floor.
The other answer, is to take your dog for a walk before going to sleep. Preferably by a park.
A 3 month old puppy can’t make it 8 hours without a potty break. You already know that. That’s why you go home at lunch and let her out. Night time is no different. The only way to stop the nocturnal indoor poo festival is to wake up in the middle of the night and let her out to potty until she is old enough to hold it for 8 hours.
The rule of thumb is one hour per month (at least for large dogs – I don’t know anything about little dogs and you don’t say what kind of puppy you have). It’ll be a few more months before she can make it all night.
Set your alarm for halfway through the night, if you don’t wake up automatically when she gets off the bed. She may be trying to wake you to tell you she needs to go but you don’t wake up so she goes on the floor (at least she’s not pottying on your comforter).
Oh, yeah, by the way. Regardless of what anyone else tells you, DO NOT RUB HER NOSE IN IT. That is disgusting, and it will not teach the dog to potty outside. It will teach the dog that you are a troglodyte and that she should be afraid of you. You don’t potty train a child by rubbing a dirty diaper on it’s face. Puppies are just like kids. They learn through positive reinforcement.
Good luck.
If you don’t wake up when your pup needs to potty it will not learn where to go. If the barking keeps you awake, put the crate and a softee bed in an X-pen or small room, like a bathroom. Make sure there is plenty of potty pads or a litter box available for the pup. play with the puppy before bed time, put her in her secure night space, with a nice chewy and then walk away. Let her cry for a while. DO NOT go to her while she is making noise, this will make it seem to her that the longer she makes noise eventually she will be rescued. Suck it up, put ear plugs if you must, as long as your pup is safe,, she can cry with out problem. You can also make sure you feed your puppy in this area in the am and pm so she will like being in there. Do not punish your dog for making mistakes, or crying. When she does the right thing make sure you reinforce it as you see or hear (being quiet) it happening. When she is quiet, let her know she will see your face, when she barks you disapear. Good luck, be strong and LOVING it should be fine in a few short days.
I always hated the idea of locking a poor little puppy in a crate or leaving it outside to cry all alone all night! What you really and seriously need to do is just like with a baby. You need to get up like every 2 hours and take the puppy outside to potty! I have 2 pomeranians and that is how I trained both of them. Every two hours for about 2 weeks u should do this and then they WILL get the hint! Plus as they get older they do stop and sleep thru the night. To this day my poms will grunt while sitting next to the bed and paw at me until I get up to let them out!!!! You have to be patient with them!
Take her outside when she wakes up. Just like most humans who need to potty after sleeping so do dogs especially puppies. I know it sounds inconvient but until she’s older to hold potting it keeps you from cleaning up poop.
Puppies can’t hold it for long. If you have any idea what time she does this, you could set your alarm to make a nightime poddy run. Otherwise letting her go out just before bedtime is the best answer. I have 5 dogs in the house, and am often up well past midnight just to make sure they have all gone potty before I go to bed.
Feeding her a bit earlier might help her to go poo earlier. Just adjust the time according to when she normally goes at night.
she should never go to bed with a full tummy.
you need to train her to use the crate. yes, for the frist few nights she will bark or get mad, but its worth it in the long run.
Providing your puppy or dog with an indoor kennel crate can satisfy many dogs’ need for a den-like enclosure. Besides being an effective housebreaking tool (because it takes advantage of the dog’s natural reluctance to soil its sleeping place), it can also help to reduce separation anxiety, to prevent destructive behavior (such as chewing furniture), to keep a puppy away from potentially dangerous household items (i.e., poisons, electrical wires, etc.), and to serve as a mobile indoor dog house which can be moved from room to room whenever necessary.
A kennel crate also serves as a travel cabin for you dog when travelling by car or plane. Additionally, most hotels which accept dogs on their premises require them to be crated while in the room to prevent damage to hotel furniture and rugs.
Most dogs which have been introduced to the kennel crate while still young grow up to prefer their crate to rest in or “hang-out” in. Therefore a crate (or any other area of confinement) should NEVER be used for the purpose of punishment.
We recommend that you provide a kennel crate throughout your dog’s lifetime. Some crates allow for the removal of the door once it is no longer necessary for the purpose of training. The crate can be placed under a table, or a table top can be put on top of it to make it both unobtrusive and useful.
Preparing the Crate
Vari-Kennel type: Take the crate apart, removing the screws, the top and the door. Allow your pup to go in and out of the bottom half of the crate before attaching the top half. This stage can require anywhere from several hours to a few days. This step can be omitted in the case of a young puppy who accepts crating right away.
Wire Mesh type:Tie the crate door back so that it stays open without moving or shutting closed. If the crate comes with a floor pan, place a piece of cardboard or a towel between the floor (or crate bottom) and the floor pan in order to keep it from rattling.
Furnishing Your Puppy’s Crate
Toys and Treats: Place your puppy’s favorite toys and dog treats at the far end opposite the door opening. These toys may include the “Tuffy”, “Billy”, “Kong”, “Nylabone” or a ball. Toys and bails should always be inedible and large enough to prevent their being swallowed. Any fragmented toys should be removed to prevent choking and internal obstruction. You may also place a sterilized marrow bone filled with cheese or dog treats in the crate.
Water: A small hamster-type water dispenser with ice water should be attached to the crate if your puppy is to be confined for more than two hours in the crate.
Bedding: Place a towel or blanket inside the crate to create a soft, comfortable bed for the puppy. If the puppy chews the towel, remove it to prevent the pup from swallowing or choking on the pieces. Although most puppies prefer lying on soft bedding, some may prefer to rest on a hard, flat surface, and may push the towel to one end of the crate to avoid it. If the puppy urinates on the towel, remove bedding until the pup no longer eliminates in the crate.
Location of Crate
Whenever possible, place the crate near or next to you when you are home. This will encourage the pup to go inside it without his feeling lonely or isolated when you go out. A central room in the apartment (i.e.: living room or kitchen) or a large hallway near the entrance is a good place to crate your puppy.
Introducing the Crate to Your Puppy
In order that your puppy associate his/her kennel crate with comfort, security and enjoyment, please follow these guidelines:
Occasionally throughout the day, drop small pieces of kibble or dog biscuits in the crate. While investigating his new crate, the pup will discover edible treasures, thereby reinforcing his positive associations with the crate. You may also feed him in the crate to create the same effect. If the dog hesitates, it often works to feed him in front of the crate, then right inside the doorway and then, finally, in the back of the crate.
In the beginning, praise and pet your pup when he enters. Do not try to push, pull or force the puppy into the crate. At this early stage of introduction only inducive methods are suggested. Overnight exception: You may need to place your pup in his crate and shut the door upon retiring. (In most cases, the crate should be placed next to your bed overnight. If this is not possible, the crate can be placed in the kitchen, bathroom or living room.)
You may also play this enjoyable and educational game with your pup or dog: without alerting your puppy, drop a small dog biscuit into the crate. Then call your puppy and say to him, “Where’s the biscuit? It’s in your room.” Using only a friendly, encouraging voice, direct your pup toward his crate. When the puppy discovers the treat, give enthusiastic praise. The biscuit will automatically serve as a primary reward. Your pup should be free to leave its crate at all times during this game. Later on, your puppy’s toy or ball can be substituted for the treat.
It is advisable first to crate your pup for short periods of time while you are home with him. In fact, crate training is best accomplished while you are in the room with your dog. Getting him used to your absence from the room in which he is crated is a good first step. This prevents an association being made with the crate and your leaving him/her alone.
A Note About Crating Puppies
Puppies under 4 months of age have little bladder or sphincter control. Puppies under 3 months have even less. Very young puppies under 9 weeks should not be crated, as they need to eliminate very frequently (usually 8-12 times or more daily).
Important Reminders
Collars: Always remove your puppy or dog’s collar before confining in the crate. Even flat buckle collars can occasionally get struck on the bars or wire mesh of a crate. If you must leave a collar on the pup when you crate him (e.g.: for his identification tag), use a safety “break away” collar.
Warm Weather: Do not crate a puppy or dog when temperatures reach an uncomfortable level. This is especially true for the short-muzzled (Pugs, Pekes, Bulldogs, etc.) and the Arctic or thick- coated breeds (Malamutes, Huskies, Akitas, Newfoundlands, etc.). Cold water should always be available to puppies, especially during warm weather. [Never leave an unsupervised dog on a terrace, roof or inside a car during warm weather. Also, keep outdoor exercise periods brief until the hot weather subsides.]
Be certain that your puppy has fully eliminated shortly before being crated. Be sure that the crate you are using is not too large to discourage your pup from eliminating in it. Rarely does a pup or dog eliminate in the crate if it is properly sized and the dog is an appropriate age to be crated a given amount of time. If your pup/dog continues to eliminate in the crate, the following may be the causes:
The pup is too young to have much control.
The pup has a poor or rich diet, or very large meals.
The pup did not eliminate prior to being confined.
The pup has worms.
The pup has gaseous or loose stools.
The pup drank large amounts of water prior to being crated.
The pup has been forced to eliminate in small confined areas prior to crate training.
The pup/dog is suffering from a health condition or illness (i.e., bladder infection, prostate problem, etc.)
The puppy or dog is experiencing severe separation anxiety when left alone.
Note: Puppies purchased in pet stores, or puppies which were kept solely in small cages or other similar enclosures at a young age (between approximately 7 and 16 weeks of age), may be considerably harder to housebreak using the crate training method due to their having been forced to eliminate in their sleeping area during this formative stage of development. This is the time when most puppies are learning to eliminate outside their sleeping area. Confining them with their waste products retards the housebreaking process, and this problem can continue throughout a dog’s adult life.
Accidents In The Crate
If your puppy messes in his crate while you are out, do not punish him upon your return. Simply wash out the crate using a pet odor neutralizer (such as Nature’s Miracle, Nilodor, or Outright). Do not use ammonia-based products, as their odor resembles urine and may draw your dog back to urinate in the same spot again.
Crating Duration Guidelines
9-10 Weeks
Approx. 30-60 minutes
11-14 Weeks
Approx. 1-3 hours
15-16 Weeks
Approx. 3-4 hours
17 + Weeks
Approx. 4+ (6 hours maximum)
*NOTE: Except for overnight, neither puppies nor dogs should be crated for more than 5 hours at a time. (6 hours maximum!)
The Crate As Punishment
NEVER use the crate as a form of punishment or reprimand for your puppy or dog. This simply causes the dog to fear and resent the crate. If correctly introduced to his crate, your puppy should be happy to go into his crate at any time. You may however use the crate as a brief time-out for your puppy as a way of discouraging nipping or excessive rowdiness.
[NOTE: Sufficient daily exercize is important for healthy puppies and dogs. Regular daily walks should be offered as soon as a puppy is fully immunized. Backyard exercize is not enough!]
Children And The Crate
Do not allow children to play in your dog’s crate or to handle your dog while he/she is in the crate. The crate is your dog’s private sanctuary. His/her rights to privacy should always be respected.
Barking In The Crate
In most cases a pup who cries incessantly in his crate has either been crated too soon (without taking the proper steps as outlined above) or is suffering from separation anxiety and is anxious about being left alone. Some pups may simply under exercised. Others may not have enough attention paid them. Some breeds of dog may be particularly vocal (e.g., Miniature Pinchers, Mini Schnauzers, and other frisky terrier types). These dogs may need the “Alternate Method of Confining Your Dog”, along with increasing the amount of exercise and play your dog receives daily.
When Not To Use A Crate
Do not crate your puppy or dog if:
s/he is too young to have sufficient bladder or sphincter control.
s/he has diarrhea. Diarrhea can be caused by: worms, illness, intestinal upsets such as colitis, too much and/or the wrong kinds of food, quick changes in the dogs diet, or stress, fear or anxiety.
s/he is vomiting.
you must leave him/her crated for more than the Crating Duration Guidelines suggest.
s/he has not eliminated shortly before being placed inside the crate.
(See Housetraining Guidelines for exceptions.)
the temperature is excessively high.
s/he has not had sufficient exercise, companionship and socialization.
put newspaper on the floor,make sure clothes,etc is off the floor.
Puppy’s are like baby’s,there bladder is little you must put them out every 4 or 5 hours. Just for the first 2or3 weeks. On the 4 week add an eztra hour.Everything should work out.
Good Luck to you,If you are consistent your puppy will learn. And he or she will make you happy!!