Re: Not sleeping through night

In Reply to: Not sleeping through night
Posted by:  Sandy McClure
Posted on:  May 29, 2001 at 19:15:51

Part of: We have an 11 week old pup, Daisy, which we've had for one month now. She is not sleeping through the night, getting up 2-3 times per night. Initially, I thought this was due to her young age and her needing to go out - which we did. She'd do her business then back into the crate and (usually) back to sleep. Some nights better, some worse. She has many many times urinated and defecated in her crate... sometimes just after being let out. Is this not sleeping through the night normal? If so, when does it end? We've tried keeping the crate in our bedroom so she feels as though she's close by and then moved her into the kitchen because we were so tired. We've tried getting up with her everytime she barks and we've tried ignoring her (which is usually when she ends up doing her business in the crate - along with other times during the day on occasion, though this has pretty much become a night time thing) We've done a good job of keeping the food and water before bedtime down to a bare minimum. HELP! We're exhausted and at our wits end.

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Part of the problem is that she is still very young and puppies this age, can't physically hold their badders or bowels that long. Most of us who house break or crate train puppies have to get up during the night.
If your puppy is 11 weeks old now, then you also got your puppy too young and it most states it is Illegal to sell a puppy under the age of 8 weeks, and most reputable breeder don't sell them untill 10 to 12 weeks of age. THis makes for a better adjusted puppy and one that is more apt to be trainable when it goes to its new hom.

First I would have the puppy checked by your Vet and make sure there are no medical problem. Once a night should be all that is necessary, to get up, and then you are just going to have to loose some more sleep for a while. This is just a part of becoming a new parent to a baby, that has special needs.
Sorry I can't be of more help but everything take time and a lot of effort on your part. Don't be in a hurry to rush things.