Puppy question

Little Reggie has an unwelcome guest... as such he's 'going' a lot more frequently, which unfortunately means in his crate overnight... I take him out at midnight before I go to bed, 3am then 6:30/7am, but still he leaves a gift, even if he's already been... Just now, I took him out, brought him back inside, had some food then we went straight into his crate and went again! All the good progress we made seems to have gone, as we got to the stage where he'd last most nights without. Does anyone have any advice how to prevent this, as I can't be up any more frequently than every 2 and a half/3 hours. The vet advised changing his feeding times but that doesn't explain why he keeps doing what he's doing :( I'm losing a lot of sleep and getting a few more grey hairs from this. Please help!

 

Perhaps it's the smell that he's picking up. Try washing all his bedding and disinfecting the crate. It could also be a habit, so during the day shut the crate door, leave your back door open and immediately after eating put him out and don't let him back in until he's been. If he does anything outside praise him. You can also get him used to hearing familiar words. For instance when he's outside tell him to go and wee, it helps to keep repeating it. When he does tell him he's a good boy for doing a wee. Use the word as much as possible. Repetitive I know, but my own dogs soon got used to the words.

There's also the possibility he may have worms which will make him go more often. You can get pills from the vet or a pet shop but check they are for puppies and not adult dogs.

 

Thanks for your reply @Sheal
He's doing it even when there's no bedding in. I've been using a disinfectant spray each time. He has had a course of panacur as he was very loose, but that hasn't changed anything so a sample has been sent off for testing. There's definitely something in there that shouldn't be as he's got a little pot belly and he's been having a gurgling tummy and occasional burps! If he's also developing a habit as well as needing to go without much notice the advice with leaving the back door open is good, thank you I just daren't go to bed and leave him as I just know I'll have mess to clean up if I do!

Other than this, he's a good boy and is learning all the time he's really good on his lead, knows a couple of basic commands (when he wants to ) and is developing into a lovely fella

 

If he sleeps in the kitchen try leaving his crate door open overnight but cover the floor in newspaper. Okay, being a puppy he's likely to tear some of it up, but hopefully he'll do his business on some of it and you get a nights sleep into the bargain.

It does sound as if he has a stomach/bowel problem, but that may be down to his present diet. I had a Westie for 13 years and throughout her life she was almost vegetarian, she couldn't cope with much meat or the dry food they are given now, she had various vegetables with cooked rice as the main part of her diet. Every dog is different just like we are.

 

I've been going on vet advice with diet. He was on boiled chicken & white rice for days and it wasn't much fun...

Thank you so much for your advice, it's very much appreciated

 

Your welcome Ellen. Like children everything's trial and error in the early months.

That diet doesn't work with Reggie then, let's hope the vet comes up with something for you.

Night, night I'll be off now. I hope you get some sleep too.

 

@Ellen ....did you try leaving the crate door open last night Ellen?...how did you get on?

 

@Sheal & @Lolimac

3am was clean, 6am wasn't. The vet thinks he might have giardia so hopefully that'll be confirmed by the end of this week and he can get some meds for it. Throughout the day his motions go from not ideal to clear liquid & sometimes looks like undigested fat. He's had medication for the usual suspects re worms but that didn't have any effect. His stomach makes some very interesting gurgling sounds occasionally, he burps and also makes faint whining noises when you pick him up which makes me think his stomach might be a little painful.

In all honesty, I didn't leave his crate open overnight but during the day it seems to work, I just need to remember to close the door once he's out

 

I moved his bed out of his crate after we got back from a walk, and put it in front of the aga; he likes to lie down there with a chew toy anyway. I kept the kitchen door open, and he's wandered out a couple of times, and done both outside, without me having to lead him out to encourage him. I can't put across how happy that made me! So hopefully it is just his poorly tummy that's making him go in his crate overnight, that he just can't hold on. There's hope yet!

 

Awww what a good boy going outside on his own sounds like his little tum is a bit upset...hope it clears up soon

 

It it hard having a puppy during the Winter time because although they are getting the hang of where you want them to 'go' they are put off by the cold wet weather!! He'll get there eventually, they all do, bless his little heart!!

Val

 

Hi Ellen

Illness or injury can make toilet habits different or challenging. My Meg had her Rabies jab so I could take her on holiday and she developed a painful neck. Me, being a total soft touch let her sleep on my bed as I was worried she could get worse. I woke up in the middle of the night and she had wet herself and was lying in it. This is a dog who hoovers on one hind leg so she doesn't mess herself! I highly suspect your baby has a tummy upset and will make progress again once fit and well x

 

There is every possibility he's not happy being crated. Personally I don't agree with them and all my dogs in the past except the last one didn't have one, but it's each to their own. Crating is a 'modern' day thing almost a fashion if you like. My last dog hated it even though he'd been in one with his breeder. For the first three months that I had him he howled every night, all night and I was going mad with lack of sleep. Then I chose to leave him in his bed one night and removed the cage, not a whimper, it was that simple!

I'm glad to hear he has 'been' outside today, that's an encouraging sign, he obviously understands that-that is where he should go and I think once you get his stomach problem sorted out he will improve a lot. Even the fact he held on until 6am this morning is really good for a puppy his age.

Can I suggest that you don't rely on your vet to much regarding his diet, they are not always right, trial and error at home with various foods is probably best. My last vet was brilliant, he said to feed my dogs on pretty much anything as long as it didn't upset them, which worked. One of his own dogs had a passion for Chilli's believe it or not and was happy to sit and nibble on one now and again.

 

He's quiet in his crate now, but I don't want to keep him in there forever. I'd love to have his comfy bed in front of the aga and snuggle up there even when he's old

He went straight to where he should go as well

You're right with the food. The food the breeder gave me wasn't agreeing with him at all. This one seems ok so far, just won't know for sure until his tummy issues clear if it doesn't then I'll try another; there's certainly plenty of choice out there I've not heard of chilli being a favourite

 

It would be interesting to try leaving the crate door open overnight like Sheal suggested and put the news papers or pads down near the door...i think it could make all the difference.......