With a puppy, it can be challenging to get a good night’s sleep. They’ll wake you up crying for attention or bathroom breaks, just like a new baby. Maybe your dog wakes you up in the middle of the night to go potty. Finding the cause of the issue is the first step in solving it. To find out more about puppies pooping at night, read this article.
Why Does My Dog Go Out At Night And Poop?
Your dog may be defecating at night for a number of reasons. Once you know what’s causing it, you can usually fix it.
Eating Too Late Or Early
Your dog may poop at night if they eat their dinner too late. Once the food has been digested, they must poop. If you are feeding them before bedtime and they are going potty at night, try feeding them later. This might enable them to postpone going potty until the morning.
House Training
Your dog may need some time to stop pooping at night if you are house training him. They might be able to control it during the day when you are there to remind them, but they won’t be able to do so at night.
Stress
If you’ve ever experienced an upset stomach as a result of anxiety or nervousness, you can relate to the term “nervous stomach.” Dogs are also affected by this. They may experience irregular digestion and nighttime bowel movements if they are under a lot of stress.
Difficulty Communicating
The communication between you and your dog may be difficult. They have no choice but to go during the night if they need to relieve themselves before going to sleep and you miss the signals.
Age
Age may be the root of your dog’s poop issues if they are puppies or older dogs. Puppies have less control over when and where they go, and they can’t hold their bowels and bladder for as long as an adult dog can.
Additionally, older dogs may struggle to contain their bowel movements. Additionally, they might suffer from illnesses like arthritis or other conditions that make pooping challenging.
How To Fix This Problem
Health Check
If you believe that you have exhausted all possibilities or techniques, you may have to visit your local vet with your puppy for a health checkup.
You need to be sure that it is not a medical issue that is responsible for the pooping habit of your puppy.
If your puppy’s inappropriate poopy habits are the result of what you are feeding them, your veterinarian is qualified to make that determination.
Adequate Exercise
Does your dog get enough exercise?
You should always make it a habit for your dog to have enough exercise – before and after – being crated.
When your puppy has enough exercise, he becomes tired. He won’t be able to poop in his crate out of boredom because of his fatigue.
Moreover, regular exercise can help your dog to connect to a particular routine. This schedule will include bathroom usage, meals, walks, and other activities. Your puppy will be able to associate exercise with potty time.
Due to your busy schedule at work, you should think about hiring a dog walker if you don’t have time to take your puppy for a walk.
Good Potty Training
Before you crate your puppy, especially for an extended period, you need to teach him – by showing him – the ins and outs of where and when to go to the bathroom.
Punishing a bad deed is not usually as effective as positive reinforcement. Even hiring a pro is not necessary if you want to potty train your puppy. Watch the video about housetraining your puppy that is provided below.
Well-timed Feeding Schedules
Make sure you feed your pooch at the same time every day. And you need to relate this period directly to the time that is spent inside the crate.
Most dogs have this innate habit of passing waste approximately 30 minutes after their regular meals. So, do not send your puppy straightaway into his crate post-meal.
Do not keep food in your puppy’s crate until you are fully confident that your adorable little companion can hold it in for extended periods.
When To Consult A Professional
If your puppy is still eliminating in their crate at night after you’ve tried everything on this list and spoken to your veterinarian, it may be time to seek the advice of a professional trainer.
The advice in this article is all general, despite the fact that I have decades of experience with puppies and positive reinforcement. You can get a professional set of eyes on your particular situation and puppy by hiring a local professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Can A Dog Hold His Or Her Poop At Night?
Most puppies fully digest their food after 6 to 8 hours, though the exact amount of time will depend on the puppy’s age and size. Accordingly, they will need to use the restroom after roughly 6 hours, and many won’t be able to hold it for very long.
Puppy bladder control, however, is only good for an hour per month of age. Thus, a puppy who is three months old has bladder control for about three hours.
When Ought A Puppy’s Last Meal To Be?
Feeding your puppy early enough in the day will give them at least 6 hours to digest their food and go potty. So that you can give them their final potty break of the day, their final meal should be given about six hours before you go to bed.
Final Words
From learning what they can bite to where they can poop, puppies have a lot to learn. Of course, accidents will happen, and it’s not uncommon for puppies to poop in their crates at night. To prevent this, confine them to a kennel at night so they can’t roam free. Additionally, this encourages them to sleep rather than play, increasing their likelihood of staying asleep all night.
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