I usually feed him at 6 pm and then walk him, try to tire him out by taking the stairs. He suddenly started waking up in between the night instead of his usual timing at 5:00 am. He starts whining and barking looks for food or treats. so I give him a puppy kong with food at 3:30 to settle him down after taking him for potty break every time he wakes up. I tried to set alarm and suddenly that day he woke up at 1:30 am and then at 3;30 and then at 5:00am. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Any suggestions would help. I've tried playing music, changing his crate location, not letting him sleep after dinner so he gets tired and sleeps through the night but nothing has helped.
I wouldn't worry just yet. Our pup started sleeping through the night, then went for a week or two (around the same age as yours) with night time toilet wakes... I think it was because it was more difficult to get him out in to the garden for a last wee/poo before bed (until then it was easily possible to pick him up and carry him out). He then went back to sleeping all the way through after a while. In my experience so far (our pup is now approaching 19 weeks) every week can be different. What seemed like a worry often resolves itself, to be replaced by another totally different and unexpected worry!
I hope that doesn't mean you're walking him up/down stairs to tire him out? Puppies really shouldn't use stairs at all - beyond for socialisation purposes to ensure they're ok with them - and if you need to use them, it should be kept as minimal as possible. Use of stairs in puppyhood increases the risk of hip dysplasia later: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22620698/ "Puppies walking on stairs from birth to 3 months of age had an increased risk of developing HD." You're reinforcing his noise by giving him a Kong. Heck, if I woke up and shouted for chocolate mousse at 3am and I got it, I'd be shouting every night, I can guarantee. If you don't like him waking up at 3am, then stop reinforcing it by giving food. Put the crate by your bed. This is important to ensure your puppy feels safe and the noise is not about feeling alone or scared. Set your alarm for BEFORE the puppy will wake up. If you think he will wake at 3am, set the alarm for 2am. Take the puppy out. If the puppy wakes up after that, ignore it. He has been to the toilet. Set your alarm for a second toilet trip at 5am.
