House Training Early Days

I hope house training falls within this forum?
Our Flynn (Welsh Springer Spaniel) is just 7 weeks old and has been with us for 3 days. He has been sleeping in his crate in our bedroom so far (he adopted his crate, usually in the kitchen, as his den on day 1) and the first night I let him wake me to go out at night. He squeaked around 1am and 3am so the next night I put my alarm at 1.30 and 3.30am to take him out. He had a little wet patch at 1.30am so I suppose I should set my alarm a bit earlier tonight. He cried around 2.30am - I suspect from having the hiccups. So last night we were up at 1.30, 2.30 (hiccups), 3.30 and 6.30. We’re feeling a bit dozy today.....
Tonight he’s going into the kitchen (with a baby monitor on), where he has been spending most of his days, and I’ll set the alarm again for 12.30 ( I think) and 3am. Fingers crossed he won’t cry and howl and that he’ll stay dry!
During the day I’ve been taking him out every half hour (while awake) and after his sleeps. We’re doing alright there! Hope we can get the night thing on track soon as sleep deprivation is not fun!

Wish us luck!!

 

Third night, first night in the kitchen. He went for a last wee at 10.45 and then in his crate. He howled and barked for about an hour and then finally settled. I let him out at 1am for wee - his crate was clean and dry. He was so happy to see me, licking and cuddling me. BUt I tried to be as boring as possible... Then again at 4am. This morning at 7 he was happy and excited. Just like yesterday the fuss of a family morning made him over excited and he had an accident. His going is more unpredictable in the busy morning and I have too much to do (kids to school, lunch boxes, breakfast, getting dressed) to watch him to see if he needs to go again after 10 mins. Maybe put him in his crate again during rush hour?
Hoping we can stretch the night time a bit more. Try 1.30am and 5am? Am not sure.

 

Sounds good to me

 

Thanks!

Last night I decided to stay up till midnight and then set the alarm at 2.30 and 6am. All went well. No howling and a dry crate.

Unfortunately I am now do sleep deprived - after a few days of this - I need to change plan.....

 

I increased the time between alarms by 15 minutes a night. So, I very quickly got to the point where it was only one wake up a night. Then that one got later and later until I tried to leave her through the night.

It was a bit interrupted due to sickness, but it worked really well. The sleep deprivation is horrible, but it doesn't last long.

 

As Flynn is not yet 8 weeks old it could well be a couple of weeks before he only needs one toilet break during the night and not to expect him to go through the night until around 14 weeks. Having a puppy is very like having a baby, they just grow up quicker.

 

my kids slept through the night fairly quickly... I think it was 6-8 weeks! I suppose I am spoiled. LOL
Maybe I should find some time during the day (if Flynn lets me) to nap. He sleeps a lot - but quite short naps and wants me close by so I am sortof stuck on the kitchen chair.....

 

They may have slept through the night but I bet they wearing nappies and pee'd during the night.

 

hello everyone, I could do with some advice.....
Flynn is now 11, nearly 12 weeks. He sleeps at night from 11.30 til 6.30, so I am quite pleased how he is doing. I am trying to stretch the night by coming downstairs 5 minutes later every morning, but unfortunately he has figured when I am due to come downstairs and starts crying 10 or so minutes before. If I ignore him he gets so worked up he wees in his crate. So to try and beat him and get him out before the crying and weeing I've been going downstairs earlier. He's clocked that and starts crying earlier... Instead of stretching the night out we are shortening it!! I am now going down at 6 as he is howling! Never mind this thingy where he has learned that crying will get me up..... He's got me!
Any ideas?

 

Are you sure he doesn't just need a wee? I think I'd be tempted to completely mix it up again, and put maybe a 5am wee-break in there, so you know he's empty and any 6:30 whining can be ignored. Then, each night, move that 5am break back 15 minutes.

 

I think this is one big advantage in having a puppy in a pen rather than a crate. If a puppy really is desperate to have a pee, and is in a pen, he can move away from his bed in order to do so. This takes the stress out of the needing to ignore but worried he needs a pee thing. I had my puppy in a pen at first, and never had to go to him when he was crying, and he is super good now. Never fusses.

( I have to say I also did the 'cold turkey' on your own from night one thing, because that's what my mum had always done with pups, but I wouldn't do that again, I'd have the pup with me until he felt safe and secure in his new home, then I'd ignore crying. )

 

Hi Fiona, thank you for replying! I really appreciate it. I am pretty sure he needs a wee, after all it is morning and he is no doubt desperate for one. But he’s been ok making it till I come down at 6.30 and let him out in the garden. But now he’s wanting me earlier and when I moved back from 6.30 to 6.15 he was quiet and dry the first night and the second night starting howling at 6.10! Arch!
I think you might well have a good idea here to just reset the whole thing and go back to a 5am (yawn, zzzz...bummer) and then work from there. He is a very clingy doggie (welcomes you back from a 5 second visit to another room as if you’ve been away for weeks) and he no doubt gets excited when he knows you due to come in soon.
So yes, I might try this and go back an hour and then back to bed till 7 or so....

Thanks Julie - great you could respond! Yes, indeed this is the downside of a crate. He’s got nowhere to go......

 

Hello all, I am back. Still with the same problem. My puppy (now 16 weeks) wakes up earlier and earlier. At first it was 6.30 and he was dry in his crate. He figured I am coming down at that time and started howling and barking 20 mins before. I ignore it and 20 mins of barking will make him lose control and a wet bed is the result. I try to catch him before it all and move back the getting up and going out time to 6am. I come downstairs and he is asleep and dry. Before long (give him a couple of nights) he figured what time I am due to come and he will start barking and howling 20mins before, at 5.40. I usually let him howl for 20mins until it is ’time’.
I move it all back once again, catch him asleep and dry at 5.30am. Within no time he figures out etc. I am now getting up at 5am and he is starting to bark at 4.40am.....
I have tried to ignore it, knowing I’d find a wet bed (but hey, we can wash) but he will keep up the barking all the way until the whole family gets up around 7.30am. That’s well over 2 hours of barking... and the whole family was exhausted from listening to it.
I would really like to be able to move the alarm clock later instead of earlier and I would love, love some advice.
Thank you so much....

 

maybe a pen?

 

You could try a pen, but it sounds like he wants company.

Is having him in a bedroom (in his crate) an option you'd consider?

 

Thank you Rachael for replying! Really appreciate it. Yes, I suppose he wants company. They say that Welsh Springers are ‘velcro dogs’ and I suppose I am finding out its true! I suppose I could consider it, but I imagine I would never-ever get him out again so I’d rather not and keep him in the kitchen. I am sure my son would love him in his bedroom but I’m not sure I want that... and he’s only 9, LOL
I must train him to be without us for a bit!

 

We had a similar problem where she was waking up earlier and earlier (crying in crate) but when I went to her she wouldn't get up and would fall back asleep...almost like she wanted reassurance that we were there. She wasn't waking up to go pee. It eventually stopped - i can't remember at exactly what age but around 16-18 weeks likely, and she now sleeps through until we get up.

 

ooh, it would be nice if it would just stop. But our little boy does not fall back asleep again - he is jumping up and down with excitement! Once he’s been out (if he hasn’t done it in his crate already, then I am standing outside at 5am for nothing) he’ll play around a bit and then fall asleep again (me on the sofa). But if I leave the room he’ll get upset.... sigh.... So now I doze on the sofa from 5am - probably 4am in a couple of days LOL

 

We’re considering trying the cold turkey approach and just let him howl until 6.30 - wet bed and all - and keep this up for a few nights in the hope of him ‘getting’ it... He might figure out we’re not coming till then and after a few nights only howl from 6 onwards? Dunno, if it will work and it would mean having to listen to hours and hours of him getting horrendously upset....

 

Maybe make your son and your puppy happy and have the pup in his room...? I know you said you don't want that, but what are the downsides? Yes, you are right that if you start this and it works you may have to commit to it, but is that so bad? You would all be able to sleep.....