I have a 3 and 1/2 year old yellow lab who for the last couple of months has been peeing (sometimes pooping) in the middle of the night. He sleeps in the garage and will walk around to the far side of the vehicles and "do the deed" in the corner. It used to be rarely, and I gave him a break because, Hey, who doesn't have to get up once in a while? But now, it seems to be nightly. I take him out at 9-9:30 pm before I go to bed, and I get up at 5:30 am and take him out immediately then. His whole potty schedule has been off for the past few months and I can't seem to get him back on track. I mean, I could literally tell you exactly what time he had to go every day. Now, if he poops mid-morning to early afternoon, he's done for the day. (Until the middle of the night). I've not changed foods, schedules, anything. But, his ear has really been bothering him lately (shaking his head constantly, scratching, and really moaning when I rub it, which I know, most dogs love anyway. I know it's a reach, but could his ear have anything to do with his schedule? I just thought maybe it was keeping him awake at night and he's figuring, "might as well go potty since I'm up anyway?" I've cleaned his ear the best I can and am at the point that I'm going to get him to the vet to see if he has anything more going on. I've tried closing his crate but he's a Houdini and I don't want him stuck if he really has to go. He won't make a peep either to let me know he has to go outside. Any ideas?
I think the best thing to do is to get him to the vet for his ear. Maybe his ear is affecting his sleep in the night. Waking in the night and then feeling the urge to relieve himself? Waking in the night and the restlessness may cause more activity during the night, and encourage his body to feel the need to relieve himself?
