[dlassell]

My golden is 3 months old and he still wakes up to go out around 12-1:00 every night. He had a week where he slept through the night and since he had his 2nd set of shots he started waking up again to go out and do business. He always does pee and poop and goes back to his crate without any problems. Could it be from the shots, or could it be that his food is giving him trouble? He's on Wellness puppy food 3 times a day. I've read from other posts that some dogs have to be switched because their food is not compatible with them. He's been a little loose since the shots also, on and off.
Any advice or tips and tricks will be very appreciated.
Also, I take his water away around 7pm and we usually go to bed around 9:30-10:00. We make sure he goes out one more time before he goes to bed.

 

[Florabora22]

I honestly can't remember Flora at 3 months, but I'm pretty sure I was still taking her out to go potty in the middle of the night. I wouldn't be too concerned at this point. Your puppy is still very young and if he's going pee and poop at 1am, then... well, he had to go! I think time will be the best medicine here, but I am sure other people will chime in with better advice.

Frankly, if I were you, I'd be totally stoked that your dog is going #1 and #2 and then going straight into his crate with no complaints. That's awesome!

 

[jwemt81]

Three months is still very young and most puppies around that age aren't yet able to make it all the way through the night yet without waking up at least once to go potty. As far as the loose stools, was he recently de-wormed? That can cause the stools to be a bit loose. How much food is he getting? I know you're feeding him 3 times a day, which is perfectly fine at that age, but how many cups does he get at each feeding? As they get older, they gradually start being able to hold it longer and eventually will be able to sleep through the night and not have to go until morning.

It could also be that the Wellness is too rich for him. Some dogs just don't do well on the more premium foods because of how rich they can be. We had that problem with Tucker when we tried him on both California Natural and Eagle Pack when he was younger.

 

[BeauShel]

He is still young and will get better about sleeping thru the night as he gets older. Maybe start playing with him earlier in the evening and he might have to go potty earlier.

 

[dlassell]

Thanks, he gets 1 1/3 cup in AM and PM and 1 cup at lunch. My vet wants me to start him on twice a day in another week.
I'm also wondering if his food is too rich for him. I'll be patient and see what happens when he goes to twice a day feedings.

 

[jenlaur]

Thanks, he gets 1 1/3 cup in AM and PM and 1 cup at lunch. My vet wants me to start him on twice a day in another week.
I'm also wondering if his food is too rich for him. I'll be patient and see what happens when he goes to twice a day feedings.

Someone with more knowledge than me may chime in here, but he is getting way more food than Riley and she is 4 1/2 months old. She is on Wellness and just this week switched to adult formula. The breeder and our vet recommeded that we follow a slow growth plan which limits her growth to 2 lbs a week or under. Up until last week she was getting 1/2 cup 3 times a day with a spoonful of plain yogurt in the morning, an egg about 2 - 3 times a week with the mid day feed and a spoonful of Wellness canned at the evening feeding. Still sounds significantly less than what your boy gets. She is on target with her weight for the slow growth plan and she now gets about 3/4 cup 3 times a day with the same things added as before. I plan to cut out the mid day feed when she loses interest and so far she still scarfs it down.

I have to wonder if the potty at midnight is related to the amount of food he is getting. Also, what time do you feed him in the evening? Maybe you might try feeding a little earlier so he will want to potty around 10 instead. We fed Riley at 6 and then go for a walk around 7 or so. She usually poos before bed around 10:30. She stopped her midnight (and 3 a.m.) pees around 3 1/2 months. She wakes up when we do, around 5, pees and poos and then goes back to bed for about an hour until it's time to eat at 7.

I have always said that someone should write a handbook for children and that everything in it would work the same for all kids. I wish the same for dogs too!

 

[dlassell]

Thank you for your input, I have to agree, something's not right with the amount of food.
I think I should look into what you're doing. It sound like a great variety of foods for the dog but all healthy,
Thanks again

 

[Adriennelane]

I often still take Lucy out to potty sometimes at night. I have to get up, and she thinks she needs to go too. Now that we have Dory, who can't make it through the night, Lucy thinks she should go with Dory.