How can I house train my dog?
My dog goes out during the day for a wee, and I take him out at 11 o'clock at night, but during the early hours of the morning he never lets me know he wants out. This means he does it in my kitchenette. What can I do to stop this?
Advice (3)
Is this a puppy or young dog? If not, it needs a vet visit to determine why it can't hold its bladder.
Are you SURE the dog isn't letting you know and you just sleep through it? If this is a young dog or not fully potty trained you will need to eliminate water a couple of hours before the last outside trip, then set your alarm for 2 or 3 hours and get yourself up to take the dog out again. Gradually you'll be able to extend the length of time until he can make it through the night, but always be sure to remember to see to your dog's potty needs first thing upon YOU waking.
Yes, it will be annoying and frustrating to get up in the middle of your sleep but a dog is a huge obligation and it will be SOOO worth the time and effort you put into it!
The information you have given me will be very helpful as he is only 17 weeks old.
Hi Yvonne,
KJoan did a good job of raising some of the issues that might be involved, and I do agree that it could be worth it to have your vet examine your dog if he's an adult, especially if he was previously well-trained and is now backsliding.
I do have one more suggestion for you that might make the situation easier to deal with until you can get the problem under control. Check your local pet supply stores for a product called the belly band. This is a type of diaper made especially for male dogs to keep them from urinating in the house. As an added benefit, many dogs do not like the way the diaper feels when it's wet, so it might also become a house training aid if your dog doesn't like wearing it until you get up in the morning.
You are definitely not the only one. Lots of people have a hard time house training their dogs. It looks like you've found some great advice here - do come back and let us know how it's going!