No Food or Water Before Bed
Since a puppy’s bladder is much smaller than an adult dog’s, they can’t hold it as long. If they go to sleep on a full stomach and bladder, it won’t be long before they’re whining to go out. Don’t feed your puppy in the three hours before bedtime, and do your best to withhold water for the last hour or so. This should elongate the time he sleeps through the night.
Just before bed, take your puppy out for the night’s last bathroom break. Eliminating just before bed—along with limited food and water in the last several hours—should extend the time your pup sleeps at night.
Sometime before heading to bed, schedule a play session with your pup. Romp around with him, using toys, and get him moving around actively. With any luck, he’ll be all tuckered out by the time you’re heading to bed, zoning out for hours before waking up again. Consult your veterinarian for advice on good, healthy exercise for your dog.
The meals should consist of a healthy and well-balanced diet that has been designed for puppies. This means refraining from cheaper dog foods that contains fillers and sugars rather than high quality nutrients. While these foods will make your dog appear to be full and satisfied, they are not giving your dog all the nutrition his growing body requires, and he may feel the need to eat more as he tries to meet those nutritional needs. Lesser puppy foods can undoubtedly affect the long-term growth and overall health of your puppy as well as cause gastric upset, constipation or diarrhea, which makes house training that much more of a challenge.
If your puppy appears to be reluctant about eating his food, you might try feeding him inside his crate so that he can eat without feeling threatened or distracted. This can also discourages him from eliminating right after he eats.
In the first stages of house-training your puppy, it is best to take him outside to eliminate every 1.5 hours. Give him some water to drink about fifteen minutes before taking him outside. As the house-training progresses, the puppy will be able to last for longer intervals without feeling the need to eliminate.
A puppy’s meal schedule must include three measured meals a day, preferably at the same time every day. The best time for your puppy’s first meal is around 7 a.m., noontime for lunch, and 5 p.m. for dinner. The last meal should always be around 5 p.m. so that he will have ample time to digest his food and eliminate one last time before bedtime. Stick to this basic puppy feeding schedule until the puppy reaches 14 to 18 weeks old, at which point the meal schedule should change to two meals a day (unless your veterinarian suggests otherwise).
To keep your puppy at healthy weight, make sure not to overfeed him even if he is begging for more. This is especially tricky with some breeds, who always appear to be hungry and who are predisposed to becoming overweight as a result. If you have any questions regarding exactly how much food your puppy should be eating in the course of a day, talk to your veterinarian or the breeder rather than guess. Do your research on the ingredients that go into different dog foods and how labels are written so that you can make the most informed choice on which puppy-formulated and adult dog food you will buy.
If your puppy does need a nighttime pee break, keep it quick. If you make a fuss about the bathroom trip, turn the lights on and engage your pup, he might think that its time to play. After he pees, bring him inside and place him in his crate or other sleeping place. This way he gets the message that nighttime is for sleeping, not for playing.
Puppies do best with small meals three to four times per day, served on a set schedule. Make the last meal of the day a late one — such as 9 p.m. for the 10:30 bedtime — then give your pup a bathroom break at least one hour after the meal so he can eliminate. By pushing back his evening mealtime and giving him a bathroom break, you minimize the chance hell need to do “No. 2” in the night.
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Not only can you take water and food from your pup at night, you should do so to housebreak your pet. He may whine, but dont cave: Youre helping him progress along his natural development path. As an added bonus, good training can minimize your puppys accidents — and your cleanup.
Signs that your pup needs to go potty include whining, crying, circling, restless behavior and scratching or sitting by the door. When your pup starts acting like its time to go out, take him outside so he can eliminate outdoors. Always praise outside bathroom behavior. If you find your pup having an accident, say a loud “no” and carry him outside. If he finishes the job there, bring him back inside and offer a treat. If your puppy peed in the home and you didnt catch him in the act, its too late to discipline him.
Puppy Schedule – Daily
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There are so many new experiences and things to think about when you bring home your puppy that you may forget one of the most important parts of puppy homecoming: establishing a routine. Structure will help your new canine family member feel secure and know what’s expected of him. The best way to do this is to create a schedule and stick to it. The first few weeks with your new puppy is the time to start establishing good behaviors. By the way, the puppy is not the only one who benefits from a schedule; it also makes life easier for the human members of the family. You won’t have to plan out every moment of your pup’s day, but there are a few important areas where a schedule can make the difference between a well-adjusted dog and chaos.
Unlike mature dogs that eat once or twice a day, most puppies need to eat puppy food three times a day. Make it easier to remember by planning his mealtimes around your own breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Wash out his water bowl and make sure it’s always filled with clean water, too.
Keep to a regular routine of taking your puppy outside at least every two-to-four hours and after every change of activity. This is especially important during house training and will keep accidents to a minimum.
Your puppy needs exercise and interaction with you. A word of caution: sustained, strenuous exercise (long runs, jumping) is not good for puppies, but playing, mental stimulation, and running around in the yard are good. Some experts recommend waiting until a dog is about one year old before starting with serious exercise and this can vary by breed. Different dog breeds have different energy levels and rates of growth; the growth plates in their joints close at different ages. But do schedule play and exercise time into your puppy’s day: a walk around the neighborhood, playing with toys, and time spent bonding go a long way toward expending energy. Several shorter sessions are better for a puppy than one long one.
Young puppies sleep a great deal of the time; in fact, some will sleep as much as 16-to-18 hours a day. Plan on quiet nap times for him several times during the day. Family members, especially young children, should learn not to disturb him when he’s sleeping. He needs his rest! You may need to put a crate in a quiet part of the house so he won’t be distracted by the hustle and bustle that may be going on during naptime.
When it comes to bedtime, some owners set a specific time to settle their puppy down for the night. Others just want him to sleep when they sleep. It may be easier to set a puppy bedtime and help him get used to the routine.