 The Short Answer is: |
An 8-week-old dog can go without peeing for roughly four or five hours, but, of course, every pet is different, so you have to try your best to determine when the alarm should go off. |
In this article you will know the answer to the query “How Long Can A Puppy Go Without Peeing At Night?“.
Having a new puppy can be a lot of fun at least during the day when you can play with him teach him tricks and cuddle him. Youhave finally realized your dream.
The only problem occurs at night when getting up to care for the dog becomes a nightmare.
Taking the puppy for a potty break isnot something anyone wants to do from their warm bed. Fortunately if you stick to a consistent routine and are quite firm about it you and your partner will soon be able to sleep through the night.
Heres what you can expect during the first few weeks with the new puppy and what you need to do to train him properly at night.
How long can a puppy go without peeing?
It makes no sense to explain or complain to your cute puppy that you need to get to work in the morning and you simply need to sleep.
Prepare to wake up during the night at least once a week for a quick pee for the dog during the first few weeks of your life together. Do not wait until the puppy whines barks or scratches to let you know he needs to go potty.
Set the alarm halfway through the night drag yourself out of bed wake up the pup and take him to the designated potty area.
An 8-week old dog can go without peeing for roughly four or five hours but of course every pet is different so you have to try your best to determine when the alarm should go off.
The alarm should be set one hour earlier if your dog soils his bedding before your scheduled nighttime potty break.
If however you wake up to find your dog sleeping peacefully and he looks at you like you are a maniac for disturbing him you can safely set your alarm for 15 minutes later the following night.
You can even spend 30 minutes if you’re feeling lucky. Please do not blame your new furry baby for any accidents. It was your decision to test the limits so do not blame him since he has literally no control over these matters and we’ll explain why.
How often does a puppy need to pee?
It is difficult to hold poop in the bladder of a puppy because they have such tiny bladders. At the same time puppies also have no control over their elimination process just like babies.
They are unable to control the muscles that activate their bladder sphincter. They will master it with time but at 8 weeks puppies cannot force themselves to hold it in until the next potty break.
Humane Society recommends estimating how long a puppy will be able to hold it by looking at the length of their age in months.
A puppy can go an hour without peeing if it is one month old for example. At two months he could keep it for two hours; and at two hours at two months and so on.
Some believe that dogs should go potty at least 24 times a day. Donot panic you do not have to take your new puppy outside every hour to pee.
Your pup will pee several times in one hour depending on his activity level since most bathroom breaks occur during the day. We will look at the ideal daily schedule you should set in order to understand how this works.
The puppy potty routine
Training a new puppy is all about housebreaking during the first few weeks. To live a long and happy life together you need to set a routine and adhere to it at all costs. If you want the dog to avoid peeing on your carpet you must make it clear that the bathroom is outside for him. To do this you must take him outside every time he needs to poop or pee and there are many such times throughout the day.
Wake up
As soon as you get out of bed your dog should go to the bathroom as well. Taking the dog outside to relieve himself is the first thing you need to do in the morning. Donot worry about coffee!
Feeding time
A puppy must eat three or four times per day if adult dogs only need two meals per day. Suppose you give him breakfast after he has his early morning potty break. Even if you took him outside 15 minutes ago you must take him outside again as soon as hes done eating. The digestive system is stimulated by eating so he will want to poop and pee again. Just like babies puppies need order in their life so follow a regular feeding schedule.
Playtime
Training and mental stimulation are essential for young dogs. Since young puppies are so excited they might need to pee during playtime so if the weather permits it take the puppy to the potty spot as soon as he shows signs of needing to go.
Naptime
Puppies require 18-20 hours of sleep per day. Your little one will be tired after a play session so he will take a nap that might last anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. When he wakes up its time for another potty break. Afterward its time for another feeding after which its time to take him outside again.
Nighttime routine for your puppy
You are not required to continue the daytime program overnight if it seems too exhausting.
Take these steps to keep nighttime accidents and potty breaks to a minimum.
Withhold food and water a couple of hours before bedtime
He might whine a little and object to that but he does not really need food after sunset. His system will be less full of food and water so he would not have to go during the night.
Last-call potty break
Put on your pajamas get ready for bed and then rouse your puppy who is probably already asleep to go potty. During training tell him to ‘go potty or whatever command you use.
Crate your dog for the night
When your puppy is training using a crate can be helpful because he would not want to soil his sleeping area. Dogs do not like to sleep in their own waste for the same reason you do not. Therefore keep in mind that the crate should not be too large so that the dog can utilize the extra space as his own bathroom.
The puppy will try not to go potty if there is not enough space to do so without having to sleep in his own mess. But do not expect it to happen because as we have already said he is unable to control his bladder. Additionally you should not make the pup keep the urine in for long periods since this can lead to periods of time.
Nighttime potty break
You would not want to waste too much time taking the puppy outside in the middle of the night. And you should not. From the beginning make sure the puppy knows that its strictly business. If a dog is well-rested he may assume it is playtime. It isn’t. You can take your pup to the potty spot as long as the light is dim or at least as dim as you can without stumbling. As soon as he finishes return him to his crate. Dogs rarely feel the need to poop during the night so he will probably only need a quick pee at that ungodly hour.
At this hour you should not bother him with a treat since it might make him wake up. Then pat him on the head and put him back to sleep. There is a good chance that he will be fast asleep before you get back to bed yourself.
In the event that you can not take your dog out during the middle of the night for a potty break consider using a litter box or at least a newspaper-covered area in the bathroom. While it isnot ideal as the puppy gets older he will have less need for nighttime potty breaks and you can get rid of the litter box.
Getting rid of nighttime potty breaks
Your dog will need to be able to hold the alarm slightly later as he grows older. If there is an accident go back to the previous schedule and try again in a week or two.
Eventually your pup will be able to sleep through the night without any accidents. Around five months old your dog should be able to do this.
Dogs can sleep for up to eight hours without having to go to the bathroom by the time they’re four months old but others do not master this feat until they’re six months old.
Sometimes the problem is just the way your dog is but in other cases maybe you werenot consistent enough with housebreaking your dog.
Bottom Line
In the daytime an eight-week-old pup cannot possibly be expected to hold it in for more than two hours. Your pup will need to go potty once at night.
Midway through the night set your alarm for a time when you can take your dog outside for a quick pee.
Do not let your dog see any ideas in your head so make it short and boring. Go back to sleep without saying a word and return the dog to his crate.
If you increase the interval slowly by the time your pup is five months old he should be able to sleep through the night and you would not have to get up at all hours anymore! Congratulations to you both!
Amanda (Author)
With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.
Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)
Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.
