Should You Wake Your Puppy Up to Pee at Night? (2024)

Any new puppy owner will know the feeling of coming downstairs in the morning to puddles of pee, either on the floor or in the puppy crate.

Just like children, it takes time and patience to potty train puppies. They haven’t yet learned when and where to use the toilet, and so little accidents are often an unavoidable hazard of pup parenting. Add excitement or anxiety into the mix and you can have quite the situation on your hands.

This begs the question ‘should you wake your puppy up to pee at night?’

In this blog we will explore whether waking your puppy up to pee at night is a good idea, when and how often you should wake your puppy up to pee, as well as a further look at the crating process, building a solid nighttime routine and general potty training techniques.

Crate Your New Puppy At Night

One of the best ways to keep any pee-related incidents confined to one area is to crate your puppy at night. There are many waterproof pads and lining you can get to place at the bottom of a puppy crate to help mop up any accidents.

Not only are puppy crates a good way of stopping puddles from appearing around the house, they are also excellent for teaching your puppy a proper toilet training and bedtime routine.

Dogs are creatures of habit, and repetition is the best way to get them to learn. By putting your puppy in their crate at set times, letting them out at certain times, as well as making sure they are let out to pee before going to bed, your pup will soon learn when and where to pee.

Not only this, but a crate can become a safe and calming space for a puppy to use as a place to chill out and ground themselves. It also means your little furry friend doesn’t have free roam unattended throughout the night.

Should I Wake Up My Puppy To Go Potty?

8 week old puppies pee at night quite frequently, whereas 10 week old puppies will be starting to get the hang of holding their pee through the night.

As smaller pups need to pee more than older ones, it is recommended to leave them overnight with a pee pad or absorbent crate lining, as it can be counter-productive in more ways than one to keep letting them out all through the night.

The best thing to do is to make sure they pee before bedtime, and then wake up relatively early to let them out again, and with luck your pup will start to sleep the whole night through.

As we mentioned before, having a set routine will be most beneficial when it comes to potty training your puppy and avoiding any accidents.

Reasons Why You Shouldn't Wake Your Puppy Up

With the exception of when your puppy is poorly - some younger dogs will need to be be monitored depending on their condition of health - waking your dog up to pee should be avoided for several reasons:

• They won’t learn - By waking your puppy up too much in the night to urinate, they won’t learn how to sleep through the night, which can become a significant problem as they get older.

• It can get them over excited - Puppies are naturally energetic and overly excitable, and sometimes waking them up can stimulate them, making it harder to get them back to sleep again.

• They will expect the attention - Dogs may come to expect or rely on the attention and pee-cues they receive during the night, making them less independent or able to control their own pee schedule.

When To Wake Your Puppy Up To Pee

Puppy pee times will vary as your pup gets older. But as a general rule, making sure your pup has peed before going to bed, and making sure that they are let out first thing in the morning will give the best chance of a dry night. This way your puppy’s body will get into a rhythm of when to pee.

The exception is when or if your puppy isn’t well, as this may mean they need monitoring and checking on throughout the night, perhaps requiring help with urination and soiling.

Should I Carry My Puppy Out To Pee?

If your puppy has fallen asleep before bedtime, it is important to still take them out for a pee before putting them to bed. (Even if they look super cute whilst sleeping and you really don’t want to disturb them, you’re better off dealing with a grumpy puppy now rather than one that’s soiled it’s sleepspace later.)

The key is to try and keep them sleepy so that getting them to bed is easier. We would recommend carrying your pup out to pee, as waking them up to walk can fully wake them up, making for a trickier bedtime when you return back inside.

Although it is near impossible to not cuddle a puppy when they are in your arms, try not to stroke and cuddle your puppy too much when carrying them out to go potty, as again this can stimulate them too much and keep them awake.

How Often Do Puppies Pee At Night?

The frequency of how often your puppy pees at night depends on their age. Very young puppies will pee quite often during the night, whilst older puppies will start to pee fewer and farther between, eventually getting to a point where they can hold it for an entire night.

Our recommendation would always be to ensure that your dog has peed before bed, and is then let out first thing in the morning, getting their bodies into a routine of when and where to urinate.

If you’re unsure how frequently your puppy should be peeing at night, young puppies should need to go approximately every 2-4 hours. However, also keep in mind that puppies do sleep a lot in a 24 hour period; from anywhere between 12-20 hours per day. So once again, we can’t stress enough how important a bedtime and potty routine will be to training your puppy.

At What Age Can a Puppy Hold Its Urine All Night?

As we’ve said before, younger puppies don’t always have the capacity to hold their urine throughout the night, as they have not yet learnt where it is acceptable to pee, and so just go when the mood takes them.

Generally, around the 4 month mark is when puppies are able to hold their pee for a full night, and with a proper potty training routine this should be easily attainable.

If your pup continues to struggle with frequent urination in unwanted places as they get older, we would advise consulting your vet to rule out any further medical or behavioural issues.

What To Do If My Puppy Is Crying and Wants to Pee?

Ah, the sound of puppy cries - any new pet parent will know them well. Both heartbreaking and - dare we say it - quite annoying after a short while. High-pitched, dramatic and often prolonged, managing your puppy crying is a key part of your pup’s potty training.

If your puppy is crying at night, it can be a sign of anxiety or distress. Puppies require a lot of comfort and reassurance in the early days, and so making sure that they feel safe and comfortable in their new home is super important.

You should be prepared to be woken by your puppy at the beginning, as they are getting used to a new environment and need to learn that they can trust and rely on you.

Just like human babies, puppies cry because they are telling you they need something, and so while you want them to learn to be self-sufficient, this will come with time as they learn to trust their new home environment.

If your puppy cries and wants to pee, this signal should be rewarded, as they have given you a signal that they need the toilet, rather than just urinating freely. Just be careful that your puppy isn’t simply crying because they want to be let out of their crate!

How To Potty Train Your Puppy with Pee Pads

Pee pads are an excellent training tool to teach younger dogs where to pee, as well as saving your floors from puddles!

When it comes to potty training with pee pads, we would recommend placing them by doors, as this will teach puppies to go to an exit when they need to pee. As the training progresses, you can slowly start to introduce your dog to peeing outside, taking them outside at regular and specific times to encourage them to urinate outside the house.

Our Premium Reusable Potty Pads are a great eco and wallet-friendly option when it comes to puppy toilet training.

Our pads have a unique three-layered design, helping to stop leaks and trap pesky odours, keeping your house clean and fresh. It is made from super absorbent and durable materials, meaning there is no need for disposable pee pads - Potty Buddy’s Reusable Pads can be used time and time again!

Easy to clean and easy to use, we are sure you and your pup will love them!

In Conclusion

Nighttime potty training routines with your pup can take time and patience, but with a regular routine and lots of positive affirmation, your pup will be peeing pretty in no time.

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