Puppy potty training at night can be an exhausting and challenging task, but with the right tools, strategies, and tips, you can have a quick and hassle-free nighttime potty training experience for you and your pup!
You’ve probably already nailed down the basics of daytime potty training, but you are unsure of how to tackle this potty training thing at night. You are not alone! Many doggie parents face this same issue.
While there is so much information about potty training during the day, nighttime training can be a little vague.
Not Anymore!
I am going to share with you the secrets to potty training your sweet puppy at night fast and easily!
In this blog post, I’ll share with you how to potty train your puppy at night and I will also share an advanced technique that will help your puppy learn faster and retain more! By the end of this post, you’ll be equipped with all the tools you need to get your pup on the right track to master nighttime potty training.
So Let’s get down to business…
How Long Can a Puppy Hold Their Pee at Night?
In order to effectively potty train your puppy at night, it is crucial to know the answer to this question. This will help determine your nighttime potty schedule so that you know how often that you need to take your puppy out.
During the day a puppy typically can hold their pee an hour for every month of age they are. So, a puppy that is 8 weeks old (2 months) can hold it for 2 hours. A 12-week old (3 months) can hold it for 3 hours.
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At night, a puppy can hold their bladder for an extra 1-2 hours depending on your dog’s bladder size. (Different breeds have different size bladder.)
That being said, a puppy can generally hold their pee for an extra 2 hours. So an 8-week-old puppy can hold their pee for 4 hours at night and a 12-week old puppy can hold their pee for 6 hours.
So to determine how long your puppy can hold it for at night, add an hour for every month of age and then add 2.
The Secrets to Potty Training Your Puppy At Night Quickly and Easily!
Establish a Bedtime Routine.
Establishing a bedtime routine is a critical step to ensure your puppy masters this skill.
This routine should comprise a series of activities that your puppy associates with going to bed. It helps your puppy understand when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to go potty.
Start by give your puppy some playtime to tire them out before bedtime. If you don’t help them burn their energy, they will get zoomies and burn it off very quickly!
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Next, take your dog out for a final potty break before bed, ensuring that they empty their bladder before going to sleep.
After you bring your puppy back in from going potty, use a cue word to let your dog know that it’s time for bed. I simply use ‘Let’s go to bed’.
Then head to ‘bed’ while giving your cue. Create a calm environment by turning of the lights and playing quiet music or white noise (like a fan) to help block out noises and help your puppy relax and prepare for sleep.
A consistent bedtime routine will increase your chances of success with nighttime potty training.
Crate Training for Nighttime:
A crate is an effective tool for nighttime puppy potty training and crate training ensures nighttime potty training success!
This involves having your puppy go to bed in a crate while they sleep at night. The crate should be appropriately sized, with enough room for your puppy to turn around and lie down comfortably.
Dogs are natural den animals, and the crate serves as their den, providing them with a sense of security and comfort. Your puppy will learn to associate their crate with sleep and relaxation.
Start by introducing your puppy to the crate during the day with treats, toys, and comfy bedding to make it a positive experience. Gradually increase the amount of time they spend in the crate until they are comfortable being in it for more extended periods.
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Your puppy may whine for the first few nights but the whining will stop. You can put a shirt of yours inside their crate so that your puppy can smell you and feel more comfortable and at ease.
Using a crate for nighttime potty training has several benefits. It prevents your puppy from wandering around the house and having accidents while you are asleep. This will also make it easier for you to monitor your puppy’s behavior during the night and take them outside when they need to go potty.
It also helps your puppy learn to control their bladder and bowels, as they will not want to soil their sleeping area.
Note that crate training should never involve punishment or mistreatment. It should be a safe and comfortable space for your puppy to sleep and rest.
Positive Reinforcement Techniques
When it comes to nighttime potty training, positive reinforcement techniques can be incredibly effective.
When your puppy goes potty outside during the night, offer plenty of praise to reinforce the behavior. Some recommend playtime and treats. I do not as you don’t want to keep your puppy from going back to sleep or having to go back outside sooner than necessary.
If your puppy has an accident indoors, avoid punishing them. Instead, clean up the mess and redirect them to the appropriate potty area.
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Consistency is crucial when using positive reinforcement techniques. Stick to a regular routine and reward your puppy every time they successfully go potty outside during the night.
Consistency is Key
Consistency is crucial to potty training your puppy at night. Stick to a regular routine and reward your puppy every time they successfully go potty outside during the night. I can not stress this enough!
With patience and persistence, your puppy will learn to associate going potty outside with positive rewards and will be more likely to continue the behavior.
Remember, puppies respond much better to positive reinforcement than punishment. By offering praise and rewards for good behavior, you are more likely to see the results you want.
Nighttime Potty Training Tips:
Manage Your Pup’s Water Intake
During potty training day or night. I do not recommend leaving your puppy’s water out as this will cause your puppy to have to pee more frequently and potentially cause accidents.
Just as if you were potty training your toddler, you want to avoid giving your puppy water for at least 2 hours before bedtime. This will help limit the number of times your puppy will need to go out night.
Although we are talking about water, same goes for food. You do not want to feed your puppy right before bedtime for the same reasons.
Utilize Scent Markers
Scent markers can be an effective tool to help your puppy understand where they should go potty and to get your puppy to go faster.
Dogs have a natural instinct to pee where they’ve previously peed or where they smell another dog has peed, and by using scent markers, you can encourage them to go potty in your designated area, such as a grassy spot in your yard or in the woodsline.
There are a variety of scent markers available, including sprays and synthetic pheromones.
When you take your puppy outside to go potty, spray the designated area with the scent marker to help them make the connection.
Over time, your puppy will associate the scent with the appropriate behavior and be more likely to go potty in the designated area.
Remember to always praise your puppy when they go potty in the appropriate area, and never punish them for accidents.
By utilizing scent markers, you can create a clear message for your puppy about where they should go potty, making nighttime potty training easier for both you and your furry friend.
Train Your Puppy to Potty on Command
This is an advanced technique that is actually pretty easy to teach your puppy. I won’t get into step-by-step details as I have a blog post here that teaches you exactly how to do this.
But…
When you train your puppy to potty on command, your puppy knows exactly what is expected of him and it makes your time spent outside waiting and waiting… nonexistent!
With patience and dedication, your puppy will soon be fully trained and ready to enjoy a good night’s sleep.
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Conclusion
Mastering puppy potty training at night requires knowing how long your puppy can old it and establishing a consistent bedtime routine. With crate training your pup, utilizing positive reinforcement techniques, and using the tips and advanced technique I shared, you’ll be able to achieve nighttime potty training success in no time.
Remember, consistency is key and with a little patience and dedication, your puppy will be fully trained quickly and easily!
If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below. If you found this post helpful, let me know and give it a share.
