My 10 wk old puppy and I sleep through the night?!

edited June 2009 in General
Hello! I've joined the forum because it seems like an awesome community and a great place to learn about responsible dog ownership. So, being a new pup owner, I of course have the first of many questions to pose :)

My 10.5 week old shiba has had only a handful of accidents in the house since coming home at 8 weeks. The first week I had her I would take her out at night every couple hours or so, but after a week I noticed that when I would open her crate to take her to potty she would no longer sit or stand up to come out. So I gradually started taking her out fewer times during the night, and this week we go from bedtime (around 10:30pm) to morning (about 6:15am) with no potty breaks. There have been no accidents in the crate nor crying to get out, and in the morning she would even rather explore my bedroom than go out to relieve herself immediately.

Should I be ecstatic that she is so comfortable in her crate and can hold it that long or is this possibly detrimental to her system? Would anyone know anything about this? I'd really appreciate it.

PS: I like to put some Omega 3 fish oil on a spoon in the morning for her to lick up since I've read here that it's good for her coat (which she technically doesn't have yet). We have 1000mg capsules but I don't put the entire amount on the spoon since I don't know if she's old enough for me to be doing it in the first place. Does age or dosage amount matter?

Comments

  • edited November -1
    I've heard a dog can hold it's pee one hour for each month. Katsu seems to be able to hold it longer. We did the same thing you did with Katsu. The first week she was out all the time, probably more than she really needed. We paid attention and worked with her, she hasn't had an accident in the house and we've gotten pretty good at knowing when she needs to go. We did get her at 11 weeks though, so I think you may have a few more weeks of waking up in the middle of the night. Anytime Katsu really cried in the middle of the night, I'd take her out and then put her right back in the crate. This way she wouldn't think crying in the middle of the night equals late night play sessions with daddy. I'm not sure about any detrimental effects however.
    As far as the fish oil goes we give her Grizzly's salmon oil, our breeder recommended it and she's been getting it since day one. We always get compliments on her coat but more importantly she eats her food. She loves the way it smells and tastes, and usually won't eat her kibble without it. I'm not sure about mg dosage, since ours comes in a bottle and is pumped out. But when she was under ten pounds it was half a pump, and now she's over ten pounds it's a full pump.
  • edited November -1
    I only needed to wake up four times during the night to bring Akira potty. Even when he was pretty young, I had to drag him out around 10 am to pee since he rather sleep in the morning :) I would not be worried at all.
  • edited November -1
    If your pup can hold it through the night with no crying that YAY for you, you actually get to sleep! That is something most Shiba owners don't get to do! I wouldn't worry about it!

    My dogs both get a fish oil capsule every morning now that they are full grown, Im not sure about dosage as a pup since they didn't get it when they were tiny. I think what you are giving should be fine.
  • edited November -1
    Thanks for all your help!
  • edited November -1
    Both Bella and Nola slept through the night from the second night we had them. Bella was 13 weeks when we brought her home, Nola was 8 weeks. I would honestly not worry about it unless you notice that she will not go during the day as well.

    Shibas seem to like to sleep in... Which can be kind of a pain for early birds such as myself!
  • edited November -1
    We got Tank at 8 wks and by 11 wks we were able to sleep throughout the night - accident free. :)
  • edited November -1
    Hey Casey,
    Shibas sleep in?? When does that happen? My dog is digging at the floor of his crate at 6:00 a.m. sharp to get out.

    Jesse
  • edited November -1
    Jesse - wow... Bella grumbles at me if I try and get her up before 7:30. Nola will usually get up without too much of a fuss around 7:00 as long as it is sunny out. If the sun is not out, I have to drag her out of the crate. Which is kind of a pain, because I get up around 5:30 every morning and would love to take the pups out running with me... but they will not hear of it! So I end up having to go for a run early, then a walk after 7:30.
  • edited November -1
    That's so cute that Nola and Bella aren't morning Shibas.
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