Accidents In The Night - Advice Sought...

[WhipItDevo]

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We've just tried to change Silas' sleeping arrangements but it's not going well. We got him good at sleeping in his soft crate without soiling it all night and that was great, but then he chewed the zips so he couldn't be locked in any more. Allowed to roam the flat, he would soil the floor at night. He was about 3 months old. We then let him sleep on our bed so we could hear if he needed the loo and this worked brilliantly - he loved it and didn't ever need the toilet, held it until we got up, so we kept doing this right until last week (he's 8 months now) when we tried having him in his bed (which he loves) in the living room through a door away from us. Problem is, 3 nights in a row he's made a mess on the kitchen floor in the night. He obviously doesn't see the problem but it's so annoying when his body can easily hold it. I've taken him to the mess and told him off (don't worry, no old fashioned nose-rubbing...) but I don't think that does anything, just makes him scared (or does he know it was a bad thing to do?). I'd have thought they could associate their own mess with my displeasure and change the behaviour - he'd never mess in the same place in the daytime when we were there. Should I persevere with his bed, or let him back in ours? I understand some dog psychology, but this is really annoying. Any advice welcome.

 

[meddling]

Taking him to the mess and telling him off will have no affect bar making him a confused little dog, as you say, he'll just be scared by you being cross about something he may have done hours ago.

Can he not stay up in your room in his bed? or get another crate? Mine are in my room with me, and never need to go out, but my very elderly Daisy will wet down stairs if she is given a free run of the house...the more contained they are, the less likelly they are to soil.

I think you need to make a decision and stick to it, so either allow him in your bed, buy him another crate...or maybe change his feeding routine, feed earlier, don't feed a complete food.

Good Luck!

 

[hollyvictoriab]

We've just tried to change Silas' sleeping arrangements but it's not going well. We got him good at sleeping in his soft crate without soiling it all night and that was great, but then he chewed the zips so he couldn't be locked in any more. Allowed to roam the flat, he would soil the floor at night. He was about 3 months old. We then let him sleep on our bed so we could hear if he needed the loo and this worked brilliantly - he loved it and didn't ever need the toilet, held it until we got up, so we kept doing this right until last week (he's 8 months now) when we tried having him in his bed (which he loves) in the living room through a door away from us. Problem is, 3 nights in a row he's made a mess on the kitchen floor in the night. He obviously doesn't see the problem but it's so annoying when his body can easily hold it. I've taken him to the mess and told him off (don't worry, no old fashioned nose-rubbing...) but I don't think that does anything, just makes him scared (or does he know it was a bad thing to do?). I'd have thought they could associate their own mess with my displeasure and change the behaviour - he'd never mess in the same place in the daytime when we were there. Should I persevere with his bed, or let him back in ours? I understand some dog psychology, but this is really annoying. Any advice welcome.

HI

My girl is about 10 months now. I have a solid crate for her. It is not used for punishment in any way and has a lovely dog orthopedic mattress and throw in it. I mix up either letting her sleep on the bed or putting her in her crate overnight and both work brilliantly. I always used the crate overnight until she was 6 months, and it had to be a metal (plastic covered wire type) one or she would have chewed her way out ages ago. She is very happy in her crate overnight. Maybe if your puppy was content in a soft crate he would find a more substantial crate just as good! I always leave the door to the crate open during the day and she chooses to go and sleep in there. I know they are not the prettiest of things to have around the house, but I keep Pixie's tucked between the wall and the sofa in the lounge so it is not too hideouly obvious! Also, if you have guests over you can fold up a pretty throw or something and place it on top to hide it further! The more den like the crate becomes the more Pixie seems to like it!!!

Good luck!

Oh and ps Pixie has never had an accident overnight using this system, but until she was 6 months I got up at 4 every morning to let her out briefly before jumping back into bed!!! Not necessary now as she is worse at getting up in the mornings than me!!!

 

[TTT]

Put it in a crate at night. :thumbsup:

 

[jinnyfizz]

I follow one rule ........ ignore unwanted behaviour, reward desired behaviour. Telling the little lad off for something which happened a while back is completely futile and will just make him unhappy and fearful and the problem will increase because of his confusion.

He is still very young and you can't expect him to understand that he isn't allowed to relieve himself when he wakes up in the middle of the night, probably feeling cold and lonely after having shared your bed for a while.

My advice would be to let him keep sharing your bed ....... these little dogs thrive on having human company and he is only one whippet who can curl up very small, after all :thumbsup:

 

[Dotty&Duke]

I think like others have said either put silas back in a crate (but cover it so its like a den) or let him on the bed. Dotty used to be a bit of a pain until we crated her but we made it really cosy and always left it open she would come and go as she pleased, I think now that we have taken it down she misses it. Dotty now always sleeps on the bed but thats our decision, I think we made that rod for our backs and now have to stick with it. Another thing I did and still do is give big praise whenever she does her business out on a walk. I think praise goes a long way as dogs love to please. Maybe if you make it such a good experience with praise and treats when Silas does toilet outside it will reinforce that behaviour. Good luck :luck:

 

[WhipItDevo]

Thanks for all your thoughts. His recall has recently taken a turn for the worse so part of the reason for getting him out of our bed was just to try to assert our position as leaders as opposed to equals who he could ignore if he felt like it. We both really like having him on/in the bed though! I know not everyone agrees that you need to rule the dog, but he's just getting quite independent at the moment so we thought we'd try it. We'll try an intermediate stage where he's in his bed but in our room. Another crate sounds like it will be the way if this way doesn't work out. Thanks again.

 

[FeeFee]

I agree absolutely with the advice above. Telling him off after the event won't help, it will just make him more anxious and more likely to have accidents. Either continue allowing him on your bed or use a metal crate.

When do you feed him? It might also be worth considering changing his feeding routine so he's not 'full' if he wakes in the night?

ETA - sorry, posted at the same time as you. I don't think where he sleeps has anything to do with his recall - he's just reaching that 'teenage' stage of getting independent and finding other things more interesting than coming back to you, it's very common at that age. I'd concentrate on lots and lots of recall practice and rewards rather than worrying about his sleeping arrangements.

 

[eve]

If you are happy with Silas sharing your bed, I would stick with that. He is obviously happy with the arrangement

Being an only whippet, the company and warmth will offer him security and he will be less likely to get cold and need to go to the toilet.

If his recall is going downhill, you are probably right that he is testing the boundaries of your relationship.

There are simple ways to assert your authority. The one I find works best for me is denying access to the sofa. If mine start slipping, the sofa is denied for a few weeks and pack order is re-established. Another one that sounds stupid but also shows the dog its place is to sit in the dog's bed from time to time and shove him out Making a show of eating something from his food bowl before you feed him (so that he thinks he is fed last in the pack) is also a phsycological ruse that is supposed to work. Jan Fennel's the dog listener (1st Book) is really good for information on establishing your leadership.

 

[Nicola]

It has been quite cold the last few nights and whippets will wake up with the cold and this will quite often trigger them to get up and go for a wee. Just a thought...perhaps a cosy fleece coat or jumper on at night if you're wanting to keep him out of your bed where they can keep warm (don't blame you really). This in combination with some of the other suggestions may do the trick. Good luck :luck: