Dog getting us up at night

[CAPP0]

Our 4 year old neutered GSD has always been very good at night, almost from day 1. Never bothers us or disturbs us unless there's someone outside (very rare) or on the equally-rare occasions that he needs to go to the toilet in the night.

A few weeks ago he had a bad upset stomach for a couple of days which resulted in us being up 6 times each night, and every time he got us up he went out and toileted, so once again, whilst we could have done with more sleep, that was completely understandable and acceptable.

However since then he's decided that he needs to go out at some point in the middle of every night. He's always been sent outside last thing before bed, and still is, but he wakes us up every night and when we let him out he has a wee then comes back in.

I started writing this to seek advice on how to break the cycle, and as I write I'm suddenly thinking, what if he has a urinary infection which means he can't hold - so we'll have to get that checked I guess. However, if it's not that then I'm back to the original question! How do we break that cycle so that he stops going out for no significant reason, without punishing him so that in the future if he does need to go out, he can still ask?

Thanks.

[rxe]

Ours (8 year old female, intact) has had similar issues in the past, and has settled down quickly into the usual routine of farting and snoring by the bed. Which suggests that yours may still have some lingering infection or whatever that is causing anxiety in the middle of the night - UTI or similar may be the cause.

[Boosted LS1]

Mine was like that to so I divorced her. Oh, you meant your dog.

[Algarve]

I'd take him to the vet first to rule out any underlying medical issues.

Then I'd walk him immediately before bed. Give him a chance to exercise, tire out and pee multiple times if he needs.

Then I'd just simply not let him out during the night even if he cries. You might have a couple of accidents but he should quickly realise he can't just go out when he feels like it.

He might then not be great at asking to go out during the day... so you will need to remember to actively take him outside. Not ideal but better than getting your sleep interrupted constantly..

[CAPP0]

Thanks all. Rather bizarrely, he didn't get us up last night! We woke at about 8.15 and he hadn't woken either of us up in the night. So maybe whatever it was has passed. But yes, a walk before bed might be good, he'll always go when we're out and he scents another dog on a lamppost etc.

[Marcellus]

Over the years we’ve had exactly this (good overnight, ill needing to go out, then habit set in) so, assuming there’s no reason why they needed to go out then we’ve gone “tough love” and told them not to be stupid and go back to sleep.

They’ve soon got the message and stopped buggering around.

[dirkgently]

Marcellus said:

Over the years we’ve had exactly this (good overnight, ill needing to go out, then habit set in) so, assuming there’s no reason why they needed to go out then we’ve gone “tough love” and told them not to be stupid and go back to sleep.

They’ve soon got the message and stopped buggering around.

When you are older and need the bathroom at night more frequently, I hope you are shown some sympathy and not the rolled up newspaper.

[CAPP0]

He must have watched me write the OP, been back to normal for the past three nights!

(Well that is apart from when the neighbour's bloody son arrived home in someone else's car at 0400, cue some "warning - stranger alert" barking).

[Marcellus]

dirkgently said:

When you are older and need the bathroom at night more frequently, I hope you are shown some sympathy and not the rolled up newspaper.

I am, and when I do I’ve learned that I wake Mrs M at my peril.