Hey All,
I adopted a dog from the shelter around labor day. She is estimated to be around 1yr old. Was a stray. Anyway, she is not fully housebroken. I crate her when I am out of the house or at work. She 99% of the time will get my attention when she needs to go out to do her business. She has had a few accidents in the house, and I can only blame myself.
What I'm wondering however is....is it possible to "reset" her internal clock so to speak.
She poops several times a day. Right now is on Natures Variety kibble. I've added Prozyme to her food for intermittent diarrhea Stool was negative on 2 occassions for parasites. I was also giving raw on some days (not mixed with kibble) right now I'm just sticking with the kibble, and gradually adding the raw back while monitoring stool. So far its been solid (prozyme??)
She always wakes me at around 2-3AM to go out. I assume its to pee or poop. I generally don't want to crate her at night...she sleeps in my bedroom in a dog bed.
On the occassional night if she is in the bed with me....you guessed it, she sleeps straight through till 4am, when I'm up for work.
Any thoughts????

Linda

Change the time you feed her.

Hi Rick,
I feed both dogs at 4am and again around 5Pm??

How would you adjust the feeding times?? just curious....

lw

I am unsure about how long the nature's variety takes to digest, but if you could figure that out or someone here knows, that would help. But you should push back the meal that she is disposing of at two by an hour or so to compensate for her "problem."

P.S You and my mom are the two people I know of that get up around 4 am. How do you all do that?!

I feed Bayley anytime between 9 pm and 11 pm. In the mornings around the same time. She eats strictly raw and usually goes poop around 4-6 in the afternoon and sometimes when she first goes out in the mornings. I think if you can change the feeding times gradually then she'd have a full stomach and be quieter at night. She'd still be digesting her food and wouldn't have to get up in the night. I know if I'm hungry before I go to bed, I don't sleep well.

I suppose its worth a try. This dog is a pooping machine. She is very high energy and I suppose has a high metabolism. She gets about one and half cups of dry twice a day. She is a pit mix, about 45 pounds, VERY lean and muscular.

Rick, as for the 4AM.....ugh....its not by choice, just what I gotta do for work!!

lw

It take a lot longer to digest. I use that when I cant get to my candie store. I have the same problem you need to feed before 4 if possible. I also get up at 4 to be at work at 6. I have the same problem with my older pup to. If not possible Then maybe go to once a day feedings if your comfortable with that. Or try to give her more in the morning then at night.