Waking us up several times a night

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Hello, first of all I'm happy to have found this forum. I didn't know about it before and I'm sure I'll find plenty of good advice here. I'm writing this at my wit's end 😟

I have a little 2-year-old Fox Terrier. She used to be house-trained at night, only waking up when our alarm went off without any issues during the night. However, a year ago, following an allergic reaction to an insect bite, she was put on antibiotics which made her need a wee during the night... several times a night. According to the vet, it was a side effect of the treatment. Since then, she has never got back into a proper night-time routine.

She used to eat in the morning and then in the evening when we got home. During the day, she's with my sister's Labrador, so she isn't alone and gets plenty of exercise.

But now she wakes us up at night; half the time it's for a wee, and the other half she just makes us go downstairs for nothing.

When I hear her whining, I grumble at her to go back downstairs, but then I feel guilty in case she actually does need to go... but when you go down at 3 am to let her out and she won't even poke her nose outside, it's infuriating! Especially knowing she'd been for a wee only 4 hours earlier.

I know she can hold it because when it's raining she refuses to go out... or she'll wait until she's absolutely bursting... which is much longer than the time she goes at night! Typical Fox Terrier temperament...

So I thought maybe she was eating too late, and now I only give her food in the morning. But now she isn't eating her full portion. I get the impression she's begging for food in the evening, but then in the morning, she hardly touches it...

I don't know what to do anymore. For example, last night I let her out at 11 pm when going to bed. I heard her coming up the stairs several times; I let her out at 3 am and waited 5 minutes for her to do a wee. As soon as she'd finished, she bolted back to the door to get inside. She didn't stop moving all night, only for me to find she'd done a poo in the house this morning (even though her last meal was yesterday morning). I cleaned it up while she was outside. Accidents like that are rare, but it's mainly the fact she wakes us up several times a night, making us get up for nothing!

I'm lost, I don't know what to do. I'm reaching breaking point. If I got up and she actually did something, fine, but that's not always the case.

I can't stand getting up for nothing anymore...!

Thank you for your help. I've called several animal behaviourists in my area but no one has even bothered to get back to me!

Translated from French
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    • ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    As long as the vet has confirmed there aren't any urinary issues, I'm with the others—ignore it completely.

    Even if it feels unbearable for the first few nights, if you stick to it, things should sort themselves out fairly quickly.

    Translated from French
    Beaujabote
    Beaujabote Icon representing the flag French
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    I know exactly what "busy days" mean in farming, I’m a former farm accountant 🙄 – so we’ll just have to hang in there and play completely dumb! 😁
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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    I agree with everyone, don't give in anymore. I love Fox Terriers, but they can be right little tyrants in their own way if they find a behaviour that works for them...

    Yeah, sometimes I tell my partner that I feel like I'm his slave 🙈

    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi, maybe try feeding her twice a day again. In our house, it’s 7 am and 7 pm. I know some people only feed once a day, but I think that’s a long time for them to wait. And just like the others said, ignore her when she’s begging. You mentioned you let her out around 11 pm – is that just for a quick wee in the garden or a proper walk? There’s a big difference – the second one really tires them out, which makes a difference at night. Mine usually gets about 40 minutes from 8 pm onwards, and after that, he snoozes until 6.30 am. There’s no point even asking if he wants one last trip to the garden – he won’t even open an eyelid. Thanks for your reply. It used to be pretty much like that. In the evening, she falls asleep as soon as I pick her up and we get home... she only shows her face if there’s some cheese on offer! 😂 It’s just a quick garden break; she goes out and does her own thing, pestering a hedgehog, barking at a fly... then decides to come back in! But no walk... I’m a farmer and my days are very long. I give her heaps of cuddles and attention, but no walks in the evening!
    Translated from French
    Docline
    Docline Icon representing the flag French
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    I’m with everyone else on this, don’t give in any more.

    I adore Foxies, but they can become proper little tyrants in their own way if they find a certain behaviour is working for them...

    Translated from French
    Beaujabote
    Beaujabote Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, Maybe try going back to feeding her twice a day. I do 7 am and 7 pm; I know you can feed them just once a day but I think that’s a bit of a long wait. And just like the others said, ignore her when she’s pestering you for food. You mentioned you take her out around 11 pm – is that just for a quick wee in the garden or a proper walk? They’re not the same thing – the second one really tires them out and can make a big difference to how they settle at night. Mine usually gets about 40 minutes from 8 pm and then he’s out for the count until 6:30 am – it’s not even worth asking if he wants a final toilet break in the garden, he won’t even open an eye.
    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Fox Terriers are very clever dogs and yours has realised that by making a fuss like this, she ends her isolation. I think the best solution is to ignore these calls for a few weeks so she breaks the habit. And above all, don't react if you have to clean up any messes from the night, and don't do it in front of her. She should eventually settle down once she sees you aren't reacting. Thanks for your reply. I try to ignore her but then I feel so guilty when she keeps at it because I think "if she has an accident inside, it’s a shame since she did warn me".... I don't tell her off, and I clean up while she's outside. I'm just worried that by ignoring her, she'll get into the habit of going in the house. It's very rare for her to have accidents indoors, but that's two nights in a row now—two poos! And that’s after she’d eaten in the morning. I’m really not sure when to give her her meals anymore. I’m wondering whether to try in the evening before bed just to fill her up so she sleeps through 😂 They’re as stubborn as they are clever, these little things!! Once she gets something into her head! I got her too early, at only six weeks old... I didn't have a choice, and she really doesn't like being on her own... curled up in a ball against us on the sofa, making a nest in her bed, on the bath mat while I’m in the shower, and following me into every room... When would you give her her food? Because she doesn't eat much in the morning, but she scoffs it down in the evening. I'm just worried she'll end up begging in the night... I'm totally lost 🙈
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Maybe starting the medication and getting up in the night for a wee has led to her picking up a new habit: waking you up. Have you seen the vet since then to rule out any health issues? If she’s doing fine and has a clean bill of health, and she doesn’t actually need to go to the toilet when you try to take her out, then I think you should ignore her. If you get up or say anything, even if it’s just to have a moan, it might be reinforcing the behaviour. Thanks for your reply, I’ve mentioned it to the vet who didn’t seem concerned. She wakes us up but she doesn’t always actually need to go – about one time in three, I’d say 😯 I try to ignore her, well, I try my best, but she just sits there at eye level and stares at me... until I finally get up...
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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    "Maybe you could install a cat flap big enough for her to go out whenever she wants at night?" Thanks for your reply. No, we only have wooden French doors, so it’s impossible... plus, there’s a little outbuilding next to the house that leads outside; we’ve set up a really cosy shelter in there with a cat flap to keep the rain and the cold out... but she refuses to use it, even though she uses the one at my sister’s (the flap itself is made of a different material). So, we’re forced to leave the door open 😩
    Translated from French
    Quiz
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    Fox Terriers are very bright dogs, and yours has clearly realised that by making a fuss like that, she’s no longer on her own. I think the best solution is to ignore these calls for a few weeks so she breaks the habit. Above all, don't react if you have to clean up any overnight accidents, and definitely don't do it in front of her. She should eventually settle down once she sees she isn't getting a reaction.
    Translated from French

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