Twice in the last week, my 2-year-old girl, who has been house-trained for ages, has been asking to go out in the middle of the night, around 5am, to do her business (a poo) outside.
I always take her out before I go to bed, but she has actually never done a poo during that final walk in her life. However, until now, she had never asked to go out in the middle of the night...
One thing has changed in her daily routine: she now has her dinner after us, around 9:00-9:30pm, whereas she used to eat earlier, around 7:00-7:30pm. Do you think this could be the reason?
Does anyone have any tips on how to get her to go during the evening walk, or to help her wait until the morning? It's not that I don't love a 5am wake-up call, but... well, you know! ^^
Translated from French
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Ah, I’m so pleased for you that everything’s sorted out. Sometimes these things happen and we start worrying straight away, but it’s often nothing serious! Give them a big cuddle from me. You're right, they really are such wonderful and clever dogs!!
I nearly went for a Tibetan myself, Colombe! They’re both such lovely breeds!
My problem has sorted itself out. I didn't change her feeding time again (I’ve kept it at 9 pm) but Nala isn't asking to go out in the middle of the night anymore. All is well! ^^
Papillons are such gorgeous dogs! I nearly got one myself when I was looking for a puppy before I found ISA!!!! So Elisa, how’s your little girl doing? Has that problem been sorted out since then!!! Give her a big cuddle from me!!!
The truth is, there’s no point trying to make sense of a Papillon!!! They are such whimsical little dogs and their behaviour can change for no reason that we humans can grasp. Yours wants to go for a poo at 5 am simply because she feels like it, and that’s that. Don't overthink it. If you want a "logical" dog, get a German Shepherd; you won’t have any surprises there. Mine can be perfectly house-trained for weeks and then, all of a sudden, start peeing all over the house for three days straight before becoming clean again, for reasons known only to her... It’s a bit of a shock at first, but they’re so lovely in every other way that you just take them as they are. You’ve got a Papillon – welcome to the club!!...
P'titefleur is right, let us know if things improve by going back to what you were doing before. Keep us posted on how it goes! élisa1405! Thanks!!!!!!
Feeding a pet before or after their owner doesn't make any difference at all to their behaviour. Just get her back on her normal routine and see how she gets on.
Yeah, it’s definitely because of the change in food. I don’t see what’s so hard to understand about what I wrote, it’s perfectly clear!!!! I was just using 2pm as an example when I wrote that. Have another look at the thread and you’ll see it was just a guide!! Look, I’m not saying you actually feed your dog at 2pm!!!! Read it again, you’ll see!
Colombe, I don't really follow your comparison... I don't give my dog her dinner two hours after her lunch... My point isn't about her being hungry...
Actually, what doesn't make sense is that since I'm giving her dinner later than I used to, she should need to go for a poo later, not earlier...
