# 2's after eating

[Chez]

We brought 'Molly' our 10 week old female rottie, home on Saturday. As you can imagine for a 1st time rottie owner like me it has be a learning curve. I have tons of q's but I'll start with this 1st:

How long do puppies take after eating to do a #2?

On Monday & Tuesday we thought we had it sussed, it seemed to take her around 2 hours. But, I've read that it should e almost immediately. Today & yesterday it did seem to be within around 1/2 hour.

Do you think her bowel irregularity is just down to the stress of her new surrounding or is it normal for puppies to be irregular?

If we put her outside after eating, as soon as she's wee'd she'll cry to come back in. Initially we allowed her to come in and would take her out after after an hour or two, whilst carefully watching for the signs.

The problem is though, I would like her to sleep after eating, (afraid of her running around too much and getting bloat) But I can't leave her in the crate as she protests to come out (not whining but jumping up and chasing around) and I'm not sure if her protests are due to her imminent need to wee, so I take her out. So the two hours after dinner end up being in out, in out.

Also do puppies at this (or any) age wee for attention?
Because it seems sometimes when we put her in her pen (a play area we've errected for her she wee's almost immediately or is this just anxiety, again is this normal?

Also we've left her alone (for a short time only) on a few occassions and just as we're leaving she'll wee.


Thanks in advance,

Cheryl

[godfreyc]

Yes when you first brought your pup home stress could have caused her to take a little longer to eliminate after eating, but normal should be within about 15 minutes. I wouldn't worry if it takes her 30 because she could just be picky. As soon as your pup eats it's outside and you don't come back in until the deed is done. No pups don't pee for attention. It could be anxiety but more likely that she now thinks that this is where she's suppose to go pee. At 10 weeks your pup should go out every half hour to pee when your home and her crate should only be big enough to turn around in so she won't start using one end of it as a toilet. I wouldn't be concerned at her young age that she'll get bloat if she doesn't sleep after she eats, but if you make the decision that it's quiet time after meals then no matter how much she protests you have to leave her in the crate or you'll run into problems. Only take her out once she's gotten quiet. I hope some of these things have helped and good luck.

[Chez]

Thanks Godfreyc,

We've had her home a week now and she does seem to settling in to a more'regular pattern now, as you said 15-30 minutes. Sometimes though, I'll take her outside and she'll just lie down & have a snooze! Hence still taking a long time.

Thanks again,

Cheryl

[cinde33]

That's the life of a puppy. Sounds like the crate may be too big on that issue. On going potty when you want them to, I trained my dogs to go by saying "Go Pee". Every time they had a bowel movement, I said "Go Pee, Good Pee, Good Boy" and they eventually learned the command.

Puppies are constantly changing so I wouldn't put much stock into having a perfect "on the clock" schedule with your dog's habits and bowel movements. Up until a month ago, my 10 month old went immediately after eating, not he lays around for about an hour after. Have to learn to adjust! I'm sure you both will!:)

[SarasMom]

Molly should need to relieve herself right after eating and waking up from a nap. Take her outside without fail at this time. If she does not go potty, return her to her crate, wait a few minutes, then try again. Do not put her in her exercise pen until after she has relieved herself outside. If she goes to sleep outside, she's obviously tired, so put her in her crate for a nap, then take her back outside when she wakes up. Be sure to praise, praise, praise when she goes potty outside. Make it seem like the most wonderful thing in the world just happened. It's useful to decide on a trigger phrase or word at this time. Say the word/phrase every time she goes. Soon she will go on command.

Housetraining, (or lack of) is very much a habit. At this age, the only time they should have freedom/playtime is after they have relieved themselves outside. The fewer opportunities you give them to fail, the less they will fail.