Puppy routine, does it need changing?

[Georgina]

So after my post the other day I have been setting my alarm for 00.30am and waking cosmo up to do wee and poo outside. Then I set my alarm for 3pm but he is whining when that one goes off and has already done a wee in his crate when I come down. 
He is on 4 meals a day at 7am, 12pm, 5pm and 10pm. Should I change the times I feed him so his last one isnt so late at night? Would this stop him needing to poo in the night?  Also do I need to keep him awake before bed for an hour or so because he just seems to sleep from 7pm all evening until I wake him for his last meal? 
Sorry for all the questions I just what to get it right for him!

[Patp]

He is still only a baby so don't expect too much x Jinley had her last meal at about 6 then a couple of biscuits at bedtime

[Jane57]

You and Cosmo are doing really well.
We never did feed as late ast 10pm and yes that will probably be why he needs to poop in the night.
The 4 feeds can be reduced to 3 in the next month .

I would feed at 7am 11am 3pm and about 8pm at night right now.
Depends on when you go to bed if its late then yes a biscuit maybe for him before he goes to sleep.
This stage doesnt last long, you will get your sleep back soon lol.

[Markr64]

Dexter is now 6 months old and our last feed was at 6 o clock. Ignore the whining as he will try anything to get you to stay and once you do it he have you every time. It does sound like you are doing well, as has been already said don't expect too much he is still very young.

[Murphys Law]

Millie is 14 weeks old and has her last of 3 meals about 6.30pm. Normally she will be flat out by 8pm and goes out for the toilet before we go to bed at about 10. She usually wakes me up about 5 am to go out for a wee and then back to bed for a couple of hours.

10pm does sound a bit late for a last meal. I would feed at 8pm and give a couple of snack bones or similar when you go to bed.

[Finvarra]

We fed Dylan at 8,12,4 and 8. When I,let him out in the early hours he did weeS, and he would do poos at around 5.30 pr 6 ish. This went on four about two weeks. We found it really helpful to keep a record of his time of pooimg ( how sad is that  ), because you soon see a pattern establishing.  Bu the third week it got later, and in the fourth week we got a lie in til eight o clock, yayyy!!!!! We found that after his last meal he slept, had a brief play, then slept again all evening. He still sleeps a lot in the evening,less so during the day now.

I agree with everyone that 10 is probably a bit late for a last meal. I know one tries to space things out equally, but metabolism slows down at night, so the can go a bit longer.

I didn,t find gettingup in the early hours a bind too much because I have chronic insomnia, in the past I would probably have been a zombie. With my previous pups it was all soggy newspapers and opping up, so I really found the crate suited me at this stage of my.life, but you really have to go with what fit in to ypurlifestyle. At least the getting up in the night only lasts two or three weeks. Oh, and I didn't leave him with water during the night.

Cheers
Lesley and Dylan

[Georgina]

Thanks everyone once again a mine of information from you all and a good confidence boost 
From tomorrow I will be altering Cosmos meals and hopefully it will make it a bit easier to settle him

[EmmaRose]

Rory used to have his meals at 7am, 11am, 3pm and 7pm then a bedtime biscuit before he went to sleep.  I'd wake him up to have a wee at 3am and gradually made this later until I phased it out when he could last all night.  As the others have said its about finding a routine which works for you and Cosmo (who is adorable by the way  ) and giving them time to settle into it. 

[Georgina]

Thanks Emma.
Well I gave him his last meal at 8pm last night and there was no poo during the night so that was a bonus! Breakfast at 7.30 am today so will see how it goes. Trying to establish a routine is so difficult 
Also what time should I take his water away if last meal is 7.30pm? Last night he was still drinking at 9.30pm and wees in his pen loads over night even after being let out?

[Patp]

That's promising! Do you feed kibble? Only asking because it will make him thirstier. not sure as Jinley is raw fed and I would take her water up an hour after her last meal. 

[Georgina]

That's promising! Do you feed kibble? Only asking because it will make him thirstier. not sure as Jinley is raw fed and I would take her water up an hour after her last meal. 

Yes he is on pro plan puppy kibble but it is a bit moist so not a completley dry kibble. He does drink quite a lot though so no wonder he needs to pee so much ! 

[Mudmagnets]

That's promising! Do you feed kibble? Only asking because it will make him thirstier. not sure as Jinley is raw fed and I would take her water up an hour after her last meal. 

Yes he is on pro plan puppy kibble but it is a bit moist so not a completley dry kibble. He does drink quite a lot though so no wonder he needs to pee so much ! 

When Branston was on puppy kibble (Royal Canin) I used to dampen it a little with warm water, so that it swelled up in the bowl before he ate it and I found he did not drink as much water, so therefore didn't pee so much. don't know if that will help.