A two month old (eight week old) puppy can hold her bladder for three hours. That does not mean she knows she should hold it, though. You have to teach her to wait three hours. Puppies also need to go outside after sleeping or eating their delicious and nutritious dog food.
As a guideline, new puppies up to 10 weeks old typically can't hold their bladder for more than an hour. Dogs between 10 to 12 weeks old can usually hold it for around two hours.
According to the AKC, puppies at 7-8 weeks should get 18-20 hours of sleep per night! Most puppies are weaned from their mother and brought to a new home at this age. This schedule persists until about 20 weeks of age. As the dogs get older, sleep time is reduced to 13-15 hours.
In the first six months of life, puppies need a lot of attention, care, and exercise. Puppies younger than 10 weeks won't be able to hold their urine for more than an hour at a time, and it's not until 6 months of age that puppies can wait up to six hours to go to the bathroom.
Puppies can hold it a little longer while they are sleeping. You will still need to make (at least) one trip halfway through the night for puppies under 4 months old, and maybe a little after that for some pups. Remember to set a (gentle) alarm for 4-5 hours after your puppy's bedtime.
By the time your puppy is about 4 months old, they should be able to start sleeping through the night without needing the toilet. (Although small breeds take longer as their bladders are smaller.)
Puppies also have small bladders and can't hold their urine for very long. That's why it's important to never wake a sleeping puppy to pee. If your puppy is sleeping soundly, it means his bladder is full and he doesn't need to go. Waking him up will only make him grumpy and disrupt his much-needed sleep.
Use the 'last call' system before bed
Before going to bed at night, give your puppy a “last call” and allow them one last chance to use the toilet before you go to sleep. After your puppy has done their business and begins to calm down, place them where they sleep, either in their crate or in their bed.
Teach your pup to potty on a designated spot outdoors, making him think. After you bring home your new puppy the first thing you need to teach the pup is to walk to the door. Do not carry it.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, most puppies can actually sleep for up to seven hours without relieving themselves—so it definitely is possible.
As a result, they should poop around four to five times per day. By the time your puppy reaches eight weeks, he or she should have a more stable diet and better control of their bowels. Your puppy may begin to poop once or twice per day at predictable times, a trend that should continue for the rest of their life.
Ignoring them at night won't help them build confidence and may make them worse which isn't what anyone wants. They need to be taught how to be independent slowly. We would never recommend ignoring your puppy when they cry at night, especially in their first few nights.
There is no hard-fast rule when it comes to whether or not your dog should sleep with you in your bed. If it's not causing any issues and you're comfortable with it, go for it. However, I urge you to put your dog's well-being before your own selfish desire to share a bed with your pup.
Remember, puppies can't control their bladder until they're about 16 weeks old. After that, in general they can only hold their bladder for the same number of hours as the number of months of their age plus one. So, a four-month-old puppy can only hold it for five hours.
Puppy Bladder Control Chart
In general, by the time your puppy is 4-6 months old, she should have full control of her bladder (which means you can finally start sleeping through the night again!).
Unless you have a tiny breed, a good rule of thumb is that a pup can hold their bladder for about as many hours as they are months old (i.e., a three-month-old pup can hold it about three hours, a four-month-old about four hours).
First, crate train your puppy, and second, arrange for regular toilet breaks at appropriate intervals. Before leaving for work, play with your pup and take them out for a potty break. When they go, give the usual praise and reward. Then pop your pup into the crate with a safe chew toy.
In the beginning, we suggest covering a wider area with 3-4 potty pads until your puppy learns how to target the pad more precisely. Important note: Although you can leave potty pads in your puppy's playpen to absorb any accidents they may have, this on its own won't potty train your puppy.
Most puppies do best in a crate with a soft and suitable bed or bedding tucked inside. Crates keep your little guy corralled and away from temptations and dangers while you get some shut-eye too.
And why are they crying? There is a strong chance that your puppy will cry, whine or even scream during their first few nights in your house to alert their family that they are alone and need to be found. They may be feeling helpless or insecure in a new home - especially if they are sleeping in a separate room.
If the problem is happening at night, it may be that your pup and his bladder haven't developed enough to hold it all night long. Many young puppies will need to be carried outside quietly once during the night until they are several months old. Be sure the pup has been properly introduced to the crate.
But in all honesty, there's no 'right time' for a puppy to go to sleep, as long as it's the same every night. While this may be the case, do note that your puppy will need, on average, around 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
Sleep in the same room for the first few nights.
For the first few nights, your puppy will need time to adjust to being without their mum. Wherever you decide to settle them in your house, it's a good idea to spend the first few nights in the same room with them so they don't wake up in a panic because no-one is there.
5. Do: Watch the Clock. Give your puppy 15 minutes to do his business. If nothing happens, put him in his crate for another 15 minutes before trying again.