Originally Posted by
Shelley
So, a couple things...
I would absolutely remove any bedding inside the crate. Some puppies seem to think that means they can pee on it, and you don't want that to be a habit, where he thinks rugs are a good place to pee too.
If he pees by 2:30 am, get up earlier to get him out to pee, you want to catch him before he needs to go not after.
Is the crate too big? For this age and stage he should only be able to stand up and barely have enough room to lay down. The reason for this is that they (*usually) won't eliminate where the sleep. Make the crate smaller if you have a divider, it may seem cruel but it won't take long if this is the issue.
Do you feed him in the crate? If not start doing that, they (*usually) won't eliminate when they eat, so work with that instinct.
Start putting him in the crate for a few minutes, or 1/2 hour, or more, or daytime nap time when you are home. Maybe he is stressed in the crate and just need more time to acclimate, especially when you are home. Maybe he equates the crate only with bed time and you leaving him, and not as a 'normal' occurrence, so more structured crate time, will help him like his crate better, and always give him good cookies when you put him in there.
I would make sure he doesn't have a Urinary Tract Infection like others have said, it may not be his fault he is going, if he has a UTI.
I also never restrict water consumption, (many will disagree with me and that's OK. My litters have free access to water all night long until 8 weeks old, and they rarely get up to pee or drink it all through the night.) I like my puppies to be able to drink any time they are thirsty, with the exception of night time crating/bedtime after they are 8 weeks old. If they don't have access to water regularly, they will begin to hoard' water when they can get it, and fill their bladders when they can then need to pee a lot. Let him drink whenever he needs to, and he will self regulate.
I also see no issue at all with waiting to feed him since you leave for work later, I make mine wait at least 1/2 hour and usually more to feed them after they awaken, so they don't annoy me with waking up earlier and earlier just to be fed. They get fed when I feed them, and they eat twice a day, usually about 12 hours apart. :-)