early riser

[Snowshoe]

i don't try to reward him ,I throw a cookie in his crate so he goes back in then try to go back to sleep,but he wants company,I try to let him out before bed but he doesn't,I think he is scarred because during the first month I had him,I let him out early in the morning while I was getting ready for work at about 4:30 am,it was
pitch black all of a sudden i saw thru the french doors packer running about 90 mph, I opened the door and I guess a couple of racoons were caught between 2 fences and fighting,I never heard anything like it,the noises these things were making so the puppy ran in as I opened the door,but I think he remembers that

The way I'm reading "letting him out" means you open the door and he goes out alone? YOU have to go out with him.

I bet he does remember the raccoons. Even more reason to think he must really, really have to pee if he will go out now at 4:30. You know a couple of raccoons could badly hurt a puppy. There might be a skunk out there too. Or a coyote? OUt you go, with flashlight, with puppy, make it safe for him.

All my post here is based on my take that puppy is out alone. If you go with him then please correct and we'll put our thinking caps back on.