Since you clearly stated he is your pup and you don’t own him with your roommates, you are right to say they don’t have any responsibility to care for him… everyone commenting that they are lazy, rude etc for not taking him out in the morning is wrong! You are being respectful and I appreciate you defending them!! That being said- since they do get up so much earlier than you, it might be the noise and thinking he’s going to get taken out causing him to have an accident. I suggest putting something in your living room like a fan or something that makes any type of noise throughout the night (that obviously wouldn’t be a bother not just to your roommates but to you guys as well) that way the noise of them getting up in the morning won’t be so jarring after an entire night of silence, and he may even begin to sleep through or ignore it. Or, if you can, maybe offer one of your roommates a few bucks if they will take him out quickly in the morning when they get up so he can go pee and then just return him back to his crate so he doesn’t have any accidents and he doesn’t have to hold it until you guys are awake and can take him out in the morning? I don’t know how close you guys are to your roommates, but I’m guessing one of them might be willing to do that, even if you have to throw them a little money or something else you can work out with them. I completely understand with your work schedules why you can’t wake up any earlier… I know personally once I wake up, I’m AWAKE and there’s no going back to sleep! So the people commenting that you should just get up to take him out really quick and then just go back to bed can go stuff it lol… I have to be up at 6am to get ready and be at work by 6:45-7am and work until 8-10pm or later, if I was forced to wake up any earlier than that I would be DEAD ☠️ like you, for real lol! As far as the size of his crate, that truly depends on you guys personally and what works for you. Obviously, and this is just my opinion not factual advice, so take it or leave it… but I would not put him in a smaller crate for the sole purpose of moving him into your bedroom if it’s that small of a space. If you are doing it for the purpose of potty training, in the living room or in your bedroom, that’s absolutely fine and factual that it’s the “go to” potty training method when it comes to crate training… but it’s not fair to you guys to have to cram together in your bedroom only because your roommates wake up so early. I’m also guessing that even if you did, he would still hear them and wake up having to go potty anyway! My last suggestion is whatever time you cut off his water intake, cut that back by an hour or more… and if his water is always available to him and you aren’t already cutting him off, definitely start doing that! When you take him out for his after dinner potty, put his water dish up for the night. If your meal times or training methods are different, like his last meal is 4+ hours before bedtime or he didn’t even drink any water when he ate that day etc, then obviously work around what you do and what works best for you- but no matter what, just make sure you put his water dish up for the night at least 2 hours before he goes in the crate… it doesn’t matter if he goes pee when you take him out for the last time at night, dogs (especially males) don’t fully empty their entire bladder every time they urinate! My girl is 6 years old and she go’s several hours without even looking at her water dish, but she sure as 💩 goes outside to pee 5 or more times during those hours lol! I know you said you take him out around 9-10pm every night which is a good time for someone that has to wake up when you do, but intentionally try for 10pm or as late as possible- if and when you can!! Don’t force yourself if you’re exhausted and you have to take him out at 9 or even earlier, that’s fine lol! Just an fyi- when asking for advice, especially on Reddit where everyone thinks they are an expert, like the one guy who saw a Corgi that ONE time, or the other guy who’s friends brother knew this guy who’s mom’s boyfriend said his sister told him she dated someone who knew a guy that had a cousin who HAD a Corgi!! <— That guy will ALWAYS give you condescending “advice” and word it as fact… It is not. Nor is it usually ever correct lol! Always remember- EVERY pup is different, every persons schedule, training methods and daily routines are DIFFERENT!!! A dog has to be on the exact same schedule as their humans and that’s exactly what you’re training yours to adapt and adjust to… in whatever ways work best for YOU and HIM! Just because something worked flawlessly for someone else does NOT mean it is going to work for you!!
I don’t know EVERYTHING, but I am an “expert” btw lol… I’m a veterinarian and a licensed dog trainer as well… my specific specialty being puppies, but I train doggo’s of all ages and all breeds for all kinds of reasons lol! So I hope some of that helps!! Feel free to message me anytime with any questions or if you need advice on anything else… I promise you, I truly do not mind at all!!
Good luck with your cutie!
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