If she is in the crate by 10AM, she needs to get out and relieve herself by 6AM or before she starts crying. Little puppies can't hold it like adult dogs.

Maybe take her out for a quick pee around midnight?

Sheesh! I visit the bathroom to pee between that time, every night! I'd be crying too, if I couldn't.

I agree that is a long time for a puppy her age to wait. I would be very happy that she was letting me know she needed to go out, rather than waking up later to a mess in the crate. She will be able to wait longer once her system is more mature.

I recently had someone call me who had never had a dog before. Wonderful people! I talked for a while with the person, and he indicated that they were about to adopt a 4 month old from a rescue group. He stated that the group told him about how long the dog should be able to "hold it". The theory is a wonderful one, about one hour for each month of age, up to about eight or nine months. I informed the person, that it was really a shame that dogs don't know this theory.

For now, and about the next 3 months, you need to assume that if your dog drinks water, within a very short period of time, it's gonna have to come out somewhere. Your pup is incredibly young, nothing has grown inside or out, and she is simply not going to be able to hold it according to theory. I would say withholding water at this early age is not a good thing, but I would also ask your vet. Pups need huge amounts of food and water.

All of that said, you should really start to instill proper potty training. It is never really to early in this department.

Finally, I refer to puppies as "a force to be reckoned with". If the force is dealt with properly, you will eventually have a spectacular dog, well behaved etc. If it is not dealt with properly,,,,,well good luck. You are gonna need it. All dogs are wonderful, I love Labs. BUT, your dog is going to be HUGE amounts of work if things are going to turn out properly.

I suggest you research Lab Puppies, consult with the person where you got the dog, and prepare for having a rowdy teenager on your hands by the time she is 6-7 months, and two teenagers by the time she is 8-10 months.

An excellent book is "How To Be Your Puppies Best Friend" by the Monks of New Skete.

Good luck!

SG

Thanks for the great advice everyone! As I suspected we are trying to make her grow up too fast :)
spiritual gardner,
I don't know where you got the impression that we are not potty training Ruby! We have been since we brought her home at 7 weeks! She is exceptional and has had very few accidents mostly because of our diligence in taking her out after meals, sleep, etc. We have had dogs and labs over the years, we are retired now, so we do remember a few things :) We had just never crate trained a dog before. But we both think Ruby is doing very well, and training her is a joy!
Thanks!

congrats on your new addition = Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Taking her out a little later, just to give her bladder more room is a great idea. Your reason for getting up at 5 or 6 is to take your pup out, a quick pee, then (her is the trick) teach her to go back to sleep. SO, when you put her in the crate at night, give her a command - "go nite nite" Sleepytime" whatever you choose. Then when you get back from your early morning pee, tell her the same thing, go nite nite, or whatever you chose, back to bed with both of you. Sooner or later, as your pups bladder grows and she is able to hold it longer, you can actually tell her go nite nite, BEFORE you take her out in the morning, and you will be able to sleep in a bit. I have trained my dog this way, and he now gets up around 9am, which is great since I have insomnia and often can not sleep until very early in the morning. Sometimes, I take him out just around midnight, one AM for a goot walk around the block, he is totally empty and rarely drinks water at night, as soon as I get up, I ask him if he needs to go pp outside, if he reasonds, out we go, if he does not respond, I fix breakfast. Be patient, you will get there soon enough. Good luck with your new pup

What I meant to suggest was, potty training is part of what you are going through right now with your pup, along with chewing and teething. All three issues are the "major" ones essential before dog can be weaned from the crate.

I think it very important that you gradually increase the time between when your dog goes out. For instance, if you take her out every two hours during the day (aside from when she drinks lots of water), gradually increase the time by about 15 minutes per week until she is about 5-6 months old. This type of schedule will allow her to grow inside and out and she will look forward to her needs being met.

You will see a huge change in your pup at around 8-9 months, inside and out. At around 12-13 months or before (depending on how fast she matures), she should be well on her way to being weaned from her crate.

Labs, especially pups have huge amounts of energy that must be spent, lest they get into serious mischief trying to expend it. Prepare yourself to exercise her heavily daily, at least twice a day until she is at least two years old. A good adage to the energy issue is "a tired dog, is a good dog".

Good luck! Post us a photo!

SG