housebreaking

Question
We have a 4 month old golden & find that we are having to let her out of the crate 2 or 3 times a night. Should we just be letting her out at bedtime then crating her & just letting her bark until she settles and of course letting her out first thing in the morning ?
Thanks

Answer
At that age, she shouldn't have any trouble at all going over night.  The first thing I would do is have the vet check her.  If there isn't anything wrong, take her out at bed time and make her walk around.  The exercise will stimulate her to eliminate.  Once her bladder is empty, she should be able to go over night.

If she doesn't settle right away, try what I do with a new puppy.  At bed time, with a new puppy, I have found lying down in front of the crate like you were going to sleep and speaking softly to it, or singing, until it settles down and goes to sleep works very well.  Follow the pattern, a period of active play, outside to eliminate, and then into the crate.