3 mth old choc lab

Question
Hello there! I have a new 3 mth choc lab puppy and was wondering what I can do to further reduce his nightly potty breaks?  Do I take his food up and if so, what time before bedtime?  We do not have a doggie door so I get up with him when I hear him but sometimes, and ONLY sometimes, I don't hear him and I find little "surprises" waiting for me at the door he usually uses to go out to potty.  Thanks --- any advice would be appreciated!

Answer
He will do fine without food or water after 7 PM.  A 3 month old shouldn't having any trouble going all night.  Restricting his activity will help.  One of the best ways is the crate.  

It is only natural that a puppy resists its crate at first.  What the puppy
wants more than anything else is to be with others, you, anyone else in the
household, and any other pets.  In our modern society, even if we are home,
other things distract us from the attention an uncrated puppy must have.   The
only real solution is to crate the dog when you aren't around.  The dog may be
happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its
den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them
will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic
ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  Metal ones can be put
in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select
a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys.  Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter.  Don't leave
anything in the crate the dog might chew up.  It will do fine without even any
bedding.  You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, may take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate.  Praise it for going
in.  Feed it in the crate.  This is also an easy way to maintain order at
feeding time for more than one dog.

It sounds to me like you are giving him more food than he will eat at the time.  That would be a disaster for most Lab puppies.  Your dog definitely should be narrower at the waist than the hips and chest. You should be able to easily feel the ribs, but not see them.  Each dog is different.  Standard recommendations are a good place to start, but each dog must have its food adjusted to its individual needs. Here is a link to a good illustrated guide, http://www.longliveyourdog.com/twoplus/RateYourDog.aspx  Too much, too rich of food is one of the worst things for a growing puppy's joints.  If you are feeding a puppy chow, you might switch to an adult chow soon.