Hi All! Our Bella is now about 9.5 months and has been great so far. She finished two 8-week training classes and is very well behaved for a pup. The one thing we're trying to figure out is her potty break schedule. When she was younger, she seemed to need to go out quite frequently, like every few hours. For the past month or so, she is only peeing about once per day, maybe twice if we're lucky. Yesterday she went a full 19 hours without peeing, even though we take her out every 4 hours. She drinks a normal amount of water (probably 32 oz per day). Is there a particular method to train a pup to go on command? She also only poops once or twice per day and we feed her 3 times a day. Is this normal or should we have her checked out? Thanks!
The poop once or twice a day sounds ok but peeing only once a day does sound a bit odd. It couldn't hurt to check with the Vet.
Hi @Browse If she is drinking a normal amount, then it must be coming out somewhere. Are you sure she only urinates once a day? I would talk to your vet. It's not normal for a dog to hold her bladder for almost an entire day. Three to Five times is more like the norm. Was she confined a day? What kind of surface is she expected to urinate on? Females dogs do not like urinating on surfaces where the urine can run over their paws. When she just finishes urinating, say Yes and treat. Keep doing that. In time, as she circles and just starts the flow say your cue, such as wee. When she finishes, and not before, say yes and treat. Then attempt to get the cue in just as she finishes.circling and the moment before she starts urinating. If successful, say Yes and treat big time when she finishes. Then try to get in cue before she circles. It's going to be difficult process if she only urinates once a day. But with persistence and patience you will get there.
I agree that peeing once a day sounds like very little, for an adult dog even - and especially little for a pup. Pooping once or twice a day is normal - are you sure she isn't peeing at the same time that she poops? And that you maybe aren't noticing that? Some dogs do pee and poop together at the same time... Most of the issues that are 'wrong' with dogs and urination, involve excessive and frequent urination - not too infrequent urination despite drinking enough. I actually can't think of anything that causes that unless it's something very unusual in a young puppy. I would watch her really closely, especially when she poops, and I would have a good sniff of all her bedding to check she isn't peeing at other times. If you can't find any other times she is peeing, then I think having a chat with the vet might be a good idea.
Thanks for the replies! I will try treating when she goes and see if that helps. It could also be that she is sometimes peeing when she poops, so I will have to watch more closely. If we exercise her a lot, she is more likely to go potty but during the week (before work and at lunch break) we just don't have the time for extensive play. I feel guilty because she is created when we're at work and also when we sleep, so she doesn't get to spend much time outside right now.
Cooper drinks a lot more than a quart of water a day, though she is full grown, and quite big at 24", 75#. When she goes on a walk she marks like a boy. So does Tilly for that matter.
Our 9 month olds pee about 4-5x a day. 6am, 9am, 5pm, 10pm~ ish. usually a big one after all night or work day, small one at the end of exercise walks. They drink about 1.5 bowls of water each a day.
She is crated 4 days per week for 4 hrs in the morning and 3.5 hrs in the afternoon. I'm home for lunch each day to feed her and let her out for about 45 min. At night she sleeps in our bedroom but she stays in her crate for about 7 hrs. She sleeps through the night quite reliably without issue.
Hi @Browse It is good that you come home each of the four days to give her a break. Have you filmed her to see what she is doing when you leave in the morning? I would also consider hiring a dog walker to come in mid-morning to give the dog some mental and physical exercise. Better still, hire a positive dog trainer to work with your dog. Have you resolved where all the water she is drinking is going?
My wife was watching extra close this morning and it appears that she has been peeing while pooping some of the time, so she is probably going twice per day. We have webcams on the crate and pen, so we can check in on her during the day. We give her a frozen kong with kibble and peanut butter when we put her in the crate and she works on that then goes to sleep until we get home.
Hi @Browse Sounds good. If she settles and does not fret when you leave that is a good sign. Ensure the peanut butter is free of Xylitol. Good observation on the urinating.
