What is a good bathroom schedule for dogs?
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF PUPPY POTTY TRAINING
When it comes to potty training your pup, sticking to a schedule is key. Why? What goes in must come out and it’s up to you to teach your dog when and where that happens.
We promise that your hard work will pay off. Eventually his schedule will be based on your schedule. You’ll take him out at times that are convenient to your work hours or your daily plans. But in the early stages of housebreaking, the schedule must be based on his needs and the length of time his little body can reasonably be expected to wait between potty trips.
GOOD MORNING!
Each day should begin the same way. When the alarm clock goes off, get yourself out of bed and get your puppy out of the crate. Immediately head outside to let the puppy do his business. Immediately means immediately. Don’t stop to make coffee, use the potty yourself or post those amazing new puppy photos to social media. All that can wait 5-10 minutes.
Overnight, keep the crate in or near your bedroom so you can hear any whimpers or whines letting you know your friend can’t wait til morning to go out. When your puppy is very small, it’s a good idea to actually pick him up out of his crate and carry him outside. Carrying him will discourages a stop to pee on the floor before getting to the door.
AFTER MEALS
Once your puppy (and you) have used the potty, it’s time for breakfast. Try to serve it at the same time each day. Keeping the timing consistent conditions him to regular elimination and eventually you’ll be able set your watch by his potty time.
Most puppies eat three to four meals a day while they’re growing and they’ll have to pee and poop after each meal.
For younger dogs, wait about 20 minutes after a meal to take him outside to potty. The younger the puppy, the sooner you should take him out after a meal. As your puppy gets older, he’ll be able to hold it longer each day.
AFTER PLAYTIME & NAPS
Think of naps as mini versions of the morning routine. Make sure that when your puppy is sleeping either in his crate or even on the floor while you’re watching TV in the evening, that you take him outside the moment he wakes up.
Your puppy will also need to potty right after playtime. The play stimulates the digestive tract and gives him the urge to go.
Keep an eye out for other signs that your dog needs to potty; sniffing the floor or carpet, wandering around the house (especially in rooms far away from the family,) turning in circles and whimpering. If you see any of these signs, the potty launch sequence has started. Take him out immediately!
WHAT IF I NEED TO LEAVE THE HOUSE DURING THE DAY?
What? You need to go out and make a living to put food on the floor for your pup? How selfish! Of course you can leave the house. Just remember to plan ahead.
To figure out how long your puppy can stay in his crate without fear of an accident, use the month plus one rule. Take the age of your puppy in months, add one and that’s the maximum number of hours that your puppy should be able to comfortably hold it between potty breaks.
So if your puppy is three months-old, you’d take 3, add 1 and get 4 hours as the maximum limit he can stay in his crate without fear of an accident.
GOODNIGHT
When it comes to bedtime, just like taking your puppy out is the first thing you should do when you get out of bed, taking him out is the last thing you should do before you get into bed.
TOILET TIPS
Find a spot that will become the “potty spot” and always, take him to the same spot. As you approach the spot, give a voice command or signal like, “Go potty” or “Do your business” then wait for the results. Praising your pup for good results and giving him a small treat reinforces his good behavior.
Many owners have great results by placing a bell on the handle of the door they use to go potty. By ringing the bell as you exit, you can train your puppy to ring it himself every time he needs to go out.
If there are accidents indoors, don’t punish your puppy. Simply clean up the mess and ignore him. If you catch him in the act, say “Go outside” and pick him up to finish his business outside.
How Often Do Dogs Need to Pee?
But, how often do dogs need to pee? Should you be letting your four-legged friend out more often than you already do? And what about puppies?
Keep reading to find out how often you should take your dog or puppy out to pee.
How often does a dog need to pee?
To put it simply, adult dogs generally need to toilet three to five times a day, and most vets will recommend a maximum window of between six to eight hours between toilet trips. However, it’s important to understand that each dog is different, and a variety of factors such as their age, breed and diet will impact how often your dog will need to pee.
For example, overweight or obese dogs may need to pee more. There are also some medications which may cause more frequent urination, as well as health conditions such as diabetes which can influence how many times they need to nip out to the bathroom. Additionally, smaller breeds such as Chihuahuas have much smaller bladders than a larger dog like a Labrador, so you’ll need to take this into account also.
You should also never make your dog wait too long to use the toilet as, not only is this very uncomfortable for them, but it can also increase the risk of them developing some bladder or kidney problems and urinary tract infections.
How often should a puppy pee?
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Puppies really can’t wait very long to pee because their bladder is still so small. When puppies are really small (less than one month) they will normally need to toilet hourly, with this becoming less frequent as they get older; however, it all depends on the individual puppy.
If you’re wondering how often you should take your puppy out to pee, it’s a good idea to do so every hour. This is a good way to instil toilet training habits into them and prevent accidents in the house. It’s also worth noting that puppies tend to need to go to the toilet within 15 minutes of eating or drinking, so be sure to keep a look out and take them outside to give them the opportunity to do their business.
How often should a senior dog pee?
As with puppies, senior dogs also can’t hold their bladder for very long. This causes many owners to get frustrated as they think they ‘forget’ how to toilet properly, but you shouldn’t blame or punish them, it’s really not their fault! When we get older it’s common for us to struggle to hold our bladders and have little accidents and it’s the exact same for your dog too. The general guide is senior dogs should be let out to go to the toilet every four to six hours, but again, this will depend on their breed, weight and if any health issues are present.
Spayed bitches can also sometimes develop a condition called urinary sphincter mechanism incontinence (USMI) when they get older. This is where they are not able to hold the urine as they could before and so small amount may start to dribble out, especially when they are lying down. If you notice your dog is urinating inappropriately, it’s always worth speaking to your vet as many conditions, such as USMI, are treatable with medication.
What if I’m going to be out all day?
If you’re going to be out all day and can’t get home to let your dog out to the toilet, you should either ask a friend or family member to pay a visit or hire a pet sitter or dog walker. Dogs should never be made to hold their bladder for too long, as this can cause health issues and ultimately, it’s not fair for them as holding their pee for long periods can be extremely uncomfortable! And, if you frequently work all day and can’t be home to let your dog out to pee and give them the attention they need, it’s a good idea to look into doggy day-care.
