How long between potty breaks is acceptable?

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

We have just both started back to work recently and DH is gone about 10.5 hours and I'm gone about 12. It's usually only one or two days a week that we work on the same day so otherwise they are let out whenever they ask.

 We have someone come by around half way through the day when we're both working,so the longest we have had them hold it is about 6-7 hours. One day our sitter forgot and they didn't go out for about 12 hours. No accidents. We both felt so bad.

They are 2 1/2 and 1 year old, 66 and 59 pounds. Does age, size or bladder training make the difference and what is really comfortable and reasonable to expect? Anyone have their doodle go that long between potty breaks?

 

[Taylor & Huff]

Huff refuses to go in rain most of the time too. His paws are made of gold...en retreiver. HAHAHA.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Chloe is stubborn and she WILL not go out in the rain first thing in the morning and lately she hides under the bed so DH can't take her out before work. Myla goes everytime you let her out-Chloe can hold it (not tha we like her to) over 12 hours. I think 6-7 is very good!

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

R&B can hold it thru the night that long but I would never leave them that long on a regular basis during the day.  Usually 7 - 8 hours is max. 

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

. We do have to leave them 10-12 hours a day or so a week, but the sitter comes in around 6-7 hours into the day so I like that time span the most too.

[BG and Gavin]

Well I can tell you how to get Gavin to hold it for a long time!  Just wander around behind him with a margarine container.  I needed a mid-day sample to take to the vet so let him out for his morning pee at 7:30 and kept him in until noon then began trying to collect the sample.  I was finally able to get one at 5:12 pm.  The vet closed at 5:30 and is 15km out of town.  Good thing no police were out and about.  It was not much better than the early morning sample due to the high level of concentration.  Silly dog!  I have never left him more than 6 hours during the day, but seriously he has a bladder of steel.  We usually have to kick him outside in the morning to do his thing.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Of course....they won't go when you NEED them to. Maybe he got performance anxiety with you holding a margarine container up close and watchin him. But that is sure a long time to go especially with you home with him all day. Silly dog is right.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

At that age (the youngest), Cooper could hold her pee for 12 hours during the day if she needed to, we are usually away for about 10 hours. I try not to make her wait more than 12 hours, but she will often go at 7pm when we get home, and not go again til about 8am the next day! Sometimes we have to keep telling her to Go Potty. 

 

I think it all depends on the dog....

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Both  of mine have always gone the 10-12 hours at night. From puppyhood. So that doesn't seem seem so long to me for nighttime, I'm just wondering if they can hold it that long during the day and it's us who are uncomfortable with making them wait that long and it's no big deal to them. 

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

On a typical week, D&K are alone for 2 (sometimes 3) days (one of us works from home the other days).  On these days they typically are alone from ~8-5 and are totally fine.  They hold it 8+ hrs overnight and are fine and they sleep most of the day anyway.

 

Kirby has a bladder of steel.  He will/can hold it forever!

[Taylor & Huff]

Huff goes out every 5-6 hours I think.

[Heather Martinez]

Teddy is home for about 9 hours, 4 days a week. We used to give him puppy pads but at 4 months he stopped needing tho use them (he's 7 months now). He also holds it for about 9 hours on an average night, although he has gone longer. He's very good about going potty now, so we're lucky. When we take him out to the grass he always pees right away. Then we walk a bit farther down the street and he has a place he likes to poop. Morning and night he's required to poop before we continue to the park. On an average weekday he goes out to potty 5 or 6 times.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

When my two were puppies, the longest time would be about 4 hours.  I work full time and would run home on lunch to let them out.  Even Oliver at 10 weeks old would hold it for 4 hours.   Everyone needs to remember that what they drink is what going to come out.  I would let them have as much water as they wanted when I first get up in the morning.  Then would limit the water about a hour before I left for work.  As each dog got older and would have more control of their bladder I would not come home on lunch maybe one day a week then I would increase to two days etc. etc.  It was a gradual process and as both matured it was easy.  My dogs go about 8 hrs., if I am caught at work or need to do something after work and cannot make it home my DBF takes them out.