Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
Pulling Out My Hair Here..Need Creative Ideas for My Problem Drinker!
I have whined and complained about this on many doodle forums -- and have never really found a real solution. So I'm begging for some creative thinking!
Rosco has a drinking problem (for over two years) and it's driving me insane. Last night, in the middle of the night he barked to go out. This happens a few times a week. I let him out and watched him through the window. He peed once (it was not a short pee) and then walked a little ways and then peed again. And then, a minute later moved on to a new spot and peed a third time. THIS after having gone out to pee a zillion times that evening. I can't sit down to watch a movie or even a sitcom all the way through because I have to get up to let him in and out.
The reason for the excessive urination is his excessive drinking problem in the evening. I can have him hang out with me at work all day and he won't drink a drop. He could probably be left in the house 6 to 8 hours during the day and not have to pee. But come supper time, he drinks a ton of water after eating. And consequently, he has a lot to eliminate.
What I have done so far:
1) he has been tested for UTIs, kidney issues, and diabetes--and he has none of these.
2) it helps if I can cut off his water supply 2 to 3 hours before bed--but given that he'd barely drinks during the day, it doesn't seem fair. Also, our other two dogs don't have this problem and if Rosco can't get to his water that means our other two suffer. Again not fair. However we do do this when we have to go out at night for any length of time past two HRS or when we're gone on vacation--well, our dog sitter does.
3) Rosco used to only get supper... For the past month or so, I have started giving him breakfast (splitting his meal) so I thought that a morning meal would encourage his drinking more in the morning... And thus decrease his evening drinking. It has not done this. I think it's such an ingrained habit by now.
What I have thought about doing:
1) being horribly mean and cutting off his water supply 3 hours before bed. My hope was that it would make him super thirsty in the morning and over the course of a week might change his drinking habits. I have a feeling it wouldn't really work, though.
2) keeping him in a down stay for several long sessions in the evening--that way he could not get up and request to go out. Our dogs ring bells to signal when they want to go out. However even if I took the bells away, they are very vocal and would bark. I prefer the sound of the bells :-) I haven't tried this yet, because around the house I'd tend to forget when my dogs are in stays so I can correct them if they get up. But it's possibly worth a try... And maybe, just maybe it would train his bladder to be stronger.
I should add that, when Rosco can't hold it any longer he will go in the house. We have learned this the hard way coming home late at night after a movie and finding a giant puddle as close to the back door as he can get. There have been no such accidents for the past 4 to 6 months. It's become a running joke when we come home at night (from dinner or a movie or a party) and find NO puddle "Rosco is 2 and a HALF now--of course he's not having accidents!"
So, any other creative ideas to train him to spread out his water intake???
***UPDATE***I have closed this discussion, but if you want updates on how Rosco is doing here are some links to my blogs about this topic from oldest to newest:
http://www.doodlekisses.com/profiles/blogs/the-rosco-water-pee
http://www.doodlekisses.com/profiles/blogs/the-rosco-water-pee-1
http://www.doodlekisses.com/profiles/blogs/as-rosco-wees
Rosco has a drinking problem (for over two years) and it's driving me insane. Last night, in the middle of the night he barked to go out. This happens a few times a week. I let him out and watched him through the window. He peed once (it was not a short pee) and then walked a little ways and then peed again. And then, a minute later moved on to a new spot and peed a third time. THIS after having gone out to pee a zillion times that evening. I can't sit down to watch a movie or even a sitcom all the way through because I have to get up to let him in and out.
The reason for the excessive urination is his excessive drinking problem in the evening. I can have him hang out with me at work all day and he won't drink a drop. He could probably be left in the house 6 to 8 hours during the day and not have to pee. But come supper time, he drinks a ton of water after eating. And consequently, he has a lot to eliminate.
What I have done so far:
1) he has been tested for UTIs, kidney issues, and diabetes--and he has none of these.
2) it helps if I can cut off his water supply 2 to 3 hours before bed--but given that he'd barely drinks during the day, it doesn't seem fair. Also, our other two dogs don't have this problem and if Rosco can't get to his water that means our other two suffer. Again not fair. However we do do this when we have to go out at night for any length of time past two HRS or when we're gone on vacation--well, our dog sitter does.
3) Rosco used to only get supper... For the past month or so, I have started giving him breakfast (splitting his meal) so I thought that a morning meal would encourage his drinking more in the morning... And thus decrease his evening drinking. It has not done this. I think it's such an ingrained habit by now.
What I have thought about doing:
1) being horribly mean and cutting off his water supply 3 hours before bed. My hope was that it would make him super thirsty in the morning and over the course of a week might change his drinking habits. I have a feeling it wouldn't really work, though.
2) keeping him in a down stay for several long sessions in the evening--that way he could not get up and request to go out. Our dogs ring bells to signal when they want to go out. However even if I took the bells away, they are very vocal and would bark. I prefer the sound of the bells :-) I haven't tried this yet, because around the house I'd tend to forget when my dogs are in stays so I can correct them if they get up. But it's possibly worth a try... And maybe, just maybe it would train his bladder to be stronger.
I should add that, when Rosco can't hold it any longer he will go in the house. We have learned this the hard way coming home late at night after a movie and finding a giant puddle as close to the back door as he can get. There have been no such accidents for the past 4 to 6 months. It's become a running joke when we come home at night (from dinner or a movie or a party) and find NO puddle "Rosco is 2 and a HALF now--of course he's not having accidents!"
So, any other creative ideas to train him to spread out his water intake???
***UPDATE***I have closed this discussion, but if you want updates on how Rosco is doing here are some links to my blogs about this topic from oldest to newest:
http://www.doodlekisses.com/profiles/blogs/the-rosco-water-pee
http://www.doodlekisses.com/profiles/blogs/the-rosco-water-pee-1
http://www.doodlekisses.com/profiles/blogs/as-rosco-wees
Replies are closed for this discussion.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Adrianne Matzkin on
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Some suggestions:
-cut the water after dinner - I started doing that becuase I would get a very cute ;''eoof' around 2am. I am not very nice at that hour. If he is thirssty, he will remember to have his full before you take it away. I do not think it is mean - night time is for sleeping and I think he may be bored and really just wants to go out and see who is out there. There is no reason he can't hold it at his age - he probably just wants to have you with him
-give them dinner earlier so he can drink earlier
-ice cubes instead of a bowl of water
-put in a doggy door - we have one that goes outside to the 'pen' - side of the house which we have the yeard fence enclosed to a smaller area with a door so the poops and pees are supposed to stay in there.
GOOD LUCK!! -
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Permalink Reply by Adina P on
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He actually PEES every time he rings to go out and comes right back in...it's NOT just for fun or entertainment. Dinner is between 4:45 and 6pm (earlier if I'm home, the later time if I'm not).
I guess I can try removing the water for a week and see if he starts to drink in the day more...if he doesn't I don't want to dehydrate him because of his silly habits!
Doggy Door is NOT an option because we have tenants who must walk through our backyard. Every GREAT now and then one of the gates is not securely closed. So I MUST always do a visual check before letting them out or risk losing them down the street. A doggy door could be dangerous for them. -
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It is such a shame that peope are not more responsible where animals are concerned.
Try ice cubes are he drinks some water. You will know he drank enough not to get dehydrated and ice cubes are fun and he won't be getting a ton of water. Maybe he won't need to pee so often. -
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it hasn't happened more than once due to tenants...but once is enough. The dogs ended up next door (thankfully NOT across the street). And it happened again and it could have been either of us (Clark or I). We are VERY careful but stuff happens.
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We do the water in the bowl thing if we KNOW we'll be gone for a lengthy period in the evenig and that is ALL the water they get. But for a dog that's 80 lbs it's not enough for a daily ration. OKay...I'll just have to give the early water cut-off another go...
Vet had no innovative suggestions. -
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Permalink Reply by Marianne *OZZY & ZOEY on
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Does he play alot at night and run around...that would cause him to want to drink more later at night...hard if you are at work not to walk them or play with them until you get home at night. Ozzy does the same thing... I cut playtime about 9pm and he goes in and out up until 11pm.
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He is more active at night...but he drinks before the activity starts and continues here and there all night.
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I should clarify...he does not drink RIGHT up until bed...but he drinks SO much that it takes him all night to eliminate.
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Permalink Reply by Tamara & Giada on
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Boy Adina how frustrating. Sounds like you've tried everything. I thought of a wtter bottle to decrease his wter intake, but don't know how this would work with 3 dogs. I'm stummped?!?!?!?!?
GL :) -
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Permalink Reply by 2wpu1zztl11wu on
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Kinda sounds like he is marking his yard one last time before bed. My females do this. At last pee of the night Abby and Lacie pee in a few different places..even on top of where everyone else has gone. If it makes you feel bad withholding the water completely, maybe try rations. Like a couple slurps after dinner and then again before bed.
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I don't think he is marking . When he marks, he lifts... at least a little bit. He just goes straight out and pees in the same general area.
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Permalink Reply by Jacquie Yorke (DRC) on
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Also....peanut butter in the Kong will make him thirsty....
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