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 Adina P on
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He already goes for the bowl with the LEAST water first....it's just habit I'm certain.
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Permalink Reply by Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle on
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I'm thinking maybe it could have something to do with sodium? In his food or in peanut butter, as Jacquie mentioned? But you would have thought of that yourself, duh.
I don't know what I'd do, it was terrible having to take Jack's bowls up the other night & cut him off, I know it's going to bother you to do that to your baby Rosco. Does the vet have any opinions on what makes him so much thirstier than the girls? -
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the vet didn't have any idea. Clark has a theory his urethra is too narrow or something mechanical like that eliminate enough. But I've seen him with large volume pee and small volume pee... so I just don't know.
I don't think it's his food, because he's been on two different kinds.. three counting his puppy food. And he doesn't get many treats.
I don't really mind taking up his water early, I just didn't want it to hurt the other dogs' ability to drink when they need to. And I've had other people go on and on about how dangerous it was to limit the water of dogs. Like somehow I was torturing the poor guy. So, I guess it's back to severe water limitation with extra attention to changes. And sneaking water for the other two when Rosco's not looking. -
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Permalink Reply by Meg (Murphy's Mom) on
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My dood has a drinking problem also. I am trying to keep a lid on this problem...
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LMAO!
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Permalink Reply by 2m42srv7vi6sq on
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Adina,
I feel for you. I know how grouchy I get when I get awakend at 3 am during the rare occurences when one of the dogs has to go out, in the middle of the night. I couldn't imagine it happening on a regular basis.
I think the water bottle idea is a good one. It restricts the amount of water they can take in at one time. -
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Just hope after you restrict his water at night he doesn't decide to visit the BIG water bowl in the bathroom :O
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LOL...thankfully no. They all sleep in the bedroom...no toilet access.
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Permalink Reply by 2wpu1zztl11wu on
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Did you ask the vet about diabetes?
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Permalink Reply by Noble Vestal Labradoodles on
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If you are feeding him dry food his food is wicking all of the moisture out of his system causing a spell of dehydration which is why he drinks a lot. You can moisten his food to help prevent it from zapping him dry.
Another avenue to explore is checking the position of his bladder, I know you did the UTI route but it could be an issue with his bladder being tilted more than it should be which would cause urine to be retained until he moves and it sloshes over into the area that causes the sensation to go.
He may also not even be going, just because he lifts or squats doesn't mean he is going~ my boys will lift and lift outside all day long, we call it dry peeing.... I think it is a male marking issues -
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Rosco actually PEES real pee...it's not the dry marking he does when marking.
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