Puppy peeing every 20 mins?

[Kate]

Hi Everyone! I'm new to Doodle Kisses and was hoping for some feedback on my new golden doodle puppy. Karma is about 9 weeks old and it seems like she is peeing a lot... even for a puppy. She is peeing every 20-30 minutes during the evening (5p-10p). But she holds it all night and also for 5 hours a day while I'm at work without accidents. Sometimes she squats to pee every 5-10 minutes. We took her to the vet thinking it could be a UTI but they couldn't get a urine sample from her. The vet said it was probably a UTI so they gave us the antibiotics anyway. She has been on them for almost 5 days and we haven't seen much improvement. Does peeing every 20 minutes seem unusual for a 9 week puppy? Did any of your puppies pee this frequently at that age? If it is unusual to pee that frequently, I'm wondering what could be causing this issue? Of course I don't expect her to be potty trained at 9 weeks, I'm just concerned that she is peeing so much. With our last golden doodle we never had any potty issues. He was extremely easy to potty train and rarely had any accidents.  I really appreciate any feedback, thanks so much!

[Sue]

Is she peeing in your home? Or she doing it outside every 5-10 mins. Also...are you treating her every time she pees?? I know that my 5 month old puppy definitely pees a lot more if she has had to hold it in her crate for an extended period of time....Would like to know what others have to say.....

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Wow I am truly amazed that a 9 week old puppy is going all night and for 5 hours a day while you're working without having an accident.  She is doing an awesome job.  Remember she is really just a baby...how old was she when you got her?  I know my breeder didn't release her puppies until they were 9 or 10 weeks so she could begin their housebreaking.  When she's peeing every 20 minutes is she in an excited state?  For puppies excitement and peeing kind of go together.  I would take her out as soon as you get home and really tire her out....a good long walk and some off leash time (assuming you have a contained area where she will be safe).  If there's going to be excited play...do it outside.  When you come back inside keep things calm....but take her out every 45 minutes until it's bedtime.

[Kate]

Thanks for the replies! Yes, it's amazing that she sleeps through the night and usually doesnt have accidents during the day! We got her at 8 weeks. I take her for a walk every morning before work and she plays with our neighbor dogs off leash for about 15 minutes before I leave. She also plays outside with them for about an hour after work. She pees a lot outside and inside. But it is not an excitement thing. Usually it is when we are eating dinner or relaxing when she has the most accidents inside since it's tough to let her out every 20 minutes. She will be playing with a toy and then walk a few steps and squat down. She gets treats and lots of excitement when she pees outside. And when I catch her peeing inside I usually clap loudly and tell her no then I take her outside. I understand she is still young, but it just seems like 20-30 mins is very frequent peeing for her age. Everything I have read says she should be able to hold for about 2 hours at 2 months old... But we are very lucky she hold through the night!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

You may have to keep her crated when you can't watch her.  It's important to "catch her" the second she starts to squat and carry her outside to finish....then praise and treat. 

[Michelle]

I have the same problem with mine. He is now 13 weeks old and we still take him out every half hour when he is not crated. He did great overnight ever since we brought him home. Everyone keeps telling me to just be patient. One good word of advice that I learned is to wait for 2 pees when you have him out. I was having trouble in the beginning because he would pee outside and then come in and pee 10 minutes later.

[Adina P]

I agree with putting her in her crate if you can NOT take her out.  I always just assumed puppies COULD pee that often so I took mine out more frequently...every 15 min until there were no accidents and crated when I could not be that vigilant. 

[Leslie J]

I took Cocoa out every 20 - 30 minutes when I was home until she was about 12 weeks old. After she had pooped and peed I let her run around for 20 minutes and then took her out again. If I was too busy to keep taking her out I kept her in her crate or on a 4 foot tether. I was super vigilant and she didn't have accidents in the house. She also from 8 weeks could sleep in her crate through the night (11:00 pm to 5:00am). One important thing to remember is to clean up any surface she soils with Nature's Miracle (available at pet stores) to completely neutralize the odor- otherwise she'll return and soil the same place.