Water Management or not to control peeing in house.

[Cherri]

It is so hot here and so I have had water available at all times for my 10 week old. However, I take him to potty every 15 minutes and he will pee twice in the house between those times. Is this normal.? Should I only give him water at certain times? He is black and I am sure hot all the time, but the potty training has been very difficult with him consuming a big bowl of water every 4 hours. He has already been neutered so I know he is not marking.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think you should err on the safe side and give him free access to water during the day. But the number of episodes of peeing seem excessive since every 15 minutes is not enough. He could have a bladder infection although this is more common in female pups I believe. Maybe you should talk to your vet.

[Kelly Gallagher]

I was originally told to not leave the water down all day...but we decided against that and let Maddy have water whenever she wanted. In the first few weeks she did spend a good amount of time in her crate though so she wasn't drinking constantly. We did take it up at 8:30pm...we stay up until 11:00 so that is her last time out for the night. I just feel like dogs should have access to water especially if it's particularly hot. I do think it seems like he is peeing a lot though...maybe check with the vet.

[Adina P]

Considering how often he pees and the fact that a crated pup his age might go 2 hours at a time in a crate with no water...I think it's reasonable to control water to some degree. But I also think perhaps giving him time in his crate between pees might be good and help to learn to hold it.

For example:
Pee outside
play 10 minutes with puppy
take puppy to pee outside
Right back into the crate for 1 hour
take puppy to pee outside
play for 10 minutes
pee outside
Right back to crate for 1 hour

You don't have to do this repeatedly all day but at least for part of the day so that he doesn't get to pee inside constantly.
I would also take a urine sample to the vet just in case.

Rosco was a pee-er like no other. He probably did pee as often as yours and he also would drink large amounts at once. To this day I have to remove all water bowls if we leave him for more than a short time in the evening because he prefers to drink all his water after supper and then can't physically HOLD the amount he drinks. So, if we were to go to a movie...he would NOT be left with water (and he's an adult dog).

Another thing to consider is that pups get distracted easily so he may start to empty his bladder out and get distracted and quit before he's empty. My suggestion is to not consider him empty until he's peed a couple times outside in a row.

[Cherri]

Thank you all very much for the advice. We are going to start the new schedule today of crating to help him learn to hold and taking a urine sample to my vet today! Thanks a bunch!

[Adina P]

Excellent! Let us know how it goes. And when there are times during the day when you CAN take him out LOTS and spend a little extra time outside for more than one pee...do give him free access to water at that time so he doesn't get dehydrated. If he's in the house and the A/C is on it's NOT hot so it shouldn't be too different than any other non-hot day.

Also is he having those accidents in front of you? Close to you? Or at a distance? If it's more than 4 feet away from you...it might just mean that crating will help, but also that he should be on a leash attached to you so he can NOT wander out of sight for any length of time.

[Cherri]

Thanks! Some of these accidents have been a little further than 4 feet but some of them are just him running next to me and automatically in potty position! Good News though. No trace of an infection. I have another dog that he is running to tackle and play with so I think he is just not thinking. I tried the leash on him and you would have thought I was beating him with a stick. Lol. Poor guy was crying and howling. Guess I need to let him run around with it on for a while. I have been letting him potty about 3 times before coming in the house and that has helped quite a bit! Just wish I had more hours in the day. Thanks again!

[Adina P]

Oh yes! If he starts to freak out about the leash...just let him run around with it (supervised so it doesn't catch on furniture and hurt him as he tugs to get free) during the day until he doesn't notice it anymore.

[Chris & Boys]

Normal for a new puppy. Just make sure to cut his intake a couple of hours before bed. Give him a couple ice cubes to help with thirst after that.

[Cherri]

Thanks for the ice cube advice, my puppy was begging and pleading for water last night and I gave him the ice. Problem solved!!! Much Better.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Peri went 3 weeks with no accident. Last night, she chugged too much water, threw up, and then peed because she was scared :( Poor girl, hard to get mad at that!
We put her water up at 8pm on weekdays and a bit later on weekends since we stay up longer. No limit during day. Unless she chugs, chugs, chugs...

[Lynda Kamrath]

He's obviously not potty trained yet, so I would suggest no unsupervised time in the house until he is trained. Where does he sleep? Does he ever soil his sleeping area? Usually they do not, but don't give him free reign of the house until he is potty trained. My boys slept in their playpens (I don't use crates except in the cars) and I would take them out to their potty areas first thing in the morning. They usually are really ready to pee at that time. Then regular morning activities, play, eat, more play, until it is nap time. Back into the playpen with toys and blankets. They never felt that it was punishment to be in their playpen, but they were always there to sleep or play on their own. Frequent visits to the potty area (and always when they get up from a nap) and I would say "pee pee" to them. They know what that means and now (as adults) they pee on command. Usually that means we are going somewhere in the car, so they are happy to do it. As for water, I recommend water as needed at all times.

[Cherri]

Peeing on command definately is a plus throughout all of their life! I forget that he has to have his naps, so just in the past couple of days started crating him so he can get them in. I have another dog and it always looks like they are having so much fun, that I forget he needs time to rest too!