Holding Urine

[BG and Gavin]

Gavin was overnight at my parents' house New Years Eve.  Before we left we shovelled a path through the snow to the back of the property and led him out there to pee (which he did).  We came to pick him up 22 hours later and my mom and Gavin met us at the door with my mom hastily reporting that he had not peed the entire time we were gone!  We took him out off leash to the designated area and after romping through the snow for a minute or so he peed for 48 seconds (yes I was counting "steam boats").  They took him out seven times and tried everything to get him to go.  He was on-leash for them since their yard is not fenced - but they used the 30ft long line and even tried "hiding" around the corner of the garage to give him some privacy.  Gavin used to be very particular in his personal habits but has since relaxed quite a bit.  I am hoping this was just a fluke due to being on-leash and in 1.5 feet of snow.  Can any harm come from holding it this long?   

[F, Calla & Luca]

The funny thing is we count one Mississippi, two Mississippi etc. As to harm his bladder might have stretched temporarily and it may have been painful to urinate. But as a one time event no long term harm should occur.

[BG and Gavin]

Thanks for the input F.  Mississippi vs Steamboat - I guess it all comes down to where you grew up lol.

[F, Calla & Luca]

:) I think all of the US uses that but I really don't know.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

one Mississippi, two....here!

Wow Gavin, what a big bladder you have and so good to boot!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

we used the mississippi too in the uk growing up!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I used Mississipi too. BG, I think maybe this was your own personal twist ;-)

[BG and Gavin]

We used steamboats when we were playing touch football as a kid.  Once the ball was snapped you counted five steamboats before rushing the QB.  It was know as the five steamboat rush.  Is that only a Canadian thing?

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

not for me I'm afraid. Maybe it's a Sarnia thing, or a special BG and friends thing :o)

[BG and Gavin]

Ok this is taking on a life of its own!  I just asked DH who was born in Winnipeg and lived in Saskatchewan (don't say a WORD...) and the GTA and I asked about steamboats and he said "you mean the 5 steamboat rush?"  A-ha!  It is not just me :p

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We never worried about pee too much (only poo) until Sophie got sick back in September.  See was a pee machine.  We started using one - one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand, etc. to try and see how the meds were or were not working.  I've heard the Mississippi before, but never the steamboats.  I might have to switch this up every now and then.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

JD "held it" for more than 36 hours when I first adopted him. No harm done.

[BG and Gavin]

JD has always struck me as a quietly determined guy.  Gavin is the same.  He is a good boy but not a total pleaser.  In training you can always see him "weighing his options and making his choice" and my role was to make my choice for him the most appealing and practice until it became automatic.  Obviously he made the choice not to pee - much to my father's dismay who had to stand out in the cold with him all those times :)