Age incontinence

[quirky]

I have two German Pointers (sisters) who were 8 on Valentine's Day just gone.

For maybe 6 months now, they have been getting me up 3 times a night at best, once at worst to be let out to toilet.

I have owned dogs all my life but all the others were happy to toilet inside if necessary, these aren't, hence the barking and howling to go out. I know I could put a dog flap in but I'm loathe to do that as the backdoor is new. They did have one up to just over 2 years ago.

They have a dried complete food at 4pm (ish) and have a constant fresh water bowl.

My OH thinks we should remove the water bowl at night, I'm not keen on this idea. I think maybe I should either split their feed into a morning and an evening, or move it forward over time until theyare fed in the morning.

So, has anybody got any bright ideas?

My OH doesn't hear the dogs barking

, so it's up to muggins here to get up to them

.
After 5 years of getting up to small children, I feel my time for a full 8 hours sleep is well overdue.

Please, please come up with some answers.

 

[CAYLA]

I would change the feed to morning as you suggest and maybe leave a measured amount of water for over night, I must say all my water bowls(large bucket) are out side and always have been, but then I do let them out very frequently and go to bed at stupid o clock, but again I have never had problem with my own dogs waking me for the toilet(they know better)

and they will sleep for 12 hours with me(I can sleep a long time)

off night shift and not want to go out either.....lazy mutts

 

[soloabe]

My dogs have always had a limited amount of water at night.
Its never all gone in the morning but i know they won't drink more than a bladder full.

Abe gets a big bowl down during the day and he can drink from it when he likes and then at night the big bowl is taken up and he gets 2 cups of water in a smaller bowl.

 

[quirky]

I am at home all day, so leave the door open for them, they come and go as they please. If I do go out, it's never for a whole day, so moving feed to the morning shouldn't be a problem.

When the weather warms up, I'll leave the door open all night too but I can't be doing with this again next winter.

So, feed change it is and maybe limit their water at night.

Thank you for your ideas.

 

[Jessiedog]

When my old dog couldn't hold it all night I left puppy training pads out for her it kitchen, she soon got the hang of them and saved puddles on carpets!