Bladder control on puppies

PucciNPoni

PucciNPoni

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How long would you expect a 16 week old small breed dog to be able to hold their bladder? 3 hours? 4 hours? 5 hours?

My pup seems to understand where to go and for the most part has the idea, but has had some accidents still in her crate. She had one yesterday afternoon and then another over night - but had been really good for several days. Its inconsistent, despite very consistent routine.

I don't believe in with holding water, but I'm starting to wonder if I should remove her water bowl from her crate over night.

Her last outing for a wee is after midnight and she was up at 5 am with me and her bed was soaked. Large pee, not an excited piddle.
 
I would certainly expect GSDs to be dry over night, as long as its not a long night, so 6 hours maximum. Pickle (Lancs Heeler) was dry overnight in his crate from the first night we got him at 9 weeks. I have never left water in crates overnight, as long as they have access right up until bedtime I think they are fine.
 
A Lot of puppies at this age appear to regress in their house training, but in reality here are a couple of reasons. Many puppies especially small bitches can get puppy cystitis. May be worth dropping a urine sample in at the vets, I also have found a small amount of cranberry juice helps.
The other thing is that often owners think they have sorted the house training and without realising it thy slacken on the reinforcements. Small bitch puppies do have tiny bladders and often take longer to learn to hold on.
 
It took ages for my Yorkshire Terrier to be totally dry overnight, she wasn't far off being 1 year old as far as I can recall.
 
I'd expect a bigger dog to be dry overnight at that age but I think smaller dogs, smaller bladders, more propensity to feel the cold could all be coming into play!

I just keep enough water in the crate to cover the bottom of the bowl overnight. Might be an idea as mentioned to rule out a UTI.
 
Like Murphysminder pup a Lancashire Heeler ours was house trained very quickly, we did get up in the middle of the night when she woke for the first few nights but this only lasted a few days and she is a bitch.

Its so easy to get hung up on how quickly some dogs are dry overnight a bit like potty training babies but you can make it a bit easier for yourself by removing the water, check also she is not cold and if the crate is too big pad it out a bit.
 
My 10 week old GSD pup goes out at midnight and stays dry until 8.30am when he goes out in the morning. (Yeah, I know that's late, but I'm retired!:)). He gets no water over night.

But I do put him out very regularly -- after boisterous play, after meals, after a nap, and then some times just because I think he's probably due another wee and water is available all day!

Sometimes when he is out he goes twice, so I alway allow time for a second wee. Still getting accidents but none over night and very seldom is it solids now inside at all.
 
Thanks guys - I feel a wee (no pun intended) bit better. I think we're about 75% of the way there with the wee and maybe about 90% of the way there for solids. Just a little concerned that she has had a couple of accidents within two days inside her crate.

I'm fairly certain she's not cold at night - she's in full coat so is wearing more wool than a sheep - plus her bed is a nest and up against the radiator which is on pretty late. I'll speak to my boss vet to see what they suggest re cystitis.

I'd forgot just how hard it was house training a pup!
 
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