Can you get a dog to go more often?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Can you get a dog to go more often?

    The new pup goes potty so infrequently. She'll go first thing in the morning when she gets out of her crate between 8-8:30. Then she seems to go again around 11:30. After that, she doesn't seem to do anything again until around 4. After that, the next time she has gone both days so far has been 12:30, and today we're still waiting for her to go for the last time, and it's about 10:45. It doesn't matter how many times we take her out, or how long we take her, she doesn't go more. I've never had a dog like that before, nor have I known anyone else who has. I'm used to dogs I can take out every hour if I want to, and they'll do something each time, or who will go several times over the course of a longer walk. On one hand, it makes housetraining easier because she is on a schedule, but on the other, it is more difficult because there are fewer oppurtunities to reward her for going outside, and it could become difficult if we should want to go out at a time that interferes with her schedule. Any advice would be appreciated.

    • Gold Top Dog
    Oh, how I remember this.  My guy was (and still is) the same way.  When he was a puppy, we were taking him out every 4 hours,and rarely did he need to "go".  We were also following the general rule that after he ate, he would need to eliminate approx. 20-30 minutes after----not so---he never need to eliminate until somewhere around 12-15 hours after eating!  At first, it was very frustrating, as we thought we needed to give him more oppotunities to "go".  Meanwhile, he never had accidents in the house.  He just always seemed to have great bowel control.
     
    His schedule is something like this:  Between 6:30-7:30-urinates----doesn't need to go again until  2:30--3:30 (we go for a walk at this time)  he eliminates during the walk, ---won't need to go out again until before bedtime, usually around 8:30.
     
    What an easy dog.  By the way, if I can't get him out for whatever reason by 3:30, he does adjust, and can hold it longer, though we are very good about keeping this schedule.
     
    Anyway, count yourself lucky to have a pup who can "hold it".  I'm pretty sure we were stressing our little guy out by bringing him out too often--he knew we wanted him to "go" he just did not need to.  Thank goodness we caught on .
     
    Hope this helps.
                                                          
    • Gold Top Dog
    That's good to know that she will adjust a bit if need be. We're starting to catch on to her schedule as well I think, as she had no accidents in the house at all yesterday. I don't really think she minds the extra walking, as she doesn't seem to mind going out with Max all those times. I'm sure he could hold it as long as she does, but I see no need to make him do that. 
    • Bronze
    Unless the animal has evident problems moving stool or urine-or you note blood in stool or urine, Well.....I guess I would just praise my lucky stars that you have an animal who seems to need fewer visits to the yard.....Certainly going out with you, walking, socializing, isn't a bad thing, and the dog may quite enjoy the attention.  I  have had dogs like this in the past, and you don't realize how greatly they spoil us until it is time to housetrain the next pup who seems to have the peanut bladder until they are almost 2 years old.....Enjoy the reprieve.
    • Puppy
    Your dog may not feel the need to mark territory.

    Dogs that "go" just a bit every time they go out are often just marking territory, not actually having to go potty.

    The "going" schedule usually has to do more with the eating, drinking, and exercising schedule than your schedule. [:)]
    • Bronze
    If she's not urinating she might be dehydrated.  By the sounds of it its not too bad but if you're concerned about her just feed her more canned food.  The extra moisture should help a bit.  If, on the other hand you're refering to her BMs I'd say two or three times a day is perfect. [:)