How Often Should a Puppy Pee?
Puppies have small bladders, which is why they need to pee so often. A good rule to follow is that pups have control of their bladders for as long as they are old, at least up to about 9 months of age. That means 1-month-old puppies should go to the bathroom every hour, while 6-month-old puppies should be able to control their bladders for up to 6 hours. However, every dog is different, so your dog may not follow this strictly.
You should also know that when very young puppies drink water, their bladders fill up fast, so they’ll usually need to go pee between 10 and 30 minutes later.
So, if you have a puppy around 9 weeks of age, taking them out every one to two hours is the place to begin, as is taking them out quickly after meals. Then, as they get older, you can begin to lengthen the time between potty breaks. Between 4 and 6 months of age, puppies should have almost complete control of their bladders.
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What if my puppy has an accident?
It’s also important to remember not to scold your pupper harshly for mistakes. First because it’s hard for them to get their fluffy little heads around what it is that you want, and second because it can make them nervous to pee in front of you… and that could lead to them hiding away to do it. We hear that behind the sofa is an excellent hiding place!
There are a couple of different ways to train your puppy, so read on to see which one will work best for you and your new best bud.
Common Behavioral Reasons Dogs Pee More Than Normal
After your veterinarian verifies that your puppy is not suffering from some physical malady, it is time to turn your attention to the emotional, mental and behavioral reasons that he’s having problems.
Some of the most common examples of these types of problems include:
Sometimes, puppies who are not sufficiently stimulated may urinate in inappropriate places as a way of seeking attention from their person. While the attention is often negative (“No! Bad puppy! Don’t pee in the house!!!”), it is better in the pup’s mind than no attention at all.
Fortunately, this is one of the easiest causes of frequent peeing to treat. You just need to get your dog more stimulation, exercise, and attention!
So, get off the couch (or from behind your computer) and go play fetch or scoot around at the park with your pup!.
You may also want to consider investing in some puppy-friendly teething toys or dog puzzle toys which can help keep your pooch stimulated physically and mentally.
Many dogs, especially twitchy little toy breeds (no disrespect intended), pee whenever they get nervous.
While this is obviously better than a medically induced reason for excessive urination, it is often a bit trickier to fix.
More exercise, stimulation, and socialization may help in many cases, but it may also be helpful to provide high-strung dogs with a good “hiding spot” into which they can retreat whenever they are nervous. Dog cave beds are one popular way to provide smaller breeds with a cozy safe space they can feel secure in.
In many cases, these dogs may need the assistance of a professional trainer to feel more secure and stop peeing everywhere.
Also consider if you may be inadvertently causing anxiety in your pup. If you have had an experience where you yelled at your dog and they’ve peed, your pup is becoming afraid of you. This is absolutely something you don’t want to have happen!
Work on showing your dog that you are not a threat and not to be feared. Focus on using positive reinforcement training strategies to help your pup create a positive association with you.
I’m just going to rip the band air right off: You may be the reason your puppy is peeing too much.
Puppies don’t know when they are and are not allowed to go potty right off the bat — it’s your job as an owner to help them develop those skills.
The first step is to develop consistent, firm training methods including those relative to bathroom time. This means taking your pup out on a regular schedule (including anytime he drinks water) and providing plenty of praise and affection when he goes in the right place.
Don’t neglect your pup’s potty routine — taking him out often and regularly is essential for fostering healthy puppy potty behaviors in the future.
Want to learn more about puppy potty training? Check out our puppy house training guide here!
Also remember that puppies don’t have complete control of their bladders when less than a few months old. Sometimes, they don’t understand that they need to go until the urge strikes them. Before they know it, they’re sprinkling on the carpet. Patience is an essential skill for any puppy owner!
It also takes time for puppies to learn how to manage their bladders. Anyone who’s walked an adult dog knows that they often release a lot of urine when they first go outside, but they’ll also pee a little in a dozen more places over the course of the walk. They’ll eventually empty their bladders more-or-less completely, but they keep a little in reserve for marking purposes.
Little puppies simply can’t control their bladders this well, so it takes them a while to figure all of these things out.
How often do puppies poop at 8 weeks?
While puppies bring almost immeasurable joy to the lives of people everywhere, the first couple of months are often taxing. Unfortunately, your life will revolve around your puppy’s bladder (and his tummy) to a ridiculous degree.
If you’re not standing outside in the cold, trying to coax your little puppy to potty, you’re inside cleaning up a puddle on your kitchen floor (if you’re lucky, that is – some prefer to sprinkle on the carpet).
You’ll learn to be as vigilant as a mother hen, while trying to interpret your dog’s sniffing behavior to catch him before he throws his leg up.
But sometimes, little puppies pee even more than this normal frequency. This should serve as a warning, and you should not just ignore the problem.