Puppies have small bladders and need to pee more often than adult dogs. Understanding how often your puppy needs to pee breaks will help prevent accidents at home and give you a better understanding of your puppy's health. In this article, we explain how often you can expect your puppy to need to pee !
Everything you need to know about your puppy's potty breaks
Since dogs can't take care of their pooches as independently as we can, they'll need help from their human friend (at least if they want to avoid peeing inside). However, puppies have a different physique and unique needs, which require a little more grooming than adult dogs. Fortunately, it's not terribly advanced, and as you get to know your puppy, the grooming process will get easier!
Age matters
The frequency of potty breaks depends on the age of your puppy . Younger puppies have smaller bladders and therefore need to go potty more often. As a general rule, you should make sure your puppy is taken out every hour for the first few weeks . Make sure you have a suitable collar and leash for your puppy.
It should also be taken out right after sleeping, in the middle of lively play, right after eating and before bedtime. As your puppy gets older, he will both gain better bladder control and not need to go as often. We explain how far a puppy can go in our blog post about walking and training for the little one .
Signals that nature is calling
Pay attention to your puppy's behavior and body language, as this can give you a clue as to when your puppy needs to pee. Common signs of a need to pee include whining, circling, sniffing or waiting by the door. If you observe this, you may not have a lot of time, so try to be efficient out the door. It is also a good idea to make it a routine to take your puppy for a walk right after a meal, as they often need to pee after they have eaten.
Be patient.
Establishing good habits and housetraining your puppy takes time and patience. It's important to be consistent with training and not give up - you probably spent some time potty training your puppy as a baby! If you are a household with multiple people taking care of your puppy, everyone should follow the same routine. Don't forget to give lots of praise and rewards when your puppy is good at potty training outside.
My puppy is urinating frequently - should I contact a vet?
It is not uncommon for puppies to urinate frequently, nor for accidents and leaks to occur. However, if your puppy seems to be in pain when urinating or has blood in their urine, you should contact your veterinarian. This could be a sign of a urinary tract infection or kidney problems. At our clinic in Larvik, you can easily book an appointment for a consultation online!
Summary
How often a puppy needs to pee depends on several factors, including age, size, and activity level. By understanding your puppy's needs and establishing a consistent routine for potty breaks, you can prevent accidents and ensure good health. With a good dose of patience and loving rewards, you have a good foundation for a happy puppy with good bladder control!