How Long Can Puppies Go Without Peeing?

The Short Answer is:

For every month of age, a puppy can control its bladder for an hour. It will hold pee for about two hours if your puppy is two months old.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “How Long Can Puppies Go Without Peeing?“.

The first time you own a dog you may have a lot of questions in your mind. One of which probably is “how long can puppies go without peeing?“  You probably want to know how often you need to clean up your pets mess in a day or how often you should take him outside to do his business. Therefore you must know how to spot the signs that your dog needs to relieve himself.

These tips will help you be more prepared for your furry friends needs allowing you to be a better pet owner.

How Long Can Puppies Hold Their Pee?

One important factor determines the answer to this question: the age of the puppies.

As with human babies newborn puppies pee more often than their older counterparts. Puppies cannot hold their bladder for a long period of time.

The puppy can usually only hold it for two to three hours at most. Therefore you should pay close attention to your little dogs need to ‘go for a walk’ especially if he is only one or two months old. This calls for frequent checking.

In general you can calculate the number of hours that your dog can hold his pee by adding one to his age (in months). If your poochie is two months old plus one you should be able to leave it for three hours without it messing up. Other factors may also affect this.

As your dog grows older he will also be able to hold his urine for longer periods of time. He will have a bladder that is similar to an adults by the time he reaches the age of six months. At that point you can start adjusting his break time.

What Other Factors Can Affect Puppies’ Ability to Hold Their Bladders?

In addition to their age puppies can also be affected by several other factors that affect their ability to hold their bladders. A few of them are:

• Size
• Breed
• Diet
• Frequency of drinking and eating
• Activity level
• Stress or fear
• Excitement
• Medical conditions

It is likely that a stressed dog will need a bathroom break more frequently than an unstressed one. The same applies to puppies with medical conditions particularly urinary incontinence.

When your dog eats and drinks a lot you can expect him to piss more than usual. If your dog is hyper he is likely to do the same.

Dogs are all unique. For you to accurately assess your puppys ability to hold its urine you should take into account its special circumstances. Once you have done that you can come up with a better break time schedule for him. You would recognize when to let him out and let him do his thing. As a result you would prevent accidents from occurring inside your house. There would be no mess to clean up.

How Would You Know If Your Puppy Needs a Pee Break?

Dogs can only communicate the need for a bathroom breakthrough their body language since they can not talk. If you do not want to end up cleaning up a big mess you need to observe them so that you can attend to their needs immediately.

Puppies who need to pee badly will show restlessness. They will start sniffing around your house. Here is a clear indication that you need to let him handle his business.

Whenever he starts sniffing around your living room or any other part of your home let him go outside as fast as you can in order to avoid accidents.

Additionally your pup may whine circle or go to the door itself if its bladder is getting close to bursting. Your furry friend may need to go number one if their behavior or activity suddenly changes.

Can You Train a Puppy to Control Its Urination?

It is obviously possible to teach a dog to control his urination even from an early age. If possible do this as early as possible. The result will be less mess in your dogs crate its play area and even in your home.

However training a puppy to control its urination can be challenging. It requires patience but you can definitely do it. Make a plan and implement it.

It should not take you long to train your little dog if you are consistent.

The following tips will help you accomplish this:

• Establish the Rules

It is crucial to take this step. If your pup needs to go potty you should let him know where he can or cannot go. Ideally you should take him outside to do so.

• Use a Leash to Begin With

Putting your puppy on a leash is a good idea when you have just started training him. You will have more control of his movements outside the house. It will also be much easier for you to direct him to the area where he needs to go to urinate.

• Follow a Schedule

Taking your pup outside first thing in the morning is a good habit. Do not hesitate to wake him up even if he is still sleeping as this will teach him how to follow a schedule.

After a few days your pet will get used to the routine and will wake up on his own to wait for you to take him to the peeing spot.

• Give a Break After Meals

Similarly your dog should receive its meal on time every day. You should wait at least half an hour after each meal before taking him outside to do his thing.

The waiting time will increase as he gets older. During the first few months of your puppys life you must pay close attention to his routine.

• Allow Pee Breaks After Naps and Playtime

Your puppy might also have the urge to go potty after a nap or playtime so make sure to give him a bathroom break as well.

• Do Not Punish Your Dog

As long as you are training your dog accidents are bound to happen. You should never impose punishments as this will only lead to fear. If you see him doing his thing in the wrong place you need to get his attention immediately.

Is It Bad for Little Dogs to Go a Long Time Without Peeing?

Your puppy will attempt to go as long as he can without peeing if you have trained him. This does not mean however that you can ignore his need to relieve himself.

For dogs holding their piss for a long time can lead to several health problems just as it can for humans. This could cause bacteria to build up which could lead to urinary tract infections (UTI). Untreated bladder stones can also develop which could become worse if left untreated.

Further going without pee breaks for a few hours may eventually lead to incontinence. Incontinence is another medical condition that your puppy may suffer from.

Dogs that do not urinate when they are supposed to may also develop cancer of the bladder according to studies. Toxins present in urine stay in the bladder due to the fact that they stay in the body after excretion.

Is There a Need to Worry If a Puppy Seems to Pee Less Frequently?

The fact that a puppy is peeing more frequently than normal is not always an issue but the opposite could be a problem. The fact that your dog only urinates once or twice a day may indicate that something is wrong with him. Perhaps he is dehydrated. The number of pee breaks may increase if you give him more water.

If not then you should consult a veterinarian. It is possible that your little dog is suffering from a health condition that is causing him to pee less frequently than usual.

Conclusion

It depends on the puppys age as well as on other factors such as breed size health conditions etc. how long they can go without peeing. They become more capable of controlling their bladders as they get older. It is even possible to train them to control their urination. However you should never overlook the need for them to pee because going too long without urinating can also have adverse effects.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.