I've kept a schedule of Dakota's bathroom habits for the day and she urinates quite often. Sometimes it is only 45 minutes and other times it is 2 hours and I can't figure out a pattern. A friend of mine told me that I should restrict her water and only allow her to have it with her meals but that seems mean to me and I worry that she wouldn't get enough hydration. I do take it away around 6pm for the night. Any thoughts? Do any of you restrict water intake like that and only offer it 3 times a day? Dakota seems to like to drink quite often.

__________________

I would give it much more frequently than 3 times a day. We restricted water but gave him some about every 2 hours.

__________________
Jacqueline

"I have just met you and I love you" - Dug (Up!)

View Cosmo's Pedigree: http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=419119

I would not restrict a pups water intake during the day - they drink what they need to flush out their systems - if you restrict water - particularly during the day your pup may not be getting as much she needs as she can't tank up like a camel. Dogs should alway have free access to clean water - they need it.

I don't restrict Jaro's water except after 8 pm, he is almost 5 months. I am not sure but it seems to me a lot of water is good in the hot weather. It seems to me that Jaro drinks way more than my last adult Golden, at least 40 oz a day, maybe more, but then I never measured my last guy's water intake, and he always had the white water dish in the bathroom. Does she just go outside? Jaro pees outside almost everytime I take him there, no accidents inside for a good while. If she is peeing inside maybe find out about possible UTI.

All the puppy books I've ever read that were written by vets say not to restrict a puppy's water intake. They are very susceptible to dehydration when they're young, so it just isn't safe.

Picking up the bowl after six or so is fine in my book, but restriction throughout the day is definitely a bad call.

__________________

Thanks everyone. That is what I thought. It just didn't sound right to me to offer her water only with her meals especially since she loves to run around like a maniac outside and then come in and get some water. She still has accidents in the house but she is only 8 weeks old so I think it is just housebreaking and not a UTI. How would I be able to tell if it is a UTI?

__________________

A UTI would typically involve very frequent accidents with small amounts each time. If your pup is going 45 minutes to 2 hours without an accident, I doubt she's anything but a normal little pup.

__________________

Cory when Roxy was your pups age we took her out about every 45 min sometimes every 30 min. I know it is alot and hard work on our part but it won't be forever
The plus side here is she is learning to associate urination with going outside to a certain spot.

__________________

I have been keeping track with Bob too but she goes between 30 to 1hr 30....I dont take her water even at night because it is so hot in Spain I want to make sure she drinks enough. I am feeding her 3 times a day now at 10am, 3pm and 10pm. She is eating about a 1/2 cup each time. She likes her new food the vet gave her I just wish she would gain weight quicker...hehe...3.4KGs thats 7.5 lbs...

__________________

Princess Bobbie 7/1/2010
Big Boy Buddie 6/29/2010
Little Baby Bunny Maddie 11/20/2010
Leo- we will never forget you buddy! 11/1/1999- 9/17/2010

Your pup is so very small - you should be taking her out every hour to half hour and if she's not making it through the night (lord knows my Max couldn't at that age), you could get up every 3 hours to let her out to go potty. I did this, exhausted was I but it helped with the potty training.

__________________
"Some days you're the dog, some days you're the hydrant."

~Jenn and Leif