The potty game

[blue fire]

My dog is around 11 years old and he has started whining to go outside at one in the morning every other night. I do let him out before I go to bed. Should I let him out at 1 or should I wait until six, when I usually get up, to let him out to establish that he cannot go out between 9pm and 6 am? Is this possibly an older dog issue?

 

[annanicole18]

if hes never done it before and you don't mind getting up and getting a glass of water at 1 or so i would let him out it prolly is an older dog thing.

 

[jenjscott]

You may need to start restricting his evening water intake. I agree if he's never done it before, It is probably an older dog issue, unless something else has changed that could be causing it, ie different feed schedule, etc.

 

[Andi]

Sounds like he's a good dog and doing what he knows is the right thing to do if he has to go potty - ask. You could wait. If your dog really has to go, that wouldn't be a pleasant experience for him. If he is incapable of holding it and makes a mess, he will feel horrible for being "bad" in his mind. Don't scold him if he makes a mess. It would be your fault, not his. An 11 year old dog is way beyond the point of just wanting attention in the middle of the night. He'd rather sleep.

Seems to me from the way you worded your post that you already knew the answer. Congratulations on having such a good dog.

 

[Andi]

Quote:
I see your train of thought here, but bladder control may not be the entire issue. There may be bowl control going on also.

One other thing to think about is thirst. If a dog is thirsty he will drink. Dogs don't drink because its there (like us humans do with coffee, tea and soda). Would it be right to force a dog to be thirsty all night. Think of when you've been thirsty. Your throat gets dry and hurts. Personally, I'd rather be slightly inconvenienced by getting up for a quick let out then stay in bed knowing my sweet dog is suffering - of my choice.

 

[blue fire]

Anyway to help old dog bladder issues

? It would not be such a problem if I did not have sleeping issues. Once I am awake at 1am I do not go back to sleep. He might be going out to drink also....... He won't drink the water that is in the house, the water outside is much better

 

[Andi]

Quote:
I can completely relate, which is why I get up to let my senior out. Otherwise I can't rest again because he's continually asking to go out and guilty won't let me rest. I rarely sleep more that a couple hours at a stretch regardless, so I may as well let my dog get some.

The only thing you're going to be able to do to restrict drinking outside is to go out with him. If he doesn't like the water in the house there's probably a reason. I don't drink yucky water unless I have to either.

Here's a link to some products that Drs Foster and Smith have available. I personally haven't tried any of them simply because I feel nature is inevitable and that I chose to get dogs and I need to accept responsibility through it all. But that's me and it works in my situation.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/dog-supplies/dog-incontinence/ps/c/3307/20822

Best of luck!

 

[MagsC]

I have two that need to go out at odd hours. They did not before they got old and they cant help it, so yes, I would let him out.
The other thing I have done is get belly bands for the male and diapers for the female. That at least helps if there are any pee accidents.
I also understand about the whole water thing. The water is exactly the same.Changed frequently. But if they can drink "outside" water, that time of night, they will absolutely do so! Or in the case of this being a frozen MN winter, eat snow.

 

[blue fire]

He has not peed in the house yet..... I think he might not be going out just to pee though he might be patrolling the yard as well. Sometimes when he is done with whatever, I look out and he is just laying out on the patio enjoying the scenery

and I call him to come in the house and he looks at me like I am stupid. I will go out with him one night to see exactly it is that he does....

 

[Andi]

Don't be surprised if he just stands there looking confused and wondering what you want to do. At least that's what happened for me. It does make sense seeing it wasn't normal for me to go out with him unless I was planning on doing something, like going for a walk or put him in the kennel.