Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Dogs have to go potty. Whether you have a young puppy just learning the ins and outs of potty training or an adult dog who’s well-trained, they all have their limits. At some point, new pet parents will ask themselves: How long can a dog hold their pee?
Figuring out how long dogs can wait to use the bathroom will be essential, especially when leaving a new pup home alone for the first few times. Whether you’re working late or running errands, there will come a time when you’ll need to calculate how long you can be gone. We spoke with Alexandra Bassett, certified professional dog trainer, owner, and behavior consultant at Dog Savvy, to help us answer this essential question.
How Long Can a Dog Go Without Peeing?
So, how long can dogs hold their pee? According to Bassett, the answer varies depending on size, age, and activity level. “How long a dog can go without peeing is determined by bladder size,” she says.
Dog
Bathroom Breaks
Puppies (2 to 5 months)
Every 2 hours
Puppies (5+ months)
1 hour per month of age
Healthy adult dogs (daytime)
4 to 6 hours, 8 max
Healthy adult dogs (nighttime)
8 to 11 hours
Senior dogs and dogs with health conditions
Less than 6 hours
“The average dog’s bladder will begin to expand once it contains about 160 to 220 milliliters of urine per pound of body weight. Normal, healthy dogs produce about 2 to 4 milliliters of urine per pound of body weight every hour. If a dog is active, their body produces urine at the maximum rate of 40 milliliters per hour, so they may want to pee in as few as four hours.”
How long a puppy can hold their pee depends on age
Puppies will need to pee more often than healthy adult dogs. “Puppies make more urine in a shorter period than adult dogs,” says Bassett. Young puppies (2 to 5 months of age who aren’t yet potty trained) should have potty breaks every two hours.
Puppies older than 5 months can generally hold their pee for one hour for every month of age—so a 5-month-old puppy can go for 5 hours without a bathroom break.
Remember that timetables are only a rough guide—so if your puppy is having accidents at the 4-hour mark, don’t assume they should be able to make it longer just because of their age, and adjust their potty schedule accordingly.
Adult dogs need potty breaks every 6 to 8 hours during the day
As a general rule, healthy adult dogs who are potty trained should be let out every 4 to 6 hours during the day, with a maximum of 8—and Basset recommends avoiding the maximum when possible.
That said, each pup is unique, and the same goes for their bladder. When figuring out how long your dog can hold their pee, pay attention to their needs and habits. This observation is essential in helping you determine how long you can wait between potty breaks. “It’s important to note that every dog’s ability to withstand the discomfort of a full bladder is different!” says Bassett.
Adult dogs can go 12 hours without a bathroom break in a crate or overnight
When a dog relaxes in their crate, the time between bathroom breaks expands for most potty-trained adult dogs. Bassett says that while most dogs can hold their pee for up to 11 hours overnight, holding it for 12 is pushing it.
“If a dog is inactive, like when they’re just lying around the house or spending time in a crate, they produce urine at the lowest average rate, so they may be able to withstand the urge to pee until their bladder is as full as possible,” says Bassett.
This holds true for potty breaks during the night as well. “Most dogs can sleep through the night without having to pee,” adds Bassett. “Their urine production slows down overnight because they are sleeping and not consuming water.”
Senior dogs and dogs with health issues may need more potty breaks
Older dogs may need to go out more often. “Senior dogs feel the urge to urinate more often than they did in their younger days,” she says. Watch your dog carefully to determine their ideal potty schedule, and err on the side of caution if you start seeing accidents around the house.
Dogs with medical conditions that cause them to drink more water, including diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease), bladder infections, and chronic kidney disease, will often have to pee more often, Basset adds.
What Happens If a Dog Holds Their Pee Too Long?
“If a dog is forced to hold their pee in for an extended time, it could impact urinary health and cause medical conditions such as urinary tract or bladder infections, crystals, or kidney stones,” Bassett says. She also mentions that making them hold it longer than comfortable can result in more accidents around the house.
If you notice your dog suddenly isn’t holding their pee as long as usual, it’s important to take note, as this could be a sign of a bigger issue. “If a dog has trouble ‘holding it’ for less than the amount of time that his bladder should start to expand, it would be wise to schedule a checkup with his veterinarian,” notes Bassett.
Troubleshooting Issues & Conflicting Schedules
Unfortunately, even the best plans sometimes go awry, which can disrupt your dog’s potty routines. Some days, you may have to be away from home longer than usual, which increases the time between potty breaks for your pup.
One way to ease the discomfort in this situation is to use a playpen and potty pads. “Sectioning off a part of the house with gates or playpens where a dog has access to an indoor ‘legal potty area’ using pee pads is the best thing a pet parent can do if they must leave their dog alone for longer than four to six hours on a regular basis,” says Bassett.
If you work outside the home for long hours, hire a dog walker or come home at lunch to let your dog out to ensure your dog’s potty needs are met. Doggy daycare offers another alternative, especially if you’re gone more often throughout the day and your pup wants more human and canine interaction. If you need to be gone overnight, hire a pet sitter or have a friend stop by at night and early in the morning to prevent bathroom issues.
Further Reading
