[rpcvkatherine]

Lizzie, my retired puppymill breeder, who I have had for three years, has recently begun to wake us up at 4 am to go potty. She usually goes out at night around 10 or 11 pm, and then heads into her crate for bedtime. The crate is something that we had to implement 2 months ago due to her piddling on the floor at my boyfriend's house. I am concerned that she cannot hold her pee for more than 6 hours at night. During the day, she holds it without any issues. She gets a morning walk around 8 am and an afternoon walk at about 5:30, if she wasn't so skiddish the dog walker would also take her out too during the day (she takes out the golden at the house, but Lizzie runs and hides when the dog walker comes over). I know she is a rescue and I'm thankful that she is telling me she has to go outside, but this is now an every evening occurance. I guess I wonder how she can hold it during the day, but at night she doesn't want to hold it. I've tried to take up the water and the food after 8 pm, but she still would want to go out at 4 am. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[Ladysmom]

How old is she now? How many litters did she have?

I'd take her to your vet and have her checked out. It's always a good idea to do that whenever there is a change in potty habits. I wonder if it may have something to do with her having many litters of puppies.

 

[maltlovereileen]

Lizzie, my retired puppymill breeder, who I have had for three years, has recently begun to wake us up at 4 am to go potty. She usually goes out at night around 10 or 11 pm, and then heads into her crate for bedtime. The crate is something that we had to implement 2 months ago due to her piddling on the floor at my boyfriend's house. I am concerned that she cannot hold her pee for more than 6 hours at night. During the day, she holds it without any issues. She gets a morning walk around 8 am and an afternoon walk at about 5:30, if she wasn't so skiddish the dog walker would also take her out too during the day (she takes out the golden at the house, but Lizzie runs and hides when the dog walker comes over). I know she is a rescue and I'm thankful that she is telling me she has to go outside, but this is now an every evening occurance. I guess I wonder how she can hold it during the day, but at night she doesn't want to hold it. I've tried to take up the water and the food after 8 pm, but she still would want to go out at 4 am. Any thoughts or suggestions?

IMO, that's really too long for her to have to hold it during the day. I'm thinking all that holding it may have caused her to get a urinary tract infection and since she's more comfortable with you around, she is waking you up (sometimes UTI's are discovered because of a change in potty habits). Aside from getting that checked out by your vet (the possible UTI), is there a way you could limit how much of the house she has access to so that the dog walker could get her out for a walk with your golden during the day. Maybe give her a treat after she gets her hooked up for the mid day walk? If not, is she potty pad trained at all? I would try to leave something like that down for her during the day if she is unable to get corralled for a walk so she can relieve herself.

 

[uniquelovdolce]

yes i thought it was a little too long too hold too , if shes home n she doesntgo out with the walker , u should try getting her to use wee wee pads during the day..

 

[Ladysmom]

IMO, that's really too long for her to have to hold it during the day. I'm thinking all that holding it may have caused her to get a urinary tract infection and since she's more comfortable with you around, she is waking you up (sometimes UTI's are discovered because of a change in potty habits). Aside from getting that checked out by your vet (the possible UTI), is there a way you could limit how much of the house she has access to so that the dog walker could get her out for a walk with your golden during the day. Maybe give her a treat after she gets her hooked up for the mid day walk? If not, is she potty pad trained at all? I would try to leave something like that down for her during the day if she is unable to get corralled for a walk so she can relieve herself.

Potty pads are really the answer for dogs who are left alone all day IMO. I know I couldn't hold it from 8:00 am until 5:30 pm!

 

[rpcvkatherine]

I have no idea how many litters she had when she was in the mill, the rescue group did not disclose that information, and after looking over her paperwork with the vet after I got her, they also told me she was 3 years old when I got her, when in reality she was 5.

She does have the piddle pads down as well for her during the day. She just won't use them anymore rather it seems that she just waits until we get home to go potty. She is 8 now, and we have our annual visit coming up with the vet so I'll discuss this with them.

Maybe I should preface that this 4 am behavior happens mainly when I stay over at the boyfriend's house (80% of my time). When she is home, she sleeps through the night no issues (but does not use the piddle pads I have down for her during the day either at my house rather waits for mommy to get home). He also watched her while I was gone taking care of my mom after an operation this past month and said she slept through the night for him.

 

[jmm]

First she needs to be cleared for a health problem now...waiting on an infection can lead to serious complications including kidney damage.
If not, then I would set an alarm for 15 minutes before she wakes up and you wake her up. Set the alarm 5 minutes later every day.

 

[Twinkle]

I agree, that is way too long. I usually take Twinkle out ever 3-4 hours..max i will go 5 hours..but I try to stay near the 3 hour mark. It might be helpful to have a potter area in the house. Maybe you could try using the potty pads for emergencies or you can even buy one of those fake grass/potty things.
https://www.pottypatch.tv/?gclid=CNK6zuLWz6ECFQNbbQodjVUfKw

 

[maltlovereileen]

I have no idea how many litters she had when she was in the mill, the rescue group did not disclose that information, and after looking over her paperwork with the vet after I got her, they also told me she was 3 years old when I got her, when in reality she was 5.

She does have the piddle pads down as well for her during the day. She just won't use them anymore rather it seems that she just waits until we get home to go potty. She is 8 now, and we have our annual visit coming up with the vet so I'll discuss this with them.

Maybe I should preface that this 4 am behavior happens mainly when I stay over at the boyfriend's house (80% of my time). When she is home, she sleeps through the night no issues (but does not use the piddle pads I have down for her during the day either at my house rather waits for mommy to get home). He also watched her while I was gone taking care of my mom after an operation this past month and said she slept through the night for him.

For a little one who spent their life in a cage with no human interaction that was good, she sounds like she is actually doing REALLY WELL. I'm guessing, since you say she only displays this behavior when you are at your boyfriends, she is just going through an adjustment period. Maybe she gets uneasy during the night (new situation) and wakes up earlier than she does in her familiar house (yours) and when you wake up, ya gotta potty! I'm thinking that once she gets more used to being over there, she will get into the same routine she has at your house. She sounds like she's trying to be such a good little girl and only potty outside if you have a pad available for her and she isn't using it. What a sweet little thing! But I would still have her checked for a UTI just in case

Hey - if it's only happening over there, maybe you should get your BF to sleep at YOUR house :thumbsup:

 

[maltlovereileen]

Our little Pip (a backyard breeder rescue we've only had since September) also has those fear issues (even from us still). When we go to get her for walks/whatever, her m.o. is usually to run to the couch and climb up high on the back of it (who knows...maybe she feels safer higher). We just talk to her in a gentle calm voice telling her what a sweet girl she is and then pick her up to put on her harness/whatever. Once she is hooked up, she is happy to go walking outside - in fact, loves it! Since your little one needs to go potty during the day (don't we all?!!), maybe you can block off the areas she crawls under where she is inaccessible to the dog walker so that she can be taken out during the day with the golden since she won't use her piddle pads. You really need a better working solution to get her to potty during the day or if she doesn't have a UTI now, she will certainly get one from having all that blocked up/backing up inside her during the day. Because dogs drink water during the day (they need to) and they don't at night...that's why they can hold it at night.