Bringing a new puppy home is a lot of fun.
You have a brand new bundle of joy who takes up your time and attention… and everything they do seems so cute and perfect.
But soon enough… you come across some confusing (and frustrating) behaviors that leave you scratching your head.
Perhaps you’re asking yourself:
Why is my puppy peeing so much?
Is there something wrong with my new puppy?
How often should they be peeing, anyway?
In this guide, you’ll find all the answers you’re looking for…
So let’s get started.
Why Does My Puppy Keep Peeing So Often?
First: Understand that puppies have tiny bladders.
As such, they’ll need to pee way more often than their adult counterparts. They don’t have the experience of knowing when they’ll need to pee, nor the inclination to hold it for later.
They’ll just pee when they need to… regardless of whether it’s indoors or outside.
But how much is too much?
A simple rule of thumb: If they’re peeing more than once per hour, then they may have an underlying health issue… or it should at least by considered.
These issues could be UTIs, diabetes, kidney conditions… or there could be behavioral issues (such as a lack of house training).
Medical Reasons Behind Frequent Peeing
Diabetes
Just like humans, dog’s can develop diabetes.
If your dog’s pancreas isn’t working properly (or isn’t producing enough insulin) then your dog will experience high blood sugar. A side effect of this will be excessive thirst (as their body tries to eliminate the excess sugar).
If you suspect diabetes, it’s important to talk to your vet as soon as possible. Commonly, your dog will have blood and urine samples taken to diagnose the condition.
Medications
Certain medications may cause frequent urination. If your pup is on any medication, your vet should let you know about these potential side effects.
Kidney Infections
A kidney infection may lead to increased urination… and they may also lead to bladder infections. It’s important to get your dog checked out by a vet in these situations. Fortunately, a kidney infection can be treated with antibiotics.
Bladder Stones
Bladder (or kidney) stones are another cause for frequent urination. They’re also pretty painful. Again, a visit to the vet is a must.
Urinary Tract Infections
A UTI can effect a dog at any time, regardless of whether they’re an adult or a pup. They’re easy to treat in most cases, although some bacterial strains can be more troublesome than others.
Behavioral Reasons Behind Frequent Peeing
Attention Seeking
It’s not always the most common reason… but it is possible for some puppies to pee in places they shouldn’t just to get some attention… especially if they’re bored and lacking stimulation.
For many pups, negative attention is better than being bored and neglected!
In this case, it can also be a good idea to buy some fun puppy toys that’ll keep your dog entertained.
Inconsistent House Training
If your pup hasn’t completed basic house training, there’ll always be a chance of accidents happening in the home.
Remember: Puppies have smaller bladders and they don’t have full bladder control yet, either.
Ultimately, this means you’ll need to take your pup outside regularly, and follow a regular pee schedule so they can learn a routine.
Anxiety (Or Excitement)
Some dog breeds (particularly the smaller ones) have a habit of peeing when they’re anxious, nervous, or overwhelmed by stimuli.
Perhaps they get excited when you come home from work, or get startled by a loud noise outside.
In either situation, it’s possible your dog pees due to the extra stress they feel. A
Territorial Marking
Marking territory is a common behavior for any dog… and new puppies might be keen to mark all the new places they discover around the home.
If your pup isn’t spayed or neutered, this behavior could be more frequent, too.
What Can I Do About My Pup’s Frequent Peeing?
Develop A Pee Schedule
Getting your pup into a regular, predictable routine can really help to avoid accidents in the home… and it’s one of the best things you can do when you’re dealing with a pup who pees too often.
First: Try to pick the same spot for them to pee. It’ll help teach them appropriate places to go.
Here’s a sample schedule:
Wake up: Take your pup outside.
Morning walk: Let your pup pee outdoors.
After naps: Pup been sleeping for a few hours? They might need to pee when they wake.
Play time: Just had a fun play session with your pup? Take them outside afterward.
Dinner time: Pup just had their dinner? Take them outside.
Evening walk: Let your pup pee outside again.
Bed time: About to settle down for the night? Take your pup outside first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is My Puppy Peeing Every 5 Minutes?
If your puppy is peeing this frequently, it’s important to take them to the vet. There’s a chance they have a medical condition listed earlier in this guide (diabetes, UTI, kidney infection, etc).
Once these conditions are ruled out, you may just need to follow a pee schedule, house train your pup, and give them time to learn bladder control.
How Often Should My Puppy Be Peeing?
A young pup often needs to pee every one or two hours. They will usually need to pee in the morning, during walks, after playtime, after dinner, and before bedtime.
Why Is My Puppy Peeing Frequently but Small Amounts?
Your dog might may have a urinary condition (UTI, bladder infection, etc) so it’s important to visit the vet first to rule out these conditions.
Otherwise, it may be down to poor bladder control, which should improve over time as they grow older.
Why Does My Puppy Pee in the House After Being Outside?
They’re not doing it to be spiteful. Often, they just have poor bladder control and can’t predict when they’ll need to pee… so they just pee when they feel the need. It could be indoors or outside… as their bladder makes no distinction.
However, following a regular pee schedule can help teach your dog when (and where) to pee. It’s important to establish a routine and encourage your pup to return to the same spot each time.
Do Puppies Pee for Attention?
Sometimes. If your dog isn’t spending much time with you or getting much attention… but quickly gets that attention by peeing indoors… then it makes sense for them to use this tactic to get the attention they want.
A good solution is to spend more time with your pup, make time for play, and get them some fun interactive toys to alleviate boredom.
How Do I Know If My Puppy Has a UTI?
Common signs of a UTI Include:
- Cloudy urine
- Crying (pain) during urination
- Increased urination frequency
- No longer acting house trained
- Increased ‘accidents’ in the home
- Smelly urine
- Strained urination
If you notice any of these signs, take your dog to a vet for a proper diagnosis.
What Age Should a Puppy Be Toilet Trained?
It’s usually best to begin house training when your puppy is between 12 and 16 weeks old. By this time, they’ll have enough bladder control for the training to have a positive effect.
Should I Carry My Puppy Out To Pee?
This can vary from dog to dog (and some breeds are easier to carry than others.)
Some owners start out by carrying their puppy, and later transition to encouraging them to the door themselves once they’re a bit older.
How Long Does It Take To House Train My Puppy?
The consistency of the training is important for getting quicker results… but it also requires patience and positive reinforcement for the training to stick.
Most owners find their dog is house trained after 4 to 6 months… but some pups will take longer.
Should I Leave My Puppy’s Water Out All Day?
Puppies can quickly feel dehydrated, so taking their water away (in an effort to reduce the frequent peeing) isn’t a great idea.
In fact, taking the water away can lead to resource guarding and obsessive behaviors for some puppies. It’s best to make sure your puppy always has access to fresh drinking water when they need it.
Should I Put a Pee Pad in My Puppy’s Crate?
No. It’s better to put the pee pad elsewhere, so your dog learns that the crate and pee pad are separate.
After all, you don’t want to encourage your dog to pee where they sleep (and it also goes against their natural instincts.)
Instead, place the pee pad in a convenient location that works with your overall house training strategy.
Why Does My Puppy Pee So Much in the Evening?
If you’ve already ruled out any underlying health issues (by visiting your vet), then it could be that your pup is drinking more in the evenings. Particularly if they’re thirsty from activity (walks and playtime) during the day, or they’ve recently had their evening meal.
As your pup grows older and develops bladder control, they may return to their usual pee schedule.
Why Is My Puppy’s Pee So Yellow?
If your pup’s pee is yellow, it could be a sign of dehydration. However, it could also be a sign of a kidney issue or UTI… so visiting the vet is recommended.
Normal urine color should generally be “clear yellow” or “pale gold” in color.
If the urine is clearer it’s a sign of dilution, whereas darker urine means it’s more concentrated. Darker colors often happen when your dog’s had a long day outdoors, or when they’re not drinking enough.
If the dark color persists for more than a few days, talk to a vet for further guidance.
