How Long Can Dogs Hold Their Pee (By Age & Size): A Practical Guide to Potty Breaks

You stroll into the kitchen for a drink but end up with a wet sock. The dog peed on the floor…again. 

Setting appropriate expectations for our dog’s bathroom needs – including how long dogs can hold their pee – means we need to consider some factors, age being a big one. Keep in mind, though, that a small Yorkie will have different potty needs than a Great Dane, no matter their age.

Some other things that play into potty break needs are your dog’s activity level, water intake, getting excited or stressed in new/different environments, and, of course, medical issues or side effects from medications.

Key takeaways

• Most healthy adult dogs can hold pee for about 4-6 hours during the day 

• Puppies need frequent breaks: “age in months + 1” is the rough max, but when awake, it’s often every 30-90 minutes

• Small dogs usually need to go out more often than large dogs

• Senior dogs may need extra evening breaks and sometimes an overnight potty trip

• Very long pees can mean they’re holding it too long, add breaks, then extend time by 5-15 minutes

• Don’t restrict water to stop accidents unless a vet advises it

Many healthy adult dogs can be trained to comfortably hold their bladder for 4-6 hours during the day, but dog bladder control varies.

But just because your dog can hold it for 12 hours doesn’t mean they should all day, every day during waking hours. Just like us humans, dogs’ bodies slow down during sleep (digestion, breathing etc.), so their needs are different when their bodies are more active.

If you’re wondering how many times dogs pee a day, many adult dogs pee several times a day – your dog’s dog toilet frequency depends on water intake, routine, and health.

To make sure the adult dog stays successful, make sure you include potty breaks for dogs as soon as possible after:

• morning wake-up time

• nap time

• vigorous play or exercise

• mealtimes

• big gulps of water

Young dogs are completely different, and depending on how they were raised in the litter and their breed, some pups will have an easier time than others.

So, a 3-month-old puppy should generally be able to hold it for up to 4 hours. (3+1 = 4)

However, when they’re awake, pups should be taken out every 30-90 minutes (keep your shoes on!), especially in the first few weeks at home with you. Sleep will extend that tim,e but be prepared for some sleepless nights, aiming to take your puppy out once or twice through the night.

Here’s a chart you can pop on your fridge and use as a guide as your puppy ages:

As our heart dogs start to get grey muzzles, we need to consider that their bathroom needs may change, especially as their age increases or if they have health conditions.

Aging, in general, can reduce muscle tone and mobility, which can affect your dog bladder control and how quickly they can make it outside. Medications and health conditions can impact how much water your dog drinks, leading to more frequent potty needs. 

Here are a few adjustments you can make to help ensure your sweet senior can still comfortably go outside:

1. More frequent potty breaks – especially in the evening and just like puppies, they may need an overnight break.

2. Make the route outside as easy as possible – think ramps and spending more of their day close to the outside door. 

3. Mats for traction – no slippery floors to slow our silver pups down on their way to the bathroom! 

If you take your dog out to potty and find they have an extra-long pee, this can be a sign of your dog holding pee too long. The simple fix for this is to increase the frequency of their potty breaks. With success, you can start to extend the length of time between potty breaks by 5-15 minutes until you’re back to normal.

A vet visit is in order if you’re noticing signs like:

• They’re trying to pee but only a little comes out (different than marking behaviour) – you’ll often see this along with extra restlessness, pacing, or whining on walks or at home.

• If your dog has been potty trained for some time, but you’ve noticed recent changes or accidents.

• Any dribbling or leaking on the floors or in their bed while they sleep.

Here is a simple dog potty routine that supports your dog’s need for consistency.

Keep in mind, if you have a young or senior dog, they may need much more frequent breaks. Puppies and older dogs would benefit from having someone check in on them throughout your workday whenever possible. 

If that’s not possible, you may need to consider creating a potty station for your dog. This could be as simple as one spot with a potty pad in an easy-to-clean room, or as fancy as those fake grass potty systems you can get!

There are a lot of well-meaning people giving advice out there. Here are the top three things I hear people say when it comes to potty breaks and potty training.

Myth #1: 

If they can hold it for a whole day, it’s fine.
Fact: Maybe they can, but is it comfortable? Plus, regularly pushing the limits of how long your dog can hold it can backfire.

Myth #2: 

Peeing more often means they’re not trained
Fact: This could be their normal rhythm, the amount of water they drink, their age, excitement or stress levels, or a medical condition.

Myth #3: 

Limit water to stop accidents
Fact: Restricting water can be dangerous. Unless directed by a vet, dogs should have free access to clean water.

Remember, our dogs are not having accidents on purpose, and they only have so many ways to communicate that they need to go to the bathroom. Dog potty training is really about us working hard and setting them up to succeed.

When there is an accident, simply clean it up, take them outside and try to help them be successful the next time. 

So if your dog is hiding or “looking guilty,” it’s because they’re picking up on tone or body language that says you’re mad. Think scolding, the silent treatment, or being a little loud/rough with the mop and cleaning products. I know potty training and accidents in the house can be really frustrating, and you may even feel like your dog “should know better”.