Potty accidents are an unavoidable aspect of potty training; I understand how eager you are to teach your dog to pee in a certain location and how much you hope he will get it right.
However, dogs do not get it right overnight, and one or two good efforts do not guarantee that accidents will not occur; the key to potty training is understanding how long your dog can keep it in and adjusting your timing accordingly.
How long can a Golden Retriever hold its bladder? Golden Retrievers can hold their bladders for an average of one hour per each month of age plus one, thus if the Golden Retriever is five months old, he can hold his bladder for up to six hours that is until they reach the age of four months (16 weeks), then they can hold their bladders for longer.
If you’re in need of a guide to potty training your golden retriever, here’s everything you need to know, so keep on reading.
How long can a golden retriever hold its bladder?
Golden Retriever puppies would normally need to go every hour or two hours, this period of time becomes longer as your pup ages until they become older than 6 months old, then they would need to pee every 2-6 hours.
Adult Goldens will need to pee less regularly, but seniors will need to pee more frequently, due to their decreased ability to control their muscles, so they should go every 4-6 hours until they are 12 years old, then every 2-4 hours.
Many factors influence how long your golden retriever can hold his or her bladder, including:
Their size
A puppy’s bladder is small like them, and they can’t keep it in as well. A puppy should urinate every hour, but you’ll probably discover that your little one goes more frequently, possibly every 20-30 minutes.
A golden retriever’s ability to contain their urine will improve by the time they’re 12 weeks old. This is due to the fact that both their bladder muscles and their brains will have matured to the point where they will be able to hold it.
How much water your Golden Retriever drinks
It’s natural for your golden retriever to pee more regularly if they’re active and drink a lot. This is especially important during the summer months when they need to stay hydrated all the time as their body is fighting to stay cool. You can check my guide to keep your golden retriever cool in the warm weather here.
Metabolism
Your golden retriever will need to pee more frequently while their metabolism is high because they generate more urine. This is why a sleeping puppy will hold it for at least 6 hours since their metabolism slows down and they don’t make as much urine as they do when they’re awake.
How long golden retrievers can hold their pee at every age
| Golden Retriever’s Age | Hours they can hold their bladder |
|---|---|
| Younger than 6 months | 1-3 hours |
| Older than 6 months | 3-6 hours |
| 2 years & older | 6-8 hours |
| Above 7 years | 4-6 hours |
| 11 – 12 years | 2-4 hours |
How to potty train your golden retriever puppy?
Potty training a Golden Retriever can take anything from a few weeks to many months, depending on your dog’s temperament and your commitment to training. The majority of golden retrievers are entirely potty trained by the time they reach the age of six months.
These are the things you need to do to successfully potty train your golden:
Put them on a routine
If your Golden retriever is 2 months old, he can hold his bladder for up to 3 hours. If you allow them to go longer between potty excursions, they will have an accident.
A regimen is beneficial to puppies because it teaches them when to eat, play, and go pee. Each month of age, a puppy’s bladder control improves by one hour.
Establish a command and decide where you want them to pee.
Choose an outside pee spot and walk your dog there on a leash every time. When your dog is peeing, using a particular name or phrase (like “go potty”) to remind them of what they need to do.
Applaud them
Give your dog a reward every time he or she goes outdoors to relieve themselves. Praise or reward them when they’ve completed the task, not after they’ve returned inside.
Pick a time
Make a feeding schedule for your dog. Your puppy will be more likely to eliminate at the same time if you feed them at the same time every day.
Make it a habit to take them out on a regular basis.
Take your puppy outside frequently—at least every two hours—and play, eat or drink immediately after they wake up.
Restriction of water at night
Remove your puppy’s water bowl two and a half hours before bedtime to reduce the likelihood of them wanting to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. The majority of puppies can sleep for up to seven hours without having to go to the bathroom.
Stay alert
Allowing your dog to go potty inside the house is not a smart idea; keep a close eye on them at all times. Before they relieve themselves, puppies generally bark or scrape at the entrance, squat, be restless, smell while moving circles.
This provides you time to take them to their potty area before they go inside and, of course, reward them with a gift.
If you are unable to monitor, confine your pup’s space
When you can’t keep an eye on your puppy all of the time, restrict them to a small area where they won’t want to go potty.
The space should be spacious enough to comfortably stand, lie down, and turn around.
You should think about crate training your dog. If your puppy has been crated for several hours, you must take them to their designated pee area as soon as you return.
Before you go, you can also learn how long can Goldendoodles hold their bladder here, it’s explained simply by age as well.
Related Questions
When can golden retrievers hold their bladder?
Golden Retrievers can hold their bladder when they reach the age of 12 weeks old; A golden retriever’s ability to contain their urine will improve by this time due to the fact that both their bladder muscles and their brains will have matured to the point where they will be able to hold it.
How long can golden retriever puppies hold their bladder?
Golden Retriever Puppies can hold their bladder for about an hour per their age in months plus one, so a two-month-old puppy can hold it for about three hours; as they age, they tend to control their bladder more yet in their senior life stage, they tend to need to pee more often.
How long can a golden retriever hold its pee at night?
A golden retriever can hold its pee at night when they reach the age of eight months; at this age, they can hold their urine for up to eight hours. This is sufficient for a full night’s sleep. It is worthy of mention that at younger ages, more accidents are likely to happen.
How long does it take to potty train a golden retriever?
Potty Training a Golden Retrievers takes around six months, Golden Retrievers are a smart breed that is easy to train and obedient to their owners, their instinct to please their loved ones makes the process easier than with other breeds.
When do golden retrievers sleep through the night?
Golden Retrievers sleep through the night as soon as they reach the 8 months age, they can go for 8 hours of holding their bladder; Feed your Golden Retriever at least an hour before night, and don’t give him any water for at least 30 minutes, in order for them to last through the night.
Helpful Resources
Puppy Potty Training Timeline And Tips
Living with a Retriever: Recommendations and Sources
- Want the best diet for your dog? Check out the best and healthiest foods for golden retrievers at every age here – Dry, Wet, Homemade Recipes, and Treats!
- Looking for new toys? These toys will prove to be fun, engaging, and will stand their heavy chewing.
- Make them look GLAMOROUS with the best shampoos and conditioners and the best brushes here.
- Taking a walk? These are the best leashes, collars, and harnesses for the buck that you can find.
- Find my list of recommendations here.
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