If you have a Golden Retriever, or know about the breed, then you know how this breed is as similar to children as they can get; as a Golden Retriever parent, you probably pay close attention to every aspect of them, including how much they eat, drink, play, and even urinate.
So, How often Do Golden Retrievers Pee? Golden Retrievers need to pee every 4-6 hours until they are 12 years old, then every 2-4 hours. Golden Retriever puppies should pee every 1- 2 hours until they are 6 months old, then every 4-6 hours; adult Goldens will need to pee less frequently than puppies and seniors.
Here’s the definitive guide to determining how often your Golden Retriever has to pee and when it’s too much or too little and solutions to common urinating issues, so continue reading.
How often do golden retrievers pee?
Golden Retrievers tend to pee at least three times a day; The average healthy golden retriever adult dog will produce 10 to 20 ml of urine per pound of body weight per day, and the average golden retriever puppy will urinate about six times a day.
Females and Male Golden Retrievers will often need to pee as follows:
Age | Number of Hours |
---|---|
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 long can a golden retriever hold their pee?

For golden retrievers to hold their bladder is dependent upon many factors including age, size, health, and nutrition, but on average, seniors and puppies can hold their bladders for a shorter time compared to adult goldens.
Golden Retriever’s Age | Number of 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 long can a golden retriever puppy go without peeing?
A Golden Retriever can go without peeing for an average of one hour each month plus one, so if a Golden Retriever is five months old, he can retain his bladder for up to six hours, or until they reach the age of four months (16 weeks), at which point they can hold their bladders for longer.
Why does my golden retriever puppy pee so much? 8 Reasons and Solutions
Your Golden Retriever may be peeing so much owing to his young age or to mark their territory; Urinary tract infections (UTI), diabetes, and spay incontinence are among some medical causes of frequent urination in dogs. Occasionally dogs urinate as a result of overheating and indulging in excessive drinking.
Size
Your Golden retriever’s size influences how much he or she pees. A little dog has a relatively tiny bladder compared to a bigger dog. It’s believed that dogs pee around 10-20 cc per pound of body weight.
Age
Puppies that are less than 6 months old will urinate twice as frequently as normal dogs. This is due to poor bladder control, and it’s normal for dogs of this age.
Health
Many medical problems might cause more frequent urination. Urinary tract disorders, renal problems, diabetes, and even weight concerns can all play a role.
Medications also have a role. Some medicines have a diuretic effect, which means they cause more frequent urination.
If you are concerned that your pet is peeing more frequently than usual, you should consult with your veterinarian. It could be a sign of a more serious health problem that needs to be addressed.
Overheating
A dog will pee more if he drinks more. If your dog is spending more time outside and expelling a lot of energy, he may be more thirsty and need more water after playing.
Nutrition
The food you feed them has a big impact on their urinary health. Moisture-rich meals, such as raw and wet food, can help them pee more frequently and in larger amounts, and in that case, it is important to stay hydrated to compensate for the loss of fluids.
Moisture-rich meals assist digestion and can wash out toxins and germs that build up in your dog’s body, even if they make them urinate more frequently. Dogs on a dry diet, like kibble, may pee less, but this does not imply that they are healthier.
If your golden is getting too many moisture-rich foods try incorporating dry foods so that they don’t pee as much
Territory Marking
It’s very typical for dogs to pee on items they think to be theirs.
Dogs who have recently been adopted and brought home, dogs who are on a walk, dogs who are visiting another location, unspayed females and unneutered males, and dogs who have recently received a new canine sibling are all susceptible to marking.
It is worthy of mention that some health-related conditions can cause your golden to pee more, like:
Diabetes
Peeing frequently is a symptom of canine diabetes mellitus, a condition in which a dog’s capacity to convert food into energy is impaired.
Symptoms of diabetes include: Your dog becoming more thirsty than usual, losing weight, and larger appetite.
Spay Incontinence
The practice of spaying and neutering dogs has been linked to a disease known as spay incontinence. Incontinence refers to a dog’s inability to contain pee due to a lack of bladder control.
By the way, I have another guide for Goldendoodle owners, and you can check out my guide to how often should your Goldendoodle pee here.
At what age should a golden retriever be potty trained?
Golden retriever puppies are fully potty trained by the age of 8 months; they are smart, easy to train, and keen to please their owners, in addition to not being stubborn; thus makes the potty training of a golden retriever easy and flexible.
Potty training a Golden Retriever can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the temperament of your dog and your dedication to the training. By the time they reach the age of six months, the majority of golden retrievers are fully potty trained.
To successfully potty train your golden retriever, you must do the following:
Make a routine for them.
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 toilet outings, they will have an accident.
Puppies benefit from routines because they learn when to eat, play, and go to the bathroom. The bladder control of a puppy improves by one hour per month of age.
Decide where you want them to pee after establishing command.
Select a peeing location outside and walk your dog there on a leash every time. Use a specific term or phrase (such as “go potty”) to remind your dog to go potty.
At night, limit water access
Remove your puppy’s water bowl two and a half hours before sleep to avoid them needing to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Puppies may sleep for up to seven hours before needing to go to the toilet.
Maintain Attentiveness
Allowing your dog to go potty inside the home is not a good idea; always keep a careful check on them. Puppies usually bark or scrape at the door, kneel, become restless, and sniff while moving in circles before going to the bathroom.
This gives you the opportunity to take them to their designated toilet location before they enter the house and, of course, reward them with a present.
Praise the behavior
Every time your dog goes outside to relieve themselves, give him or her a treat. When they’ve finished the work, not when they’ve returned inside, praise or reward them.
Choose a convenient time for you.
Make your dog’s food regimen. If you feed your puppy at the same time every day, they will be more likely to eliminate together.
Make it a practice to take them out every now and again.
Take your puppy out every two hours at the absolute least—and play, eat or drink immediately after they wake up.
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.
Related Questions
Why does my golden retriever puppy pee when excited?
Your golden retriever puppy pees when excited because he’s overcome with joy and unable to control his muscles thus bladder; Simply ignore your dog until he is calm enough to be rewarded with attention to untrain this habit. Many younger dogs, fortunately, outgrow this habit on their own.
How to stop my golden retriever from peeing when I pet them?
You can stop your golden retriever from peeing when you pet them by avoiding direct eye contact, approaching from the side, crouching down to his level, petting them beneath the chin instead of the top of the head, keeping greetings calm, and as soon as you come home, take your dog outdoors to pee.
Why does my potty-trained golden retriever pee in the house?
Your potty-trained golden retriever may be peeing inside the house due to feeling frustrated, wanting to achieve dominance, going through puberty, or smelling their urine at a certain spot and repeating the behavior.
At what age can 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
Lower Urinary Tract Problems and Infections in Dogs
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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