How Often Should a Dog Pee?

Picture this: you’ve just brought home a brand new puppy. Everyone within your four walls has never been happier. You gush over what to name her, what colour collar to get her, and what order you’ll introduce her to all your friends in.

Only, a few days have passed, and you’re starting to realise that owning a dog is a lot more than just picking out toys at the store and spending an hour with a phone in one hand and a clicker in the other (you wanted to train her to give paw on command at parties).

One such obstacle is the business of letting her out. You wait for her to go, you tap your foot and check your phone… but no avail. Or maybe you go to the grocery store and come back to stains on your carpet every single time. Is your dog peeing too much? Not enough? How do you know for certain?

In this article, we’ll break it down for you.

How Often Should Your Dog Pee?

The bathroom schedule of your dog can vary based on age, circumstances, and lifestyle. However, a good rule of thumb is that your dog should be peeing around 6 times a day depending on how much water they have consumed. Hot weather means more water consumption and therefore more potty breaks.

Puppies will pee significantly more and will have difficulty holding in urine. Conversely, adults will be able to hold urination for up to 4 to 6 hours at a time.

Scent Marking and Why Male Dogs Pee More Often

Not every wee is about emptying the bladder.

Male dogs, in particular, often urinate to scent mark, which is a completely normal behaviour and very different from a full bathroom break.

You might notice this on walks. Instead of one long pee, your dog stops frequently and releases small amounts of urine on different spots such as walls or patches of grass.

This is because urine carries chemical signals that act as a form of communication between dogs.

Through scent marking, your dog is:

• Leaving information about their presence
• Signalling their territory
• Communicating status, confidence or reproductive state
• Responding to scents left by other dogs

In simple terms, it’s less about going to the toilet and more about reading and writing messages.

This is why some male dogs seem to pee far more often. They’re not necessarily producing large amounts of urine, they’re just distributing it in smaller quantities across multiple locations.

It also explains why:

• Walks trigger more frequent urination than time in the garden
• Dogs may revisit the same spots repeatedly
• New environments lead to increased marking

While this behaviour is most common in unneutered males, neutered males and even some female dogs can also scent mark.

When is it a concern?
Scent marking on walks is normal. However, if your dog is marking excessively indoors or showing signs of discomfort, it could indicate a behavioural issue or an underlying health problem, and it’s worth investigating further.

Understanding the difference between normal scent marking and changes in urination due to health issues can help you avoid unnecessary worry and spot genuine problems early.

If your dog struggles with bladder control, there may be something else going on. Below, we’ll go through common issues that affect frequency and quantity of your dog’s urination.

Urinary Retention

If your dog can’t pee, this can potentially be a life threatening issue. Be sure to monitor your dog closely if this issue emerges.

Urinary retention, or the inability to empty the bladder, can be defined by the following:

• Frequent attempts to urinate with straining, failure or pain
• Distended abdomen or full bladder
• Leaking drops of urine
• Peeing in the house
• Constantly asking to go outside

If your dog has stopped peeing altogether, call a vet immediately. This can indicate a serious blockage in the urinary tract.

Causes of urinary retention can include:

• Tumours
• Prostate enlargement
• Stones
• Inflammation
• Stress or trauma
• Injuries
• Impaired nervous system (spine, pelvis or brain)

More often than not, urinary retention is caused by blockages. If this is a concern, visit your veterinarian to have an examination performed.

When urinary retention is left unchecked, serious damage can occur to the kidneys. A buildup of urine can lead to a condition known as uremia.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Perhaps the most common reason why urination is abnormal is that your dog has a urinary tract infection (UTI). These are especially frequent in female dogs.

Signs of UTIs include:

• Foul smelling urine
• Licking at genitals
• Blood in urine

To treat a UTI, take your dog to your vet for a urinalysis. If confirmed, your veterinarian will prescribe antibiotics.

Polyuria (Excessive Urination)

If your dog is peeing too much, meaning normal frequency but large quantities, this may indicate polyuria.

This can be a sign of:

• Kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Overproduction of cortisol (Cushing’s disease)
• Cancer
• Liver infection
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Side effects of medication
• Overhydration

The best course of action is to monitor your dog’s behaviour, track changes and visit your veterinarian with this information. They will be able to diagnose the underlying cause.

Frequency and quantity are not the only common issues in dog urination. Many owners also deal with lawn burn. To help prevent this without chemicals or changing your dog’s pH, you can try Dog Rocks, a natural addition to your dog’s water bowl.

Here’s to a summer of happy dogs and happy gardens.