When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go!

  Posted on September 22, 2010  by Joy of Living  No comments

Often when people are talking to me about their adult pets they make the statement, “Oh, Fido can go all day without having an accident.”

Most people that work outside the home have an 8 hour workday.  When you add commute time, it could easily total 10 hours or more.  This means Fido is going 10 hours or more without a potty break.  How many days do we go 10 hours straight without a potty break?

Once dogs are potty trained, barring medical issues, they can normally go 6-8 hours between breaks.  A good schedule is potty break first thing in the morning, midday, dinnertime and the last at bedtime.  Dogs need exercise, too, which does not include walking around the yard during potty break.

If possible, incorporate walks around your neighborhood as often as possible, since dogs need at least 30 minutes of exercise a day to stay happy and healthy.  By doing this, your dog will get a bathroom break and exercise at the same time. When your schedule doesn’t allow for regular potty/exercise breaks for your pet, consider hiring a dog walker, Fido will definitely thank you!