When it's raining out, the last thing you want to do is leave your warm, dry home — and your pup is most likely feeling the same. But unless you've trained your dog to relieve themself in a specific area of the house, going outside in poor weather is necessary to avoid accidents and prevent your pet from holding it in.
Dogs have a wide range of bathroom habits — some pooches will go anywhere, anytime, regardless of the weather, but others are affected by even the smallest change in the surroundings, the surface area and, especially, the weather. Depending on where you live, this could be a major issue.
Adult dogs that are one year or older should be able to hold their pee in for up to 6-8 hours. However, 8 hours is a bit of a stretch, and ideally, you should not expect your dog to hold their urine for longer than 6 hours.
Dogs can go for 8 to 10 hours without urinating overnight, while sleeping. However, all dogs need to be taken out after a meal or a drink, upon waking up and after a period of play. Health: Urinary frequency in dogs will vary due to factors such as age, sex, body size and overall health.
You'll want to consider the time of year and temperature outside. In the dead of winter, leaving a dog outside can be dangerous, especially during heavy rain and sub-zero temperatures. That said, a dog left outside for 15 minutes in a light summer rain will be fine.
Typically, rain will be enough to wash away the odor of urine from turf. Another cause of odor happens because of sand infill, which absorbs all types of liquid.
Most healthy, adult dogs will readily go to the bathroom an hour or so after a meal. They can, however, hold their stool much longer if necessary. In fact, for the most part, a healthy adult dog can hold their stool for 12 hours or more. If you get stuck in traffic or at the office, your dog could be OK.
Start your training first thing in the morning, when you know your dog needs to go. Take your dog outside immediately, and place them into their new pen. Now stand back at least a few feet, ignore your dog, and set a timer for 10 minutes. Your dog will likely eliminate in this confinement area within 10 minutes – yay!
A dog bathroom schedule should include letting dogs outside to relieve themselves after each meal, and at least three to five times daily. Dogs should not be forced to wait longer than about eight hours before having a bathroom break.
With that in mind, he advises that in general “defecating one to two times daily is considered normal.” He also notes that if your dog is eating a diet that is higher in fiber, they may regularly poop three times a day.
Many dogs don't like the sound of rain or the feel of wet grass. You don't want to drag her out the door, and even if you did, she likely wouldn't comply with your command to relieve herself.
Citrus. The citrus smell is arguably the best dog repellent there is. You do not have to do a lot. Simply peel an orange or a lemon next to your dog and you will observe it leaving the spot immediately.
Mix a one-to-one solution of white vinegar and water. Using a sponge, rub the solution onto the stain. Let it sit for 5-to-10 minutes, and then wipe it up with a clean, dry towel. Some experts advise using a more diluted formulation of 1/2-cup vinegar to one gallon of warm water.
Baking soda naturally neutralizes odors. Sprinkle it liberally on the damp area or even an old urine stain, and work the powder gently into the fibers of any fabric, rug or carpet. Let the baking soda sit overnight for maximum odor absorption, then vacuum it up to remove the smell completely.
Keep Their Fur Dry
Keeping your pet's coat dry isn't possible all the time. But rubbing them dry with a towel after outdoor adventures in the rain or muck is always a good idea. Some pampered pooches prefer the blow dryer, but few dogs can resist a brisk rubdown.
As tempting as it may be for your dog, it's important to remember that rainwater is not always safe for your dog to drink. When rainwater hits earth, it comes in contact with several contaminants or chemicals that aren't safe to drink.
Both male and female dogs scent mark, but the behavior is more pervasive in males. Dogs who are marking preferentially urinate on vertical surfaces. If they urinate high up on that surface, the urine can flow downward covering a greater area, which leaves a stronger message to anyone who subsequently passes by.
A young dog can hold their pee for up to 10-12 hours if needed, but that doesn't mean that they should. The average adult dog should be allowed to relieve itself at least 3-5 times per day. That's at least once every 8 hours.
Dogs are more sensitive to the changes in barometric pressure and this may be an issue for your dog. Other experts claim that when it rains, the moisture makes all the smells much stronger and your dog has a much better sense of smell than you do so they notice this.
WHEN YOUR DOG GOES ON THE LAWN, REMEMBER IT DOESN'T JUST GO ON THE LAWN. Rain washes dog poop and its bacteria into storm drains. From there, it goes on to pollute our waterways.
Get some freeze spray.
These sprays are useful when collecting dog waste that is runny or softened due to rain. Simply hold the nozzle an inch or so from the poo, and give it a sustained spray of two or three seconds all over its surface. This will cause the poop to solidify, making pickup easier.