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I have a 5 1/2 month old male great dane. We got him right after he turned 4 months. He was never housebroken, they just put him outside a lot. He caught on very quickly to go to the door and/or come and get me when he needs to go out. However he's going to the door every 2 hours on the dot and if I don't take him out within 15 minutes he will pee on the floor at the door. ( I'll just firmly say "outside" if it happens - it hasn't happened for a long time as I try to get him outside right away) My question is - is it normal for them to have to go out so much? Do their bladders mature with age? We crate him when we go out and at night. I'd eventually like to start leaving him out when we do go out but i'm afraid he'll pee in the house. My vet has told me that this is a behavior issue and that he should only need to go out around 3x a day. (I took in a urine sample and there was no bacteria.) He also suggested putting him in the cage for 10 minutes and then taking him out when he goes to the door. I felt this was to harsh and have been taking him out whenever he goes to the door. This is my first pup/great dane so I want to make sure i'm housebreaking him properly. He is an excellent dog - very gentle with my kids, very obedient, and just all around fun to have around. We take him out everyday to play ball or just run around and then again for a walk in the evenings so he's getting excersize and is being socialized. Thanks in advance!

Dianna

>>I have a 5 1/2 month old male great dane. We got him right after he turned 4 months. He was never housebroken, they just put him outside a lot. He caught on very quickly to go to the door and/or come and get me when he needs to go out. However he's going to the door every 2 hours on the dot and if I don't take him out within 15 minutes he will pee on the floor at the door. ( I'll just firmly say "outside" if it happens - it hasn't happened for a long time as I try to get him outside right away) My question is - is it normal for them to have to go out so much? Do their bladders mature with age? We crate him when we go out and at night. I'd eventually like to start leaving him out when we do go out but i'm afraid he'll pee in the house. My vet has told me that this is a behavior issue and that he should only need to go out around 3x a day. (I took in a urine sample and there was no bacteria.) He also suggested putting him in the cage for 10 minutes and then taking him out when he goes to the door. I felt this was to harsh and have been taking him out whenever he goes to the door. This is my first pup/great dane so I want to make sure i'm housebreaking him properly. He is an excellent dog - very gentle with my kids, very obedient, and just all around fun to have around. We take him out everyday to play ball or just run around and then again for a walk in the evenings so he's getting excersize and is being socialized. Thanks in advance!
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>>Dianna

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Some dogs can manage the three times a day schedule, but I would not ask it of my dogs. It's risky that it will cause medical problems, housetraining problems, separation anxiety, and more.

Your dog will be able to hold it longer when you are asleep or away from home, especially with more maturity. But when you're at home and awake, it's wise to let the dog out to potty about once an hour until housetraining is perfect. At that point you may have a closer idea of your dog's body schedule. Every two hours is not excessive at all.

In a vet clinic they may just take the dogs out three times a day, and some apartment dwellers do that. Some dogs can manage it, but I have to wonder if the huge explosion in separation anxiety cases is related to these long schedules. I couldn't make it on three times a day, and a dog's metabolism is something like 4 times FASTER than a human's. I think a lot of people expect way too much of their dogs, and it's not very humane.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47