Help????we have a water binger

[imogene]

Things are going pretty well with Belzie. She is a good puppy. However, we are crate training her and I have noticed that now when we give her the command to go to her crate she will go, but on the way she stops at her water dish - and drinks like she been lost in the desert. We don't limit her access to water, but I am worried that drinking so much before her kennel time will tax her bladder control. Right now durring the day she should be fine for at least 5 hours, but I am worried that she can't makethe full time with all the water she is drinking. She has started getting very miserable after about 4 hours. Should I start lifting her water before we crate her? I have a feeling that she is drinking water as a stall tactic, but I am reluctant to deny her water if she really needs it.

Any advice is much appreciated.

[franp]

How old is Belzie now? About 5 months?? 4 hours is just about how long she should be able to "hold it" before having to urinate..

Dogs drink because they are thirsty..IMO, they really don't understand the concept of doing something to avoid something else..So Belzie drinks because she needs the water..

When Dari was a pup,her water bowl was picked up at 6 and her last walk was at 9..she slept thru the night.. Now, when we come in from a walk she drinks like a camel..And sleeps thru the night..

So,during the day, 4 hours is about right for her to go before needing to go again..What I would suggest; pick up her bowl at about 6 or so..That will help her thru the night..

[imogene]

Thanks Fran,

I won't worry too much about Belzie's water habbits. I think it's partly due to her diet. She is finally back to dry kibble with a dab of plain yoghurt. She is almost 6 months and has always been fine through the night but we lift her water about 2 hours befor bed. I wish I could give her some icecubes but she packs them off and they melt an leave a huge mess. Untill monday she had been fine with a 5 hour stretch in her crate. Now with her drinking soooo much I was just worried that she couldn't hold it especially since she goes all demonic. She is probably just trying to train us to let her out again. It's hard for me to ignore her when she gets like that - sometimes she get so worked up she gets hiccups. Silly puppy! Thanks again for all the great advice.

[maks]

eiffel is a crazy water drinker. fanatical. he'll drink so much then he'll run around and play, and the inevitable, he'll puke. at first i would restrict him, but he started licking the water off anything, so i just let him go to town. he doesnt have a problem holding it in. no accidents. plays and eats and poops normally, just loves water!

[franp]

Imogene.
Sure,if Belzie is back to kibble, that would make her more thirsty...makes sense that she is drinking more...

Let me tell you, when Dari was a pup,I worried if she "looked" in the wrong direction..:lol: I know how you feel..We get so concerned over our pups' every move and breath...And they do fine.

[imogene]

When Belize is panting and all worked up and I always give her water even if it is only a few minutes before bed but I always watch her and then lift the bowl right away when she is done - She has never gone in her crate, but I have noticed that when she has water right before bed she wakes up and needs to go 30-45 minutes earlier than usual.

As far as Icecubes go - I thinks secretly Belzie wants to play for the NHL- she batts them around like edible pucks. Silly puppy:p