Giving water to puppies has never been an issue for me before - until we had Gershwin. When housebreaking a puppy, I usually monitor the water intake until they are housebroken. But Gersh seems to be a different case. At six months of age he still needs to have his water monitored. Due to his weight (105 plus pounds) and the amount of water required per pound of water weight, he needs nine cups of water daily, more if he is exercising. The propblem I am finding is that he needs to eliminate pretty soon after drinking, which means I have to be able to take him outside to pee quite a bit. Which makes it difficult for me to be away from home if I have given him water. But if I limit his water, he pants and whines until I give it to him, so I am in a high maintenance cycle with his water:
- 5am - out to eliminate
7am - meal one (dry food with water)
8:30 - eliminates, drinks water and 40 minute walk
9:30 - water after the walk
10:30 - wants to go out to eliminate
noon - panting for water, so drinks a bit
1:30 - whining to go out to eliminate
2:30 - whining for water
4pm - wants to go out to eliminate
5:30 - meal 2
6pm - wants to go out to eliminate
7pm - out for walk and has water before going
7:30 - water cut off for evening.
Help! The warm weather is almost here and Gersh will needing even more water, but the big question is will he get better in being able to hold his pee? If I give him free access to water he drinks the entire bowl, and has to go pee at least three times in an hour. Luckilly, I am a stay-at-home mom, but it still is a pain to have to constantly attend to his water needs.
Thanks!